{"id":581440,"date":"2025-02-07T13:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T11:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=581440"},"modified":"2025-02-07T13:00:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T11:00:54","slug":"most-affordable-tap-to-pay-watches-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/gadgets\/581440-most-affordable-tap-to-pay-watches-in-south-africa.html","title":{"rendered":"Most affordable tap-to-pay watches in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many watches are available in South Africa that support tap-and-go digital wallets, which allow users to make payments easily and quickly without a card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contactless payments use near-field communications (NFC) technology to seamlessly and securely process transactions with NFC-enabled cards and devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A watch or smartwatch with an NFC chip allows you to make payments without pulling out your card or smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, digital wallets support making payments even when your wearable device is not connected to the Internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In South Africa, five digital wallets \u2014 Apple Wallet, Garmin Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung Pay, and SwatchPay \u2014 support contactless payments via wearables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MyBroadband searched major online outlets for the most affordable smartwatches, smart bands, and watches that support these wallets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fitbit was once the most affordable brand for digital wallet payments, with Fitbit Pay supported on some of its entry-level smart bands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Google acquired the company and discontinued its products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many Fitbit devices now support Google Wallet, we could not find any Fitbit models selling new online at the time of our search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2023, Swiss watchmaker Swatch has offered the most affordable wearables that support tap payments in South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its digital wallet is called SwatchPay and is supported on 24 of its regular analogue watches with embedded NFC chips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only four of these models are priced over R3,000. Of the remaining 20, four models are priced at less than R2,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NFC chip in a Swatch watch is passive and does not consume additional power. That means the watch’s battery will last just as long as in an NFC-less watch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smartwatches typically have to be charged at least once every two or three days, so this is a significant advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To link a card to the NFC chip in a Swatch watch, users must use a mobile Android or iOS app on their smartphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The downside to SwatchPay is that you will need to deactivate the watch’s tap-to-pay feature from your phone if your watch is stolen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smartwatches feature additional security mechanisms like automatic locking after wrist removal detection, requiring the user authenticate themselves with a PIN on the device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That can prevent thieves from using your device for spending sprees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most affordable smartwatch with contactless payment support is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which is still available new online despite first going on sale in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garmin also offers a wide range of tap-supporting devices for under R5,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While iPhone users have no Apple smartwatches available for under R5,000, Garmin’s smartwatches offer excellent compatibility with Apple’s smartphones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are 10 of the most affordable smartwatches with tap-to-pay support in South Africa in February 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SwatchPay Collection \u2014 From R1,900 (Swatch Online Store)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n