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

by

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
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

Popular Stories

columbia apple pay

Apple Pay Promo Offers Discount on Columbia Gear

Thursday July 23, 2026 9:38 am PDT by
Apple today sent out emails letting Apple Pay users know about the latest promotion, which offers $20 off purchases of $120 or more from sportswear company Columbia. The $20 discount is valid when making a purchase from the Columbia website and using Apple Pay to check out. The discount is not available in Columbia retail locations, and products from the Amaze Puff Collection and the ROC...
Read Full Article • 1 comments
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
Read Full Article
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

American Hero Avatar
American Hero
137 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
pgiguere1
137 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
American Hero
137 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)
J
Jakexb
137 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)
2
2457282
137 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
69Mustang
137 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)
Read All Comments