Google has just released the first beta of Android 15, and with it a new option to set the default wallet app.
Android has long had the ability to set default apps throughout the system, but not all categories are available yet. Over time, more options have been added, such as the default Settings Assistant and, more recently, the default Notes app. Now, in Android 15, Google is adding the ability to set the default wallet app.
This function, available by default in Android 15 Beta 1, allows users to set a default app as their “Wallet” app on the device. This is the app that will handle NFC payments. On the Pixel, this is set to Google Wallet, and the only other app that seems to work with the setting so far is the AMEX app, but it doesn't do anything new yet (at least that's what we've noticed).
In the future, it seems reasonable to expect that other applications could carry this functionality, such as banking/credit card applications. Google describes the “wallet app” saying:
Wallet apps can store credit cards, loyalty cards, car keys, and other things to aid in various forms of transactions.
Notably, Apple is currently under fire for not allowing this Other apps to use as digital wallets in iOS. Although Android has never banned third-party apps from being used as a wallet app, it seems like this setting will make it easier for other apps to take over that role.
More about Android 15:
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