Same deal with Opal in Sydney - the old school opal card processes a second or so faster than a card/apple pay/google pay that you can just keep walking. Smashed into the barrier the one time I forgot my card.

▲

hdgvhicv 2 hours ago | parent [-]

I’ve never noticed any delay on the London underground with Apple Pay or a normally debit card - certainly not a second. Havent used an oyster for years but I don’t remember it being faster.

▲

filoleg 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Maybe I am just plainly wrong or encountered some specific stations, but this does not feel true from my experience.

During my last visit to London (in 2025), it felt noticeably slower than even NYC subway tap-to-pay.

Suica is a whole other beast that isn't even in the same category of speed. It genuinely feels sub-200ms instantaneous.

	▲	Symbiote 40 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Correct, Suica is faster than Oyster (card), which is faster than paying with bank cards or phones in London. (I haven't used the NYC system.)