According to a recent survey conducted by Mastercard, more than half of all adults in the United States have already made at least one contactless payment. Near Field Communication (NFC) is the technology that allows for contactless payments, and many of the currently available smartwatches include NFC chips that allow you to make touch-free payments right from your wrist.
While the spread of the coronavirus pandemic may have contributed to an increase in cashless transactions, the ease with which NFC payments can be made is too appealing to resist. Thankfully, most popular models from Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Google’s Fitbit all include NFC payment capability.
Our team spent numerous hours researching the topic, and now you can leave your wallet at home and use one of the seven top smartwatches that use Near Field Communication (NFC) to make purchases while you’re out for a run, stroll, or ride.
Top 7 Smartwatches With NFC Support
- Galaxy Watch 4/4 Classic
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Fitbit Versa 3
- Mobvoi Ticwatch E3
- Garmin Venu 2 Plus
- Fossil Gen 6
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Galaxy Watch 4/4 Classic:
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: August 2021
- Size: Galaxy Watch 4: 40mm,44mm | Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: 42mm, 46mm
- Weight: 25 to 52 grams
- Display: 44/46mm: 1.36-inch | 40/42mm: 1.19-inch | 44/46mm: Super AMOLED, 450 x 450 resolution | 40/42mm: Super AMOLED, 396 x 396 resolution
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM (up to 50m) + MIL-STD-810G
- Hardware Specs: 5nm Samsung Exynos W920Dual-core 1.18GHz
- NFC Payments Support: Yes (Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz, Cellular (Only in LTE models)NFC
- Battery Performance: 1-2 days (mixed usage), It varies with the smartwatch size, usage of features like GPS and Music, and Always-on
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic sensor GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, Ambient light sensor, Samsung BioActive sensor, optical heart rate (PPG), electrocardiogram (ECG), bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor (BIA)
Two Minute Review:
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch Series is a radical departure from the models that came before it. Being the first Wear OS 3 gadget, it is equipped with the cutting-edge 5nm Samsung Exynos W920 processor. The smartwatch combines the strengths of Samsung and Google in the form of its app selection. You may use either Bixby or Google Assistant on your wrist, and you can use either Samsung Pay or Google Pay for contactless purchases.
Since the first Galaxy Watch was released in 2018 (with an NFC chip), nothing special has happened. Users now have more options thanks to Google Pay’s integration. With peer-to-peer payments, multiple debits, credit, loyalty, and gift card compatibility, and availability in 42 countries, Google Pay is our top pick if we have to choose between the two.
The Galaxy Watch 4 is offered in two different sizes, 40mm and 44mm, to appeal to both men and women. The display on the bigger watch is 1.36 inches while on the smaller watch it’s only 1.19 inches. Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ protects both watches from scratches, and the 5ATM rating means they can withstand water depths of up to 50 meters.
Additionally, GPS activity tracking for runs swims, and rides are supported. The watch also serves as a fitness tracker, keeping tabs on your heart rate, electrocardiogram (ECG), sleep quality, calorie burn, and blood oxygen levels. As an added bonus, for the same $50, you may choose between two different types of network connectivity: LTE and Bluetooth. Although NFC payments can be made even without a data connection.
we prefer the LTE model for its independence: you can make and receive calls, stream music on Spotify, and utilize Google Assistant on the watch even when you’re not near your phone.
Pros
- Snappy User Experience
- Advanced Health Tracking
- Sharp Display
- Standalone Calling and Texting (Only with LTE)
- Music Storage and Streaming
Cons
- Don’t support magnetic secure transmission
- Compatible with Android only
Apple Watch Series 7
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: October 2021
- Size: 45mm + 41mm
- Weight: 32-51 grams
- Display: 45mm: Retina LTPO OLED, 396 by 484 pixels | 41mm: Retina LTPO OLED, 352 by 430 pixels
- Water Resistance: 5ATM (up to 50m)
- Hardware Specs: Dual-core processor with Apple S7 chipset
- NFC Payments Support: Yes (Apple Pay)
- Connectivity: LTE and UMTS6, GPS + Cellular models, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery Performance: Up to 18 hours
- Sensors: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS, Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, Ambient Light Sensor
It’s hardly surprising that the newest Apple Watch, the AW7, allows for contactless payments given that all Apple Watches contain an NFC chip. But the S7 chip at the helm has made it run as smoothly as never before. Forget about the watch for a second; “Apple Pay” on its own is a terrific NFC payment method. Because of its widespread acceptance, you can use it to make purchases at many businesses both online and off.
Plus, its user base is growing and it’s available in more countries than Google Pay and Samsung Pay. The fact that Apple Pay generates a one-of-a-kind token kept on the Watch in place of the user’s actual card details means they can avoid carrying their iPhones around with them at all times. Vending machines, subways, and grocery stores all accept these types of payments. No internet or Wi-Fi connection is necessary on the wristwatch either.
Aside from the additional additions of a bezel-less display, seamless operation, and quick charging, Apple Watch Series 7 is not special in its ability to make NFC payments; any iWatch from Series 3 to Series 6 is readily accessible on the market. Still, if you’re looking to save money without sacrificing convenience, we suggest going with Series SE rather than Series 3.
You can pick from a variety of options, including size (41mm or 45mm), housing material (aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium), and interface (GPS vs LTE). The size, number of connections, and case material all affect how much the watch costs. The least expensive option is the more compact Aluminum AW7, which can only connect through GPS.
- Compatible only with iPhone
- A bit expensive
Fitbit Versa 3:
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: September 2020
- Size: 40mm
- Weight: 40-42.5 g
- Display: 1.58-inch AMOLED | 336 x 336 resolution
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM (Water Resistance for up to 50m)
- NFC Payments Support: Yes (Fitbit Pay)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz), Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery Performance: 6 days
- Sensors: 3-axis accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, Altimeter, Temperature sensor, Vibration Motor, NFC, Ambient light sensor, Oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring Sensor
Two Minute Review:
The ability to make NFC payments is a big selling feature for the Fitbit Versa 3, much like it is for the Samsung Galaxy and the iPhone. Fitbit Pay, the company’s first foray into contactless payments, debuted on a limited edition of the original Versa watch.
Fitbit Pay lags behind Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. This service is limited to 47 countries as of March 2022. In North America, however, you can add major banks and cards and use near-field communication (NFC) payments at major transit hubs.
Despite Google’s ownership of Fitbit and the Versa 3’s inclusion of not one but two speech assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant), Google Pay is still absent. If we’re talking about the watch alone, the Versa 3 is one of the most aesthetically pleasing activity trackers on the market. The bezels around the screen are minimal, and the resolution is sharp (360 x 360). The watch is one of the most comfortable smartwatches available and also one of the lightest.
But its true strength is in health tracking, where it competes with and even outperforms market leaders like Apple Watch. It even has an independent GPS and strong enough hardware to track your activities. Consider the fact that the watch’s sleep tracking features are far superior to those of any other available timepiece.
Take note that the Fitbit Sense, which replaces the Versa 3, improves upon its predecessor by adding ECG monitoring and a few other health sensors. Sense is compatible with the Fitbit Wallet as well. When paired with a smartphone, Versa 3 can answer calls and operate smart home gadgets. The watch supports Wi-Fi streaming from Pandora and local storage of MP3. That means it has some respectable brainpower beneath the hood.
Last but not least, it has good battery life. Even with the always-on display and some light sports monitoring, you can get close to three to five days of battery life.
Pros
- Solid Health Tracking
- Affordable
- Battery Performance
Cons
- Firmware updates for only 1-2 years.
Mobvoi Ticwatch E3:
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: June 2021
- Size: 44mm
- Weight: 32g
- Display: 1.3 HD LCD panel
- Water Resistance: IP68
- Hardware Specs: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform and Mobvoi dual-processor system
- NFC Payments Support: Yes (Google Pay)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi:802.11b/g/n
- Battery Performance: 45 hours
- Sensors: PPG Heart Rate Sensor, Accelerator, Gyroscope, SP O2 sensor, low latency off-body sensor, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Similar to the other watches on this list, the Ticwatch E3 supports NFC payments with Google Pay, however unlike those other watches, it doesn’t break the bank. If you’re looking for a low-priced NFC watch with all the features, this one is a fantastic option.
You’ll have to make some sacrifices, such as accepting a lower-quality display than you would on a more expensive model (albeit it is still HD). The water resistance isn’t great for swimming in pools, and the size is a bit excessive for a small wrist.
The watch cannot make phone calls independently, but it can store and play music. You may use Google Assistant for instant messaging replies, timers, alarms, and weather and news updates. There are thousands of other apps available for download from the Google Play store.
This watch is on par with the rest when it comes to fitness and health tracking. It contains GPS for keeping tabs on your runs, monitors your heart rate, and counts your steps. There is also a SpO2 sensor for checking oxygen saturation levels in the blood. When compared to Fossil Gen 6, Mobvoi has a proven record of success in this area.
And last, the Ticwatch E3 has excellent battery life. On a single charge, it can go for about 45 hours, which is far longer than most people need.
Pros
- Google Assistant
- Decent Battery life
- Affordable
Cons
- LCD Display
- Big and Chunky
Garmin Venu 2 Plus:
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: January 4, 2022
- Size: 43mm
- Weight: 51.0 g
- Display: 1.3″ (33.0 mm) diameter AMOLED optional always-on mode | 416 x 416 pixels
- Water Resistance: 5ATM (up to 50m)
- NFC Payments Support: Yes (Garmin Pay)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
- Battery Performance: Up to 9 days | Battery saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 10 days | GPS mode with music: Up to 8 hours | GPS mode without music: Up to 24 hours
- Sensors: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, Ambient Light Sensor, Thermometer, saturation monitor
Two Minute Review:
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is the direct successor of the Venu 2/2S, inheriting many of its best features. The watch employs Garmin Pay, Garmin’s patented contactless payment technology, and is compatible with a wide variety of banking institutions and credit/debit cards in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
You probably already know that Garmin devices provide reliable sports tracking. This is another area where Venu 2 Plus excels. The watch supports multiple satellite navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO) for precise location monitoring during a wide variety of activities.
Under intense pressure from athletes, particularly runners, Garmin implemented NFC payment functionality. On a run, the last thing you want to do is carry your phone or wallet. NFC payment support is especially helpful in this scenario. Bringing the watch closer to the terminal and entering the passcode on the touch-screen display are both optional steps. You may forget about fishing around for cash or credit cards.
Additionally, this watch is the first by Garmin to work with a speech assistant (Alexa), albeit voice instructions cannot be used to input the passcode. Moreover, the watch has a built-in speaker and microphone, so you can use it to make Bluetooth phone calls. The watch also has the capacity to store 500 songs and can stream music from Spotify.
In addition, the watch has a wide variety of fitness tracking capabilities, such as monitoring your heart rate all the time, monitoring your sleep and stress levels throughout the day, monitoring your breathing and water intake, and much more.
Cons include a high price and a size that is too big for certain wrists (but perfect for others) and too big for some people to wear comfortably. If you want to make use of NFC payments, you can choose between the older Venu 2S, the original Venu, or the square Venu SQ Music for a reduced price.
The battery life of Garmin devices has never been an issue, and the Venu 2 Plus is no exception. In smartwatch mode, the watch can function for 9 days on a single charge, and it can play music or GPS for 8 hours.
Pros
- Solid Health and Sports Tracking
- Robust Build
- Alexa Support
- Expensive
Cons
- Not many banks are supported outside North America
Fossil Gen 6:
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: September 2021
- Size: 44mm, 42mm
- Weight: 43g
- Display: 1.28 inches Color AMOLED / 416 x416
- Water Resistance: 3 ATM
- Hardware Specs: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+
- NFC Payments Support: Yes(Google Pay)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 LE, GPS, NFC SE, WiFi
- Battery Performance: 24 Hours + multi-day Extended Mode
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient Light, Compass, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG Heart Rate, SPO2
Two Minute Review:
The Fossil Gen 6 is, like the other watches in the GEN series, a stylish accessory that also boasts a number of useful features. It’s one of the few watches that will be able to upgrade to Wear 3.0 and has the latest QUALCOMM 4100 processor. It’s compatible with the vast majority of the Google Wearables app suite, including Play, Pay, Fit, and Assistant. After configuring it with the Google Pay app, NFC payments may be made with ease.
After adding a credit card to the watch, purchases can be made at nearly any NFC terminal in the United States. Debit card transactions may necessitate entering a PIN, and your bank may impose a daily spending limit. The watch faces may be changed between a wide variety of brands, and it comes in two sizes (44mm and 42mm). Water resistance of only 30 meters is disappointing given the current requirement of 50 meters (5 ATM) for such watches.
Recently added functionality for Alexa makes the watch much more useful. Similar to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Fitbit Versa 3, users can select from multiple voice-activated assistants. Further, it has the capacity to store tunes (almost a thousand) and stream music via Spotify. Although Google Fit provides a wide variety of fitness tracking profiles, the watch’s accuracy in this area is debatable. Although these upgrades are nice, we wouldn’t pay full price for a Fossil Watch because of them.
The battery life is another major issue, providing only 24 hours when in smartwatch mode.
Pros
- Fashion Wearable
- Great performance
- Sleek and Slim Design
Cons
- Short battery life
- Not suitable for swimming
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3:
Features and Specs:
- Release Date: August 2020
- Size: 45mm, 41mm
- Weight: 48-52 grams
- Display: 45mm: 1.4 inches, 41mm: 1.2 inches | Circular Super AMOLED (360 x 360)
- Water Resistance: 5ATM + IP68 MIL-STD-810G
- Hardware Specs: Exynos 9110 Dual-core 1.15GHz
- NFC Payments Support: Yes (Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
- Connectivity: LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery Performance: 2 days or less
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Electrical Heart Sensor(ECG), Optical Heart Rate Sensor(HRM), Light Sensor
Those looking for an affordable smartwatch that also supports NFC payments might consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, despite the fact that it is now several years old. Samsung’s proprietary Samsung Pay is integrated with the device. Samsung Pay is supported by a wide variety of banks and credit cards (a full list of which can be seen on the Samsung Pay website), and it is currently accessible in 29 different countries.
This form of cashless payment comes with a number of bonuses and benefits at select stores. It works with services like Google Pay, which facilitates transactions between individuals without the need for a middleman. Your Samsung smartphone must be synced with your smartwatch so you can make mobile payments. Then, you may just bring your watch into close proximity to the NFC reader by launching the appropriate software.
Furthermore, Galaxy Watch 3 is equipped with genuine hardware. For a fluid experience, it is equipped with an Exynos 9110 Dual-core 1.15GHz processor, 8 GB of storage space, and 1.5 GB of RAM. If you purchase the LTE variant, the watch can be used independently to make and receive calls.
This watch is great since it has a crisp AMOLED display and a real spinning bezel. It stands out from the sea of square watches because of its classic design and side buttons that use actual physical buttons. (Yes, we’re making fun of the way Apple’s products look. The only real drawback is that Samsung abandoned the Tizen operating system in their most recent Galaxy Watch 4. After a couple of years, you will be compelled to upgrade, even though a firmware update is likely to be released in the meanwhile.
The watch can monitor your heart rate and other vitals, keep track of your sleep patterns and stress levels, and more. In terms of sports tracking, it is not up to par with market leaders like Garmin and Polar, but it is adequate for light exercise. The battery life on the GW3 is superior to that of the Apple Watch and on par with the Galaxy Watch 4.
Pros
- AMOLED display
- Rugged Design
- Health Tracking (ECG)
- Standalone Calling and Texting
Cons
- It won’t upgrade to Google’s Wear OS 3.0
Final Verdict:
For Android devices, we recommend the Galaxy Watch 4. This watch’s LTE connectivity and a suite of health sensors are just a few of the reasons to buy it beyond its Near Field Communication (NFC) payment features. The watch is well-made, and it pairs with an Android phone without any problems.
Instead, if you’re looking to pair a wristwatch with an iPhone, we suggest the Apple Watch Series 7. In terms of aesthetics, functionality, and functionality, the watch is unparalleled. However, it comes at a high cost. If you need the capability to make contactless payments, the Apple Watch Series 3 or SE may be a more cost-effective option.
Final Lines
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