Hilariously, using contactless EMV payment (i.e. Apple/Android Pay) with the same POS terminals is lightning fast.
But this gets filed as "infrastructure is hard". A related example: If you get a chance, try the IC card system used by the train and transit systems in Japan; they're delightful.[1] At peak rush-hour, commuters are darn near running through the (many) pay stations tapping through without breaking stride -- including display of remaining balance!
Yet, the relatively recent transit tap card system where I live is laughingly slow. At a much more modest walking pace, it's easy to pull away from the reader before it's confirmed the transaction. Seconds per commuter, for system that's considerably newer than the IC card system.
I love Android Pay. If a place accepts it, I 100% use it over a card. It's near instantaneous, it's more secure (the merchant isn't getting my real card data), it's easy for me to audit, and it means I don't need my wallet when I go to the store.
Something to keep in mind is that Apple/Android Pay support both MSD (magnetic stripe data) and EMV contactless modes, which can result in different timings. EMV contactless also drops significant portions of the EMV contact requirements. This is why banks generally won't let you get cash back, or make large purchases on contactless, there's a trade off.
I've actually found it to be better; no tradeoffs.
I haven't tried cash back as I use credit cards rather than debit cards. I've used Apple Pay in the US, Canada, NZ, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, and it's ALWAYS preferably to using the actual card, particularly for an American.
If you have a US based bank, even with EMV the bank prefers a signature, which means you have to sign the damn receipt. This is more inconvenient than doing so in the US because:
1. The merchants aren't used to it, so it's a surprise/hurdle
2. It's not common, so you have to sign an actual receipt, not an electric display
3. They don't seem to waive the signature requirement for small purchases ($25-$50) as they do in the US. So you're signing for EVERYTHING.
Magically, if you try to use your US-card-with-a-PIN (assuming you set one up) in an unmanned scenario like in a parking garage, SUDDENLY YOUR PIN WORKS! (quelle surprise!)
I also fell in love with the convenience of Apple Pay+Watch when I was skiing in Whistler; no need to take off my gloves, unzip a pocket, reach in, find, card, use card, sign receipt. Just a quick double-tap on the side button without even undoing my glove gauntlet, velcro closure around the wrist of my jacket, or any of my 5 layers of clothes (yes, it was cold).
Paywave was the most-commonly accepted in Australia of everywhere I've been recently, to the extent that they even tap your credit card to the machine first, assuming it will work, and are surprised when it doesn't. Yet they were VERY surprised by the watch, often saying they had never seen anyone use their watch before. I'm not sure if contactless+phone would have been as unexpected or not; I never tried.
But this gets filed as "infrastructure is hard". A related example: If you get a chance, try the IC card system used by the train and transit systems in Japan; they're delightful.[1] At peak rush-hour, commuters are darn near running through the (many) pay stations tapping through without breaking stride -- including display of remaining balance!
Yet, the relatively recent transit tap card system where I live is laughingly slow. At a much more modest walking pace, it's easy to pull away from the reader before it's confirmed the transaction. Seconds per commuter, for system that's considerably newer than the IC card system.