Do I Still Need a Wallet if I Use Apple Pay?

Apple Pay – and similar apps, like Apple Wallet – make it possible to save a considerable amount of time when making a purchase. If you’re in a rush, you do not need to fumble around in a wallet for a credit card. You can simply open a phone that is already in your hands, double click on the button on the side, and then make a payment.

It’s useful. It’s time saving. It is also not an alternative to wallets.

Why You Might Still Need Your Wallet On You

There are many reasons you still need a wallet with at least some of your items, even if you plan to use Apple Pay for most of your needs. Easily the most important has to do with your Driver’s License and ID. Only four US states - Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio – allow you to scan and use a photo ID from your Apple Wallet, while the remaining 45 states do not. So, unless you live in one of those 5 states, you have to have your ID on you at minimum.

Even in those 5 states, not everyone is comfortable accepting a photo of an ID. You may still have people asking for the card itself, and you’ll want to have it on you to avoid that awkwardness. But even beyond that, there are many reasons to keep a wallet on your person at all times:

• Phones Die – We are so addicted to technology these days that most of us kill our phone battery within 12 hours, and unfortunately, if your phone is dead, so too is your digital wallet. It’s nice to use the phone when you can, but it’s not something that will last you all day. 
• You Have to Fumble Around Your Phone Too – Some of us remember fumbling around for our wallet, and assume our phones are better. But tech is finicky. What if you’re on a call? What if the app just doesn’t open right away? What if you were doing something and you have to end what you were doing just to get to the app? It’s not always as easy as it sounds. Even worse if you have to pick which card you’re paying with.
• The Tech is New – Not only is the tech on your phone new, but so is the tech on the part of the cashier. It doesn’t always work. Not all of them have the tech available. Some cashiers do not even know how to run it. When we’re that dependent on technology, we typically do not have a smooth transaction each and every time, and we frequently might find that we need a backup.

What happens if you get a call while you’re about to pay? What happens if your app just glitches? What happens if you need something that doesn’t connect to Apple Pay?

These are all issues that can occur any time you try to depend solely on technology. It is very rarely possible to go out with only your phone. Maybe for a brief run, when you don’t expect to need any money at all – but even then, if your state requires ID, you may still want to consider carrying a wallet with you.

Smaller Wallet with the Apple Wallet

If you are someone that loves using your Apple Wallet or Apple Pay, you should still have a wallet. But maybe you do not need a wallet that is as large – maybe you need it only to back up your phone. In that case, perhaps you can take a look at our sports wallets. Sports wallets are much smaller and designed for far fewer items, but they are perfect for those that are using their Apple Wallet often and simply need to make sure they also have other cards on them. You can also use our ID wallet or our card holder wallet – both of which are much smaller, used specifically by people that do not need to carry many cards on them while still giving them a wallet that can suit their needs.

Apps to pay for items can be very useful, but we are not in a place where we can rely on them entirely, nor should we ever really want to. Wallets still play a role, but those that genuinely love Apple Pay and related products can use that to help them make a decision as to their next wallet.