EMV chip: the security baseline
EMV chip cards generate a unique code per transaction, which makes counterfeiting extremely hard and shifts fraud liability away from compliant merchants. Every terminal you consider must read chip cards. This is non-negotiable and has been standard in Canada for years.
Tap and contactless: the speed default
Contactless, tap-to-pay cards and Interac Flash, is now how most Canadians pay in person because it's faster than chip-and-PIN. A terminal without contactless slows your line and frustrates customers. Confirm the device supports tap before anything else.
Mobile wallets: Apple Pay and Google Pay
Apple Pay and Google Pay ride on the same contactless rails, so a tap-enabled terminal generally accepts them automatically. They're popular, secure (tokenized) and fast. Supporting them is effectively free once you accept contactless.
Future-proofing your choice
Pick a terminal that already does chip, tap, Interac and wallets, and you're set for years. Armour Payments terminals support all of these by default. See the lineup on in-person payments or book a demo.