Does Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Support MST Payments?
No, the Galaxy Watch 5 does not support MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) payments. Samsung removed MST starting with the Galaxy Watch 4, so the Watch 5 supports NFC contactless payments only through Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
What Was MST?
MST was Samsung's proprietary payment technology that emulated a magnetic stripe card swipe.
- How it worked: Generated a magnetic signal that old card readers detected as a card swipe
- Advantage: Could pay at virtually any terminal, even without NFC support
- Last Samsung watch with MST:
Galaxy Watch 3(2020)
Why Samsung Removed MST
Several factors led to MST's discontinuation.
- NFC adoption: Over 95% of US terminals now support contactless payments
- Global standardization: NFC is the worldwide payment standard
- Space savings: Removing the MST coil allowed for a larger battery
- Cost reduction: MST hardware added manufacturing expense
- Low usage: Most users preferred NFC where available
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated contactless payment adoption, making MST increasingly unnecessary.
What You Get Instead
The Galaxy Watch 5 supports NFC payments through Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
Setting Up Payments:
- Open
Samsung Payon your watch - Tap Add card and scan or enter card details
- Verify with your bank
- Set up a PIN for watch payments
Making Payments:
- Wake the watch screen
- Swipe up or press the
Samsung Payshortcut - Enter your PIN
- Hold watch near the NFC terminal
- Watch vibrates when payment succeeds
Where NFC Works
NFC payments work at the vast majority of modern terminals.
Compatible:
- Terminals with the contactless symbol (📱)
- Any terminal accepting Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Most retail stores, restaurants, and grocery stores
- Vending machines and public transit with NFC
- Gas stations (at counter; pump availability varies)
Not Compatible:
- Old magnetic stripe-only readers
- Very old POS systems without contactless
- Some small businesses with outdated equipment
NFC vs MST Trade-offs
| Feature | MST (Old Watches) | NFC (Watch 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Old terminals | Works | Doesn't work |
| Modern terminals | Works | Works |
| Global acceptance | Limited | Universal |
| Security | Good | Excellent |
| Speed | Moderate | Fast |
For 95%+ of users, NFC works everywhere they need to pay.
If You Need MST Compatibility
For rare situations where a terminal lacks NFC:
- Carry one physical card as backup
- Pay inside at gas stations (counters usually have NFC even when pumps don't)
- Use your phone if it's an older Samsung with MST (Galaxy S20/S21 series)
MST is legacy technology being phased out. Visa plans to eliminate magnetic stripes entirely by 2027.
The Trade-off Was Worth It
Removing MST hardware contributed to the Watch 5's 13% larger battery, new temperature sensor, and sapphire crystal display. NFC handles nearly all payment situations.
See Also: What's New in Galaxy Watch 5|Galaxy Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 4