Unboxing and activating Apple's titanium Apple Card
Apple is slowly ramping up its Apple Card Preview in anticipation of a wide launch sometime in August, which means U.S. customers lucky enough to be invited -- and accepted -- to the program are receiving physical versions of the card. AppleInsider goes hands on.
Apple is nothing if not unconventional. When the company announced Apple Card at a special event in March it touted the credit card as one that lives in the ether; a digital construct residing on your iPhone for one-tap purchases, easy-to-understand monthly payments and the ultimate in security.
Not everyone is ready for a touchless revolution, however. For industry laggards (and retailers who have yet to adopt Apple Pay), Apple -- begrudgingly -- released a physical card for ye olde swipe and chip-and-pin point of sale terminals. It is, of course, not simple plastic, but metal. Instead of company favorite aluminum, the thin-and-fairly-light card is punched out from a sheet of titanium.
The titanium card arrives in a special envelope, which itself is encased in a cardboard sleeve that, in our case, came in a larger FedEx envelope. Quite a bit of packaging to keep a sliver of metal safe.
That said, Apple's penchant for perfection is clearly on demonstration. The cardboard outer sleeve is opened by pulling on a trademark "tear here" tab that rips through pre-formed perforations in the material. Inside, the card envelope sits in a custom formed slot, its top flush against the sleeve's flap so as not to allow jostling while in transit.
An Apple logo engraved in luxuriously heavy card stock breaks the envelope's otherwise all-white glossy cover. Lifting the flap reveals a splash of color echoing the digital version's dynamic, color-coded spending overview tool.
The card is, as Apple announced to much fanfare, laser etched. The Apple logo is deeply engraved on the front, while Goldman Sachs and Mastercard graphics are cut into the card's finish on the back. Unfortunately, the cardholder's name does not receive the same treatment and is instead printed on the matte face.
Of note, Apple machined out a crevice for the card's magnetic strip, meaning both front and back surfaces are entirely flush.
Perhaps most impressive is Apple's card activation interface. Because Apple Card lives in Wallet on iPhone, the company is able to authenticate and activate a physical counterpart without subjecting users to the usual bank call center rigamarole.
Simply unlock an iPhone provisioned with the same Apple Card account, tap the packaging to invoke an activation pop-up and select "Activate." In all, the process took us about five seconds to complete.
Apple is using iPhone's NFC capabilities to read data from a small RFID tag embedded in the lower portion of the envelope. While not detailed by Apple, the tag is likely programmed at the factory with a unique number associated with a user's Apple Card account. Reading the tag triggers an authentication process conducted on Apple's servers, which potentially reach out to Goldman Sachs or Mastercard systems for final verification.
Once the card is activated, it is ready to use.
Customers can request a new card, lock or unlock their physical card in the Wallet app in the event that it is lost, stolen or damaged.
Apple is nothing if not unconventional. When the company announced Apple Card at a special event in March it touted the credit card as one that lives in the ether; a digital construct residing on your iPhone for one-tap purchases, easy-to-understand monthly payments and the ultimate in security.
Not everyone is ready for a touchless revolution, however. For industry laggards (and retailers who have yet to adopt Apple Pay), Apple -- begrudgingly -- released a physical card for ye olde swipe and chip-and-pin point of sale terminals. It is, of course, not simple plastic, but metal. Instead of company favorite aluminum, the thin-and-fairly-light card is punched out from a sheet of titanium.
The titanium card arrives in a special envelope, which itself is encased in a cardboard sleeve that, in our case, came in a larger FedEx envelope. Quite a bit of packaging to keep a sliver of metal safe.
That said, Apple's penchant for perfection is clearly on demonstration. The cardboard outer sleeve is opened by pulling on a trademark "tear here" tab that rips through pre-formed perforations in the material. Inside, the card envelope sits in a custom formed slot, its top flush against the sleeve's flap so as not to allow jostling while in transit.
An Apple logo engraved in luxuriously heavy card stock breaks the envelope's otherwise all-white glossy cover. Lifting the flap reveals a splash of color echoing the digital version's dynamic, color-coded spending overview tool.
The card is, as Apple announced to much fanfare, laser etched. The Apple logo is deeply engraved on the front, while Goldman Sachs and Mastercard graphics are cut into the card's finish on the back. Unfortunately, the cardholder's name does not receive the same treatment and is instead printed on the matte face.
Of note, Apple machined out a crevice for the card's magnetic strip, meaning both front and back surfaces are entirely flush.
Perhaps most impressive is Apple's card activation interface. Because Apple Card lives in Wallet on iPhone, the company is able to authenticate and activate a physical counterpart without subjecting users to the usual bank call center rigamarole.
Simply unlock an iPhone provisioned with the same Apple Card account, tap the packaging to invoke an activation pop-up and select "Activate." In all, the process took us about five seconds to complete.
It's pretty ok I guess. pic.twitter.com/7LTVH1RMxv
-- Mikey Campbell (@mikeycampbell81)
Apple is using iPhone's NFC capabilities to read data from a small RFID tag embedded in the lower portion of the envelope. While not detailed by Apple, the tag is likely programmed at the factory with a unique number associated with a user's Apple Card account. Reading the tag triggers an authentication process conducted on Apple's servers, which potentially reach out to Goldman Sachs or Mastercard systems for final verification.
Once the card is activated, it is ready to use.
Customers can request a new card, lock or unlock their physical card in the Wallet app in the event that it is lost, stolen or damaged.
Comments
Some things that are missing now, but I'm sure are on Apple's radar screen:
1) Bill pay
2) Allow sharing of data to Mint, Quicken, etc. There is a way to export PDF reports, but this is not seamless
3) Cross integration with iTunes accounts - why can't I simply use Apple Pay there?
4) Cash advances (such as when traveling). AMEX based their early business model on this and decades ago I never carried cash when traveling - only received local currency cash advances at an AMEX office in amounts I would spend in country.
There is no other credit card that I am aware of that combines all of the features now available in Apple Card. But the items above are available in some other cards and they would be useful for Apple to adopt.
Not as much as mostly using my Apple Watch to pay for things, of course!
Maybe AppleInsider should make a kind of filter, so we don't have to be bothered by stuff never introduced outside the US.
It's just a creditcard, who gives.
I texted the help number and was connected to a specialist at Goldman Sachs. The specialist seemed very inexperienced, taking a long time to respond with several starts and stops in his texting. After just one text response they said if you continue to have this problem, please chat back. We did continue the chat, though, but still ended with a “we’ll look into it.”
Little things, perhaps. But that’s what differentiates Apple. Some people appreciate it, others don’t.
As an aside, given that I’ll be traveling abroad next week, I wanted to put a ‘travel notice’ on it. Had to call the card’s 1-800 number to do so, it was not something I could do online. That was a tad surprising.
For those Apple Card haters, I'm finding this card to be the easiest to use, both as the card and within Apple Pay, of any card I've ever have. Now if Home Depot would just turn NFC back on and I could use it there--again.
me:
I was charged twice for this transaction for $83.04 on August 16, 2019 at 7:33 AM.
It's still pending. I talked to cashier and she said that isn't supposed to happen. Another charge at same store today, 6/17, is only showing one charge.
Apple:
I can help with that. Let me connect you with an Apple Card Specialist at Goldman Sachs.
Hello, I'll be happy to assist you with that.
me:
Thank you
I’ve used Apple Pay at (this store) 3 times and the middle charge was the one that double charged. Do I wait until it’s not pending to worry about it?
Apple:
You're more than welcome. I do see that the transaction is still pending. It takes a few days for the transaction to post. If the transaction post contact us back and we can dispute it for you.
me:
Thank you.
Got keep it sealed, the goal is obviously to NEVER use the actual card right? /s NOT
Laters...
Was on the chat with GS support (45 minutes!) and they had no clue what was happening or how to resolve. Said they’ll send me a new card...
Hmmm... not impressed so far with the physical card except for the unboxing (and it being nice eye-candy). :-/