Galaxy Watch 6 Tap & Pay: Explained: What is Samsung’s Tap & Pay support feature on its latest smartwatches, how it works and more

Alongside the new foldable phones and tablet series, Samsung announced the latest generation of its Galaxy smartwatch series – Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The all-new Galaxy Watch 6 succeeds Galaxy Watch 5. The new smartwatch comes with several new features including a new design, faster processor, and enhanced health tracking. The Galaxy Watch 6 has two models, based on size: 40mm and 44mm. The Galaxy Watch6 comes in 44mm in Graphite and Silver and 40mm in Graphite and Gold. The Galaxy Watch6 Classic features a rotating bezel — available in Black and Silver in 43mm and 47mm sizes.

Galaxy Watch 6 series support Tap & Pay via Samsung Wallet
In a first for India, Samsung has introduced the Tap & Pay feature to the Galaxy Watch 6 series. The feature enables users to make payments on the go right from their wrists. Galaxy Watch 6 supports Tap & Pay via Samsung Wallet. This means users can use their watch to make contactless payments at participating merchants.

It’s been a long time since Samsung’s smartwatches haven’t supported NFC payments via Samsung Pay in India. However, that is changing with the latest Galaxy Watch 6 series as the company launched Samsung Wallet in India earlier this year. It is to be noted that the feature currently works with the Galaxy Watch 6 series paired with a Samsung smartphone.
Samsung introduced Magnetic Secure Transmission in the first Galaxy Watch
The first Galaxy Watch from Samsung had a Magnetic Secure Transmission or MST, a method of sending data using magnetic waves. MST replicates a card swipe by wirelessly transmitting magnetic waves from the supported Samsung device to a standard card reader. MST turns every card reader into a contactless payment. However, the company ditched MST from its smartwatches, starting with the Galaxy Watch Active, which means users could no longer make mobile payments via their Galaxy Watches. While newer watches still featured NFC, mobile payments via Samsung Pay weren’t supported in India.
NFC in Samsung smartphones
Samsung has activated Near Field Communication or NFC for mobile payments in India. NFC is a technology which enables radio communication between devices when brought in close proximity. NFC ensures seamless data sharing and has a few more applications and advantages attached to it.
Users can use Samsung Wallet to register their supported credit and debit cards and pay via their Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. It remains to be known whether this feature will come to older Galaxy Watches like the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 5 with the One UI 5.0 Watch and Samsung Wallet update.
How to set up Tap & Pay on Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
To set up Tap & Pay on your Galaxy Watch 6, users will need to have a compatible credit or debit card added to their Samsung Wallet. This can be done by opening the Samsung Pay app on your phone and following the instructions.
Once you have added a card to your Samsung Wallet, you can start using Tap & Pay on your Galaxy Watch 6. To do this, simply hold your watch near the contactless reader at the checkout counter. You will see a confirmation message on your watch when the payment has been processed.