PayPal today announced that it is planning to debut contactless payments in Germany, allowing German iPhone users to make tap-to-pay purchases in stores using their PayPal accounts.
PayPal is able to offer this feature because Europe’s Digital Markets Act has forced Apple to open up the NFC chip in its devices to third-party apps. NFC payments are available in apps without the need for Apple Pay or the Wallet app, allowing third-party payment services and banks to offer their own tap-to-pay solutions on Apple devices.
European users are able to choose a default app that is activated when an iPhone is near an NFC terminal or when the side button on the device is double pressed, so paying in stores with PayPal is as seamless as paying with Apple Pay.
PayPal says it will launch its first contactless mobile wallet “in the coming weeks,” and Germany will be its first test market. Using the latest version of the PayPal app on an iPhone, PayPal customers will be able make in-store purchases with PayPal wherever contactless Mastercard payments are accepted.
To lure customers to use PayPal over Apple Pay, PayPal is offering cashback offers in the PayPal app and will eventually support a pay over time feature with options for six, 12, and 24 monthly installments for purchases.
NFC access is available for banking and wallet apps in the European Economic Area, which includes the 27 European Union countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Popular Stories
iPhone 17: What’s New With the Cameras
We’ve still got months to go before the new iPhone 17 models come out, but a combination of dummy models and leaks have given us some insight into what we can expect in terms of camera changes.
Apple is adding new camera features, and changing the design of the camera bump for some models. You might be skeptical of dummy models, but over the years, they’ve proven to be a highly accurate…
20th-Anniversary iPhone Will Reportedly Feature an All-Screen Design
Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive long dreamed of an iPhone with a truly all-screen design, and his wish might finally become reality in a few more years.
The Information today cited multiple sources who said that at least one new iPhone model launching in 2027 will have a truly edge-to-edge display. The device’s front camera and Face ID system would both be placed under the screen….
iPhone 17 Air Expected to Have Battery Case Due to ‘Worse’ Battery Life
Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air model will have “worse” battery life compared to previous iPhone models, according to a paywalled The Information report.
In internal testing, Apple determined that the percentage of users who will be able to use the iPhone 17 Air for a full day without needing to recharge the device throughout the day will be between 60% and 70%, according to the report. For…
AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here’s What We Know
Despite being more than two years old, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple’s habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven…
iPhone 18 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Under-Screen Face ID With Top-Left Camera Hole
Apple’s two-generations-away iPhone 18 Pro models will likely feature under-screen Face ID, according to The Information.
The paywalled report today cited a source who said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have only a small hole in top-left corner of the screen, to accommodate the front-facing camera, with all Face ID hardware moved under the screen.
With under-screen Face ID, …
Apple Plans Split iPhone Launch Strategy: Pro and Foldable in Fall 2026, Standard in Spring 2027
Starting in 2026, Apple plans to change the release cycle for its flagship iPhone lineup, according to The Information. Apple will release the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro models in the fall, delaying the release of the standard iPhone 18 until the spring.
The shift may be because Apple plans to debut a foldable iPhone in 2026, which will join the existing iPhone lineup. The fall release…
The MacRumors Show: Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 Rumors
On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we look at what to expect from the 2025 Apple Watch lineup when new models launch in the fall.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos
The Apple Watch Series 11 is anticipated to offer hypertension detection as the device’s next major health monitoring advancement, potentially with AI-powered health-coaching features. It is …
