Tap to Pay Device Compatibility Guide

Overview

Tap to Pay enables you to accept contactless payments directly on compatible smartphones and tablets, without additional hardware. This guide explains device requirements and compatibility.

Android Device Requirements

Your Android device must meet the following requirements:

Run a supported Android OS version (see below)
Include Google Mobile Services (GMS)
Have NFC capability enabled

Supported Android Versions

We support Android OS versions currently maintained by Google, plus one additional version to allow time for device transitions.

Transition Period: When an Android version reaches end-of-support, we provide a 6-month transition period before deprecating it. This gives you time to upgrade your devices to a newer Android version.

Android Version	Support Status	Recommendation
Versions maintained by Google (https://endoflife.date/android)	Fully supported	Recommended for best experience
Last deprecated version	Supported (6-month transition period)	Plan OS upgrade
Older versions	Not supported	OS upgrade or device replacement required

Device Certification

For the best payment acceptance experience, we strongly recommend using devices that have passed EMVCo Mobile L1 Products approval.

What is EMVCo L1 Certification?

EMVCo L1 is an industry-standard certification that validates a device's ability to reliably accept contactless payments. Certified devices have been tested to ensure they meet specific performance standards for NFC payment acceptance.

Benefits of using L1-certified devices:

Higher transaction success rates
Better NFC read range and reliability
Reduced payment errors and failures
Improved customer experience

Note: In 2024, EMVCo introduced a new "Contactless Reduced Range (RR)" certification framework specifically designed for Tap to Mobile payment devices. We recommend monitoring EMVCo's list of certified devices and prioritizing these for deployments.

iOS Device Requirements

Your iOS device must meet the following requirements:

iPhone Xs or later model
Latest available iOS version (recommended)
Support Apple's Tap to Pay on iPhone framework

Device	Tap to Pay Support
iPhone Xs and newer models	✓ Supported
iPhone X and older models	✗ Not supported

Our iOS solution leverages Apple's native Tap to Pay on iPhone framework, ensuring optimal security, performance, and compatibility with future iOS updates.

Why iPhone Xs minimum?

While older iPhones have NFC capability, Apple's Tap to Pay framework requires specific hardware and security features only available in iPhone Xs and later models.

Enterprise Device Management

If you manage a fleet of devices using Mobile Device Management (MDM) software, additional options may be available to you.

Extended Android Version Support

Organizations with MDM-managed device fleets may be eligible for extended Android version support beyond our standard policy. This framework allows you to extend the useful life of your device investments while maintaining security compliance.

Requirements for Extended Support:

Extended Android version support is available for organizations that:

Deploy and manage all devices exclusively through MDM
Implement strict application whitelisting
Share comprehensive application information for security review
Obtain approval for all applications before deployment
Participate in annual compliance reviews

This framework has been validated to maintain PCI Mobile Payment on COTS (MPoC) compliance while supporting older Android versions in controlled environments.

Google Account Requirement for Tap to Pay

A Google account is the simplest way to ensure Google Mobile Services (GMS) activation, but it is not strictly mandatory. If your device manufacturer has achieved Google certification, Play Integrity attestation, and distributes apps outside the Play Store (e.g., via MDM), the SoftPOS app can run without a Google account signed in.

Interested in extended support? Contact our support team to discuss your specific requirements and determine if your organization qualifies for this framework.

Transition Support

We understand that device and OS upgrades take time to plan and execute. If you need additional time beyond our standard deprecation policy, transition support may be available.

Temporary Support Extensions

In certain circumstances, we may grant temporary extensions to use Android versions beyond our standard support policy. These extensions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are intended to provide bridge support during device refresh cycles.

Important: Temporary extensions come with security considerations. Using deprecated Android versions may expose your organization to security risks. We recommend upgrading to supported versions as soon as possible.

To request a transition extension, please contact our support team with:

Your current device models and Android versions
Your planned upgrade timeline
Number of devices requiring extension
Business justification for the extension