Apple Now Selling Square's New NFC Reader for Apple Pay and Contactless Payments - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Now Selling Square's New NFC Reader for Apple Pay and Contactless Payments

Square has announced that its new NFC reader that enables small businesses to accept Apple Pay, Android Pay, and other contactless payments can now be purchased from Apple online or in U.S. stores for $49.

The reader is compatible with NFC-equipped smartphones, including the iPhone 6 or newer, and contactless EMV chip debit and credit cards based on technologies like American Express ExpressPay, MasterCard PayPass, and Visa payWave.

Apple-Square
The small square-shaped reader functions like other NFC-enabled payment terminals, allowing users to wave an iPhone, paired Apple Watch, or contactless EMV chip card near the reader for a few seconds to complete a purchase.

The NFC reader, which connects wirelessly with iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth, also works with EMV chip cards that are inserted for Chip-and-Signature payments. Square includes a magstripe reader in the box for accepting traditional swipe payments as well.

Apple Pay is accepted at more than 1 million locations in the U.S., but its early rollout has mostly been limited to larger franchises. Square's new NFC reader, and similar products, will help expand Apple Pay to smaller businesses across the country.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: NFC, Square

Popular Stories

wallet app transit new york

Apple Pay for Transit Now Works in These 12 U.S. Cities

Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:50 pm PDT by
Several major U.S. cities support the Apple Pay for transit feature that Apple has rolled out, providing a simple way for those who use public transportation to pay for rides. Apple Pay for transit works in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, DC. Some of these cities have supported Apple...
apple pay mothers day promo 2026

Apple Pay Users Can Get $20 Off Flowers for Mother's Day

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:21 am PDT by
Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, May 10, and for those who want to order flowers, Apple has a $20 discount available. Apple Pay users in the U.S. can get $20 off a purchase from 1-800-Flowers when spending $49.99 or more on a Mother's Day flower bouquet and other select merchandise. The discount is available through May 9 with the promo code APPLEPAY. To get the deal, iPhone users...
M5 Vision Pro Thumb 2

Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop

Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:31 am PDT by
Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other hardware changes, and consumers still weren't interested. The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable...

Top Rated Comments

American Hero Avatar
134 months ago
$49 is just too expensive. I get there is more tech in this by far than the free strip reader they gave out, but cmon. $25 would have been more than fair still.
You're kidding me right? You save $49 of your first transaction fees after buying the reader.

Try buying a Verifone MX925 and see how much one of those goes for.

Give me a break.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pgiguere1 Avatar
134 months ago
Better start switching from the 3.5mm jack reader now, its days are numbered :p.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
American Hero Avatar
134 months ago
When American Businesses are told they have to upgrade to usable EMV readers or face fraudulent charges in cases of stolen credit cards and data breaches, even though the rest of the world did this years ago...



Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
134 months ago
Super curious when Apple will let an iOS device accept an Apple Pay NFC charge natively. All the hardware is there.

Actually, Apple could make a card reader, process everything through the Apple Pay system and completely take over the small-biz cash register business. People are already using iPads/iPhones with Square or sometimes PayPal or sometimes ShopKeep for "cash registers".
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
134 months ago
Apple has an terribly ugly case that they put on their iPhone in the Apple Store that allows them to accept Apple Pay and credit cards. It also has a scanner built in. Apple should buy Square so they can get their design folks to help Jony out. Square has a very nice simple Apple-like design. In addition, with Apple's backing, Square could finally expand overseas and really help Apple Pay get better penetration.

Come on Tim, this seems like a really smart investment, even if not as sexy as buying beats.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
134 months ago
$49 is just too expensive. I get there is more tech in this by far than the free strip reader they gave out, but cmon. $25 would have been more than fair still.
To a business, $49 is a small investment. The device helps people make money.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)