Yes, you can use your payment ring when a merchant accepts contactless payments directly on their phone.
More businesses are starting to use smartphones as contactless payment terminals. Instead of presenting a traditional card machine, the merchant may simply hold out an iPhone or Android phone and ask you to tap your card or payment device.
Your Astari Payment Ring can be used for these payments too. It works using NFC, the same contactless technology used when paying at a traditional payment terminal.
There is one important difference. Paying on a phone can require more precise positioning than paying on a normal payment terminal.
In this guide, we explain how to use your Astari Payment Ring when a phone is being used as the payment terminal, where to position the ring and what to do if the phone does not detect it immediately.
Can You Use a Payment Ring on a Phone?
Yes. If the merchant's phone is configured to accept contactless NFC payments, you can use your Astari Payment Ring in much the same way as a contactless payment card.
Your Astari Ring uses passive NFC technology. It does not need a battery, Bluetooth connection or your own phone to complete a payment.
When the merchant's phone is ready to accept the payment, simply bring your ring towards the NFC reading area of their phone and hold it there until the payment is detected.
If you would like to learn more about the technology behind this, read our guide explaining how a payment ring works or our complete guide to NFC and RFID for contactless payments.
Why Paying on a Phone Can Require More Precise Positioning
A smartphone is different from a traditional payment terminal.
A normal payment terminal is specifically designed to accept contactless payments. It usually has a clearly indicated contactless area that shows exactly where you should hold your card, ring or other payment method.
A smartphone also contains NFC technology, but the reading area is built into the phone itself. Depending on the device, the area where NFC works best can be relatively small and may not be clearly marked.
This means the phone may require more precise positioning to read your payment ring successfully.
Phones are also not always designed primarily around functioning as dedicated payment terminals. While modern phones can accept contactless payments when the correct software and hardware are supported, their NFC reading area may feel less forgiving than the larger and more obvious contactless area on a traditional payment terminal.
This is why a payment ring that works instantly on a normal card terminal may sometimes require a little more positioning when paying directly on someone's phone.
This does not mean there is anything wrong with your Astari Ring.
How to Pay With Your Astari Ring on an iPhone
When an iPhone is being used to accept your payment, positioning is particularly important.
Hold your Astari Payment Ring towards the top of the iPhone, as shown in the example image below.
Bring your ring close to the indicated area and hold it there briefly. Avoid making a very fast tapping movement and immediately moving your hand away.
For the best result:
- Wait until the merchant's iPhone is ready to accept the contactless payment.
- Move your hand towards the top of the iPhone.
- Position your Astari Ring over the NFC reading area shown in the example image.
- Hold the ring close to the phone and keep your hand relatively still.
- Wait until the phone confirms that the payment has been detected.
In most cases, this is all that is required.
How to Pay With a Payment Ring on Other Phones
The exact location of the NFC antenna can vary between smartphones.
If you are paying on another type of phone and there is no clear indication showing where to tap, start around the upper area on the back of the phone.
Hold your Astari Ring close to the phone for a moment instead of moving it quickly across the device.
If it is not detected, move the ring slightly and try another position.
The person accepting the payment may also know where the NFC reading area is located on their particular phone. If necessary, simply ask them where you would normally hold a contactless card.
A little help from the person holding the phone can make a significant difference because they may already know the best contactless reading position for their device.
What Should You Do If the Phone Does Not Detect Your Payment Ring?
If the phone does not detect your Astari Ring immediately, do not assume that the payment ring is not working.
First, check that the phone is actually ready to accept the payment.
Then try the following:
- Hold your ring still against the NFC area for a little longer.
- Try a slightly different position on the phone.
- Ask the merchant where the NFC antenna is located on their particular device.
- Make sure you are positioning the ring itself close to the phone.
- If necessary, remove the ring from your finger and place it directly against the NFC area.
Taking the ring off is normally not necessary. In most situations, finding the correct position while wearing the ring is enough.
However, some phones can have particularly limited contactless readability. In that situation, removing your ring and placing it directly against the correct area of the phone gives you more control over its exact position.
This can be useful as a last resort if the phone struggles to detect the ring while you are wearing it.
Why Does My Payment Ring Work Immediately on a Payment Terminal but Not on a Phone?
This usually comes down to the NFC reading area and positioning.
A dedicated contactless payment terminal is designed specifically to communicate with contactless cards and payment wearables. The payment area is normally obvious and designed to make tapping easy.
On a smartphone, the NFC antenna is integrated into the phone. The best reading position can differ between devices and may not be clearly indicated.
As a result, the same Astari Ring may work instantly at a traditional payment terminal but need slightly more careful positioning when a smartphone is used to accept the payment.
If you want to improve your technique at traditional payment terminals as well, see our guide on how to pay with passive payment wearables.
Do You Need to Take Your Payment Ring Off Your Finger?
Normally, no.
Your Astari Payment Ring is designed to make payments while you are wearing it.
In most situations, simply move your hand towards the correct NFC area, position the ring close to the phone and wait for the payment to be detected.
Removing the ring should only be necessary when a particular phone has difficulty detecting the ring while it is being worn.
If this happens, take the ring off and position it directly against the phone's NFC area. This makes it easier to find the precise reading position.
Does Your Own Phone Need to Be Nearby?
No.
Your own smartphone does not need to be present to make a payment with your Astari Ring.
The ring itself communicates with the payment terminal or the merchant's phone using NFC.
This is one of the main differences between a passive payment wearable and paying with a smartphone or smartwatch.
If you are interested in this difference, you can read our comparisons of a payment ring and Apple Pay and a payment ring and smartwatch.
What Do You Need Before You Can Pay With an Astari Ring?
Before making your first payment, your Astari Payment Ring needs to be correctly connected and activated.
You can follow our Astari setup instructions for the complete setup process.
You can also check our supported banks and payment partners to see the available connection options for your country.
If you are having difficulty with a ring that has already been set up, visit our payment wearable troubleshooting guide.
Can Other Astari Payment Wearables Be Used on a Phone?
The same basic principle applies to other passive NFC payment wearables.
Astari also offers payment bracelets and payment keychains.
When paying on a smartphone, the important part is bringing the NFC area of the wearable close to the NFC reading area of the phone.
If you are deciding which type of payment wearable suits you best, read our guide comparing payment rings, bracelets and keychains.
Payment Ring on a Phone: What to Remember
Using an Astari Payment Ring when a smartphone is acting as the payment terminal is possible.
The main thing to remember is that phones can require more precise positioning than traditional payment terminals.
When paying on an iPhone, use the position shown in our example image. When paying on another smartphone, look for the NFC area or ask the person holding the phone where a contactless card normally needs to be positioned.
If the payment is not detected immediately, hold your ring still and try slightly different positions.
In most cases, finding the correct position is all that is needed.
If the phone has particularly difficult NFC readability, you can remove your ring and place it directly against the NFC reading area as a last resort.
Once you know the right position, the process is simple. Hold your ring to the phone, wait for confirmation and your payment is complete.
No wallet to take out. No card to find. No phone of your own required.
Want to discover contactless payments you can wear every day? Explore the complete Astari Payment Ring collection or browse our most popular payment wearables.
For more guides about NFC rings, contactless payments and payment wearables, visit our Learn About Payment Wearables section.
