Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Google Pay now displays relevant card benefits during checkout for certain cards.
- Buy now, pay later options are expanding to more online stores and Android apps.
- AutoFill in Chrome and Android now allows users to fill in all card details, including security codes.
Google has announced a series of updates to its online payment platform Google Pay. This is not to be confused with the Google Pay app, which is used for peer-to-peer payments and will be phased out in the US in June. Both are separated from Google wallet, a digital storage solution for various credentials. I know; Google *needs* a lesson in intuitive naming.
Still the company marked three key areas for improvement, addressing user concerns about security, convenience and smart spending tools.
Card benefits visibility
One of the most notable changes is a new feature that displays relevant credit card benefits during checkout. This feature is currently rolling out to select American Express and Capital One cardholders using Chrome on desktop. It aims to help users make informed decisions by highlighting cashback rates, point multipliers and other benefits associated with each card. Google plans to expand this functionality to more maps in the future, potentially making it a valuable tool for savvy shoppers.
More BNPL options
Google Pay is expanding its support for Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services for US buyers. The feature, which allows shoppers to split payments into installments, was initially tested with select merchants earlier this year. Google Pay is now more broadly integrating BNPL across various online stores and Android apps, in partnership with providers like Affirm and Zip.
Convenience for autofill
Google Pay is improving the autofill feature in Chrome and Android to speed up the checkout process. Instead of manually entering your card details and security code, you can now choose to have all details, including the security code, automatically filled in using your device's existing unlock method (fingerprint, facial scan or PIN).
For added security, users can choose to set up device unlocking. This requires your device to be unlocked before Google Pay reveals the full card details. The company claims that Google Pay will still require manual entry of the security code in certain situations, such as when suspicious activity is detected.
Overall, these improvements are intended to make Google Pay a more user-friendly and secure payment option for online shoppers. Whether Google's security measures will adequately protect sensitive map data remains to be seen.