Review: Apple Card is more of an experience than a reward generator

Posted:
in iOS edited January 2021
Apple Card isn't a traditional Apple product. It isn't a shiny new standalone electronic device that we can put through its paces. Instead, it's an amalgamation of tech, software, and financial services.

Apple Card
Apple Card


In many ways, Apple Card is like Apple's other products. It is a seamless blend of physical design and software -- something Apple alone seems capable of pulling off.

Design

Design is always at the forefront of Apple's products. That holds true for hardware as well as software. To be fair, there are plenty of metal cards and there are clean white cards, but Apple has executed its own differently.






The card is titanium and a multi-layered white finish is applied before the Apple, Mastercard, and Goldman Sachs' logos are etched into the pristine surface.

Apple Card chip is cleanly designed too
Apple Card chip is even cleanly designed


Apple has paid attention to all the details here. Ones oft-overlooked by any other card purveyor. For example, the chip embedded in the card is a simple set of six ovals, not the mismatched pattern of lines on other cards. No one else would notice or care -- but Apple did.

Apple Card magnetic strip is on the bottom
Apple Card magnetic strip is on the bottom


The iPhone maker also switched up the side the magstripe is on, instead of aligning it to the bottom of the card. The strip goes all the way to the edge as well. This allows the user to orientate the card properly when swiping, keeping the Apple logo visible.

Other design considerations are obvious, such as the lack of any identifying information or phone number. There is no card number, no expiration date, no service phone number, no CVV code, no signature, no copyright info, anything -- simply baren.

This is for security reasons as well as aesthetic ones. If the card is stolen or even viewed, no one can get the number without swiping it which requires at least some special tool rather than just looking at the information and using it online.

The biggest and most public drawback to the design is the unfortunate nature of white cards. They just can't keep that stark appearance for long. Any colored materials that frequently come in contact with it will inevitably stain the finish -- and yes, that includes denim or leather.

The titanium alloy that Apple is using is porous too which doesn't help matters. This happens to nearly all white cards, metal or plastic, and isn't exclusive to Apple Card -- but the optics aren't great.

Apple Card shouldn't go in wallets
Apple Card can get discolored by wallets


A commonly cited metal card is the Amex Platinum card. It is hefty stainless steel and works around Apple's discoloration problems by keeping the natural silver color of the metal and printing it with black ink. After multiple years of use, ours looks as good as new.

Another drawback to titanium is its rigidity. The American Express card is denser, as it is stainless steel, but is more flexible than the lighter titanium Apple Card. On certain card skimmers, such as those on some gas station pumps, require the card to flex a bit. It can be difficult, if not impossible to use the Apple Card with these.

Fortunately, we are all moving away from swiping to chips, and from chips to contactless payments.

Usability

Applying for the Apple Card takes a few taps in the Wallet App, but we've gone over that before. Beyond application, the vast majority of the usability of Apple Card is through the Wallet app -- other than the few times when one has to utilize the physical card.

The app, which has been a part of iOS for years, has built upon the existing design, only adding select features that are necessary for managing a credit card.

From here, users can view balance and available credit, a simple colored graph of weekly activity, when a payment is due, and their latest transactions. Each of these can be delved into further.

The weekly activity is exceptionally easy to see where all your money is being spent including skewing the hue of the columns based on the categories of spending. Transactions are bolstered by not only the amount and (frequently) an icon of the company, but of the location as well. If you shop at one retailer multiple times, tapping on one transaction will show all other transactions with them as well and the running monthly total.

Apple Card works with the Wallet app
Apple Card works in the Wallet app


Apple does an admirable job in making your spending as upfront as possible in software. It is always in the credit card company's best interest for users to spend money and hold a balance -- including Apple. But, instead of hiding any information on websites or in monthly statements, Apple makes everything as clear as possible.

Even when paying, Apple easily allows you to see the interest you will be charged based on how much you pay off each month.

From your iPhone, you can also get a card number for shopping online or paying bills, lock or request a replacement Apple Card, set up reoccurring monthly bills, or request a new virtual card number.

To contact support, users can simply go through iMessage and talk on their own time. Rewards, in the form of Daily Cash, are deposited nightly onto your Apple Cash card.

Simply put, everything about Apple Card is easy to use.

A first step into fintech

It is that ease of use that sets Apple apart. That card number that is stored in the Wallet app? You should rarely ever have to access it. Thanks to the autofill features of iOS and macOS, anytime you go to input a credit card number the Apple Card credentials can be automatically inputted. Other cards used do this similarly, but only after manually adding them and aren't labeled as Apple Card is.

As soon as one applies to Apple Card it is immediately usable through Apple Pay -- on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. It is seamless and unlike any other credit card.

Apple also has focused so much on that experience of using Apple Card. From paying in the Wallet app to getting the physical card in the mail.

Apple Card is activated via NFC
Apple Card is activated via NFC


When the card arrives, just days after signing up, it arrives in a stark white card. Upon opening, the card is there with the user's name printed on the front. By holding the phone near the card, a hidden NFC tag activates the iPhone where a modal dialog appears. Activating has more in common with a set of AirPods than a mainstream credit card.

While there are excellent features to Apple Card, there is also Apple's first real step into this space, other than Apple Pay.

That means several commonplace features are missing. You can't export data or sign into apps like Mint, nor can you add a second user for joint accounts. If an iPhone goes missing, it could also be difficult to pay the card while you're waiting for a replacement, as at present, there are no ways to make a payment.

As Apple Card is built right into iOS we expect features and changes to come in the future through updates, but for now, there are limitations.

Rewards

Apple's cashback rewards are implemented differently than competitive offerings. Apple hasn't obfuscated rewards, but grants straight-up cash, deposited into the Apple Cash card each day based on spending.

Shopping with Apple for hardware, software, or services earns 3%. Using Apple Pay earns 2%, and other uses of the card generate 1% in Daily Cash.

The physical card rewards are paltry compared to some other higher-end cards, especially considering places like restaurants and older retailers still aren't supporting Apple Pay.

Apple Card
Apple Card


Apple fans are likely to benefit most with Apple Card. A new iPhone, an updated Mac, and the like are all 3% cheaper by using Apple Card. Savvy users will likely move their App Store and iTunes subscriptions too and get 3% back on Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, Apple Music, or any others that are billed through Apple.

Still, those expenses seem small in the overall scope and users who are focused solely on the rewards should look elsewhere.

Apple Card for Apple fans

Apple Card is a huge step for Apple. It poses all-new challenges the massive company hasn't had to overcome before.

Apple Card
Apple Card


The first step is valiant and builds on the foundation set by Apple Pay. The card and application combo is a joy to use and changes things up in a way we don't often see in the fintech space. Financial technology has been slow to change and integrating within the OS is a way to innovate that can't be done otherwise.

Some things Apple isn't able to do itself, which is why it partnered with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard. That brings advantages from both of them including their infrastructure and Mastercard's cardholder benefits.

Apple Card is more than just another credit card. It is a first big step for Apple and a status symbol to those toting it around. There are absolutely downsides to Apple Card but it is an enticing proposition for fans of the iPhone maker.

Review: 4.5 out of 5

Where to get

Prospective users can pick up the Apple Card by submitting an application inside the Wallet app of their iPhone running iOS 12.4 and later.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 51
    FatmanFatman Posts: 513member
    I am an early adopter, got the invite, signed up and had it in a few minutes - quick and easy.
    I did not order the physical card since I get less cash back than my main Chase rewards card and IMO the whole point is to not have another piece of plastic to carry around. However, here’s the dilemma, tried to use it in a few different retail stores and it was not accepted - I believe due to incompatibility/non presence of the NFC reader. It also can’t easily be used online. So I have one transaction in a few weeks, versus dozens on my main card. My sole transaction looks very lonely on the app reports - would love to use it more - if I could - to take advantage of the slick ‘reports & summaries’ and get more cash back!
    Wgkruegerwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 51
    FatmanFatman Posts: 513member
    The article is unclear/ not correct  - if you use the virtual Apple Credit card at a store that accepts it you get 2% back, the same transaction with a physical Apple credit card only gives you 1% back. Buying Apple products (I believe directly from Apple only, using virtual card) gets you 3% back
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 51
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    Yes, I agree...  More than anything it is the experience that separates it from the crowd
    And, for me, that is the almost entirely online / iPhone based nature of the card -- and that comes out clearly when it comes time to pay the bill:

    They don't mail you a statement and neither do you mail them a check.
    It all happens on you iPhone:   
    Tap on "total balance" and you see your a list of your statements with an option to generate a PDF in standard statement format.
    When it comes time to pay, you simply transfer funds from your linked bank account or AppleCash with your iPhone.

    Or, for myself, since I don't want to link my bank account, I'll transfer money to AppleCash using my bank's debit card and use that to pay the bill.

    I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of this 100% online & mobile in the future.

    And, as an aside:   I just got an email from Discover encouraging me to use my card via ApplePay wherever I shop.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 51
    I expected my Apple Card to automatically pay from my linked account at the end of August but when I looked it said the payment due was at end of September. I swear the wallet app said my first payment was due August 31 but the iMessage customer support person said September was the correct date. Weird. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 51
    Zephyr67Zephyr67 Posts: 1unconfirmed, member
    Thanks for the review. Must one have Apple Pay to get an Apple Card? My current card does not support Apple Pay. So would I link an Apple Card to my bank account? Is there a payment option to *automatically* pay off the balance in full on a given date? Can one request a statement to be emailed?
    edited September 2019 watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 51
    I wish US retailers would get their act together and accept NFC universally. Some companies have absurd selfish reasons for not accepting it, like wanting people to use their own apps or other non-standard methods of payment. It would be nice if the big payment networks like MC and Visa would start mandating NFC support by a certain date, so stores would have no choice but to join this decade.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 51

    I received the physical Apple Card in the mail, but unless the wallet app notifies you that the card has shipped, you cannot activate your physical AppleCard.

    i have been texting with Goldman Sachs customer support and they said it is a known issue and I just need to keep checking the wallet app to get the notification the card is shipped,   After I get the notification I will be able to activate the card they say.

    @Zephyr67

    Zephyr67 said:
    Thanks for the review. Must one have Apple Pay to get an Apple Card? My current card does not support Apple Pay. So would I link an Apple Card to my bank account instead of another credit card? Is there a payment option to *automatically* pay off the balance in full on a given date? Can one request a statement to be emailed?

    There is an option to manage “scheduled payments”, when you choose that option you select the day you want the payment to be made, or you can choose to have it pay when it is due (at the end of the month).  I just got an email notification that my monthly statement was available.  There was no statement attached in the email,  it just a link that opened the wallet app on my iPhone/iPad and the link to get your statement is buried under the “Total Balance” on your Apple Card, you just push the “monthly statement” you want to see on your iDevice, which generates a PDF of your monthly statement.

    when I linked my bank account information to my AppleCard, it also linked it to my AppleCash (which didn’t have any bank info associated with it before).  I don’t know if you link bank info to AppleCash if it will also link it to AppleCard.
    edited September 2019 watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 51
    zorinlynx said:
    I wish US retailers would get their act together and accept NFC universally. Some companies have absurd selfish reasons for not accepting it, like wanting people to use their own apps or other non-standard methods of payment. It would be nice if the big payment networks like MC and Visa would start mandating NFC support by a certain date, so stores would have no choice but to join this decade.
    The card associations have had a series of mandates, started in 2015, but the penalties are relatively minor, so many merchants have ignored them.

    Another problem is that the migration has been couched as a competitive feature in the marketplace, and not as a upgrade of industry standards.  Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay, vs. Google Pay vs. Walmart/CurrentC/MCX, etc.

    The U.S. is woefully behind the rest of the world, where NFC terminals are widespread, and a contactless payment is just a contactless payment.  The consumer just needs to see one symbol, and that's it, not a test to see which ecosytem one belongs to.

    Ultimately, the industry had a chance to take a big step, and blew it, much of it by design (it also passed on chip-and-PIN).
    GeorgeBMacstompywatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 51
    dunksdunks Posts: 1,254member
    Just remember kids: If you can’t afford to pay off your balance in full each month you can’t afford a credit card.
    designrchemengin1lkrupp
  • Reply 10 of 51
    I'm not sure I like the idea of linking Apple Card to my bank account. I would prefer to pay directly FROM my bank, rather than having Goldman Sachs PULL money from my account.
  • Reply 11 of 51
    “Another drawback to titanium is its rigidity. The American Express card is denser, as it is stainless steel, but is more flexible than the lighter titanium Apple Card. On certain card skimmers, such as those on some gas station pumps, require the card to flex a bit. It can be difficult, if not impossible to use the Apple Card with these. 

    “Fortunately, we are all moving away from swiping to chips, and from chips to contactless payments.”

    There’s another problem with my local ExxonMobile pumps:  Apple Pay using Apple Card is not accepted, even though Apple Pay works just fine with Amex and another MasterCard. Pump seems to think there’s a debit card behind the Apple Pay. The Apple Card is also not accepted when inserted directly into the pump. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 51

    There’s another problem with my local ExxonMobile pumps:  Apple Pay using Apple Card is not accepted, even though Apple Pay works just fine with Amex and another MasterCard. Pump seems to think there’s a debit card behind the Apple Pay. The Apple Card is also not accepted when inserted directly into the pump. 
    I have no problem at my local Mobil station using the card inserted into the payment slot. (Its a quick in and out) then it comes up with "Is this a debit card"? You select NO and it requires a zip code. Very easy and no issues. I have used it at Sunoco and Stewart Shops (local outlet Chain) and other gas stations on the thruway in 4 states.

    The speed pass from Mobil states it takes apple pay. However it will work outside (scan)  only if you select the credit card you wish to pay with before using apple pay. I cannot say if this issue is done to not accept certain payment types. but it would seem counter productive. 

    I have used this on line at amazon and other sites with no issues, I have used at major retailers with apple pay or no apple pay via chip reader or swiping.

    I have had some retailers locally stare at me? I said just swipe it or insert it in the machine and it will work. One lady at Macy's said we don't accept those cards? I said what MasterCard?   she swiped it and was amazed it worked. So it does work almost if not everywhere.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 51
    Yes, I agree...  More than anything it is the experience that separates it from the crowd
    And, for me, that is the almost entirely online / iPhone based nature of the card -- and that comes out clearly when it comes time to pay the bill:

    They don't mail you a statement and neither do you mail them a check.
    It all happens on you iPhone:   
    Tap on "total balance" and you see your a list of your statements with an option to generate a PDF in standard statement format.
    When it comes time to pay, you simply transfer funds from your linked bank account or AppleCash with your iPhone.

    Or, for myself, since I don't want to link my bank account, I'll transfer money to AppleCash using my bank's debit card and use that to pay the bill.

    I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of this 100% online & mobile in the future.

    And, as an aside:   I just got an email from Discover encouraging me to use my card via ApplePay wherever I shop.
    I do all that with my current credit cards as well. 
    designr
  • Reply 14 of 51
    The article is very clear and correct. In the second paragraph under rewards the article states; "Shopping with Apple for hardware, software, or services earns 3%. Using Apple Pay earns 2%, and other uses of the card generate 1% in Daily Cash." I don't know how the article could be more clear than that.
    Fatman said:
    The article is unclear/ not correct  - if you use the virtual Apple Credit card at a store that accepts it you get 2% back, the same transaction with a physical Apple credit card only gives you 1% back. Buying Apple products (I believe directly from Apple only, using virtual card) gets you 3% back
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 51
    I just scheduled my full bill to be paid from my bank account on September 30 but I couldn't see where I can automatically pay my bill each month. I also downloaded my August statement PDF and sent it to my e-mail address. From my inbox, I downloaded it to my desktop, and I finally sent it to Evernote. I have a slightly complicated system, but it works for me.
  • Reply 16 of 51
    Wgkrueger said:
    I expected my Apple Card to automatically pay from my linked account at the end of August but when I looked it said the payment due was at end of September. I swear the wallet app said my first payment was due August 31 but the iMessage customer support person said September was the correct date. Weird. 
    Your billing-cycle ended at the end of August. You just have up to the end of September to pay it back in full or minimum amount, what ever you decide upon. Or have the Auto-pay portion do it for you at the end of Sept. Same happened here.
    edited September 2019
  • Reply 17 of 51
    Fatman said:
    The article is unclear/ not correct  - if you use the virtual Apple Credit card at a store that accepts it you get 2% back, the same transaction with a physical Apple credit card only gives you 1% back. Buying Apple products (I believe directly from Apple only, using virtual card) gets you 3% back
    It is my understanding that if you use the virtual card through NFC and Apple Pay you receive 3% back at Apple retail, on line and certain Best Buy stores with dedicated Apple registers. You receive 2% on other purchases that accept Apple Pay through NFC. You receive 1% if you swipe card or buy on line. That is my experience thus far. Cash rewards are deposited into the Apple Cash Card the next day.

  • Reply 18 of 51
    Wgkrueger said:
    I expected my Apple Card to automatically pay from my linked account at the end of August but when I looked it said the payment due was at end of September. I swear the wallet app said my first payment was due August 31 but the iMessage customer support person said September was the correct date. Weird. 
    Your billing-cycle ended at the end of August. You just have up to the end of September to pay it back in full or minimum amount, what ever you decide upon. Or have the Auto-pay portion do it for you at the end of Sept. Same happened here.
    Same with me but there was a grace period during roll out in August. Billing cycle ends the last day of month and due end of next month. 
  • Reply 19 of 51
    I just scheduled my full bill to be paid from my bank account on September 30 but I couldn't see where I can automatically pay my bill each month. I also downloaded my August statement PDF and sent it to my e-mail address. From my inbox, I downloaded it to my desktop, and I finally sent it to Evernote. I have a slightly complicated system, but it works for me.
    I called customer service from the Card app and they suggested allowing 3-4 days for funds to be withdrawn from your bank account.
    GeorgeBMac
  • Reply 20 of 51
    plovell said:
    I'm not sure I like the idea of linking Apple Card to my bank account. I would prefer to pay directly FROM my bank, rather than having Goldman Sachs PULL money from my account.
    I agree but either way you or your bank are initiating payment from your account by ACH transaction. 
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