Coin 2.0 Mobile Virtual Wallet review
Tags :coin wallet onlycoin product review
The Coin is a credit card device that allows you to carry multiple credit / debit cards, rewards cards, membership cards all in one. We take the Coin 2.0 through months of testing payment via tap-to-pay (EMV) and swiping. Read along and see the YouTube video for unboxing, setup and more on usage. (you can also see our run with the Coin original version right here)
I am a previous user of the original Coin and the 2.0 version adds EMV or tap-to-pay technology which we were eager to test. I think the biggest part of using Coin is the look on merchant cashiers when you hand it over. The Coin also now allows you to name the cards that show on the LCD screen. Previously, you would only see MC. Visa or Amex in the window. Now you can use an four letter naming.
Look and Feel
The first ting we noticed about the Coin 2.0 was the resemblance to an actual credit card and the Coin version 1. The only difference we found was the addition of an EMV symbol on the back. The sizing and thickness were the same. The look of Coin, being black on the front with no other real identifiers, is sleek except for a small LCD type window where information is displayed. The back has your personal name and a signature block area for identification purposes if needed. There is no noticeably added weight from the battery and the solid black color with white trim/lettering really stands out when you use it. The LCD screen only showing the last four of the credit card and expiration really throws vendors off as I mention above and in the video.
The Coin 2.0 Battery
Coin says that you should get about two years of battery life before you need a replacement, One thing missing is any sort of battery meter or level. They should be able to add one into the settings section of the app that reads the power left in the device. I would hate for it to just stop working with no way of knowing if I broke it or the battery died.
The application
The Coin has an iOS and Android version. You can only pair the Coin 2.0 with a single device. And the reverse is true where a singel device will only have one Coin. You can store an unlimited (according to them) amount of cards in the application, but the Coin itself will only hold 8 at a time, A simple sync allows you to swap cards out with ease.
The application now includes rewards and coupons both. As well as the Lock and Find feature, map of places to let you mark if Coin worked or not and your very basic settings choices. I wish I could also make the Coin act like a Tile and allow crowd sourcing of last seen location. That way anyone with the app could report it seen when you say lost or stolen.
Otherwise the application never crashed for me and provides very little other customizations. You use it to add cards, unlock the Coin when needed and sync when necessary.
Using Coin in the Real World
This is where the true tests came in. I swiped, tapped, switched cards and went some days with just the card and no phone. I still get the amazed look when using it. Then when you set it to be a rewards card, let them swipe, hand it back to you, reset as credit card and hand it to them again they just get stumped. I love it.
I had little luck with the tap-and-pay EMV ability. Not because the card did not work, but because vendors are usually picking Apple Pay or nothing. It is very odd to see them not embrace it as quickly as hoped. Most card makers are not issuing chip cards and vendors are struggling to get machines ready to even make that work right.
I had no failures in usage this time with Coin 2.0 where I had a few with the version 1. I am presuming the Coin 2.0 is better since the older one was not that long ago and vendors have not all updated their machines. I take that as a win for Coin.
I would link you to the website to buy it or Amazon as usual but they are sold out!!! I will update this when they have stock back in.
Please see all the product reviews here on the IdoNotes blog and subscribe to the SpikedStudio channel or product review playlist on YouTube
blog comments powered by Disqus
On Friday, April 29th, 2016 by Chris Miller
