Mobile POS Terminals Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented, By Component (Hardware, Software, Service), By Type (Tablets, Others), By Application (Restaurants, Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 37.88 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	20.26%
Fastest Growing Segment	Software
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 114.59 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Mobile POS Terminals Market will grow from USD 37.88 Billion in 2025 to USD 114.59 Billion by 2031 at a 20.26% CAGR. Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) terminals are portable payment devices, typically smartphone or tablet-based, that function as wireless cash registers to process card and contactless transactions. The market is primarily driven by the increasing demand for cost-effective and flexible payment solutions among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which benefit from lower upfront investments compared to traditional fixed systems. Furthermore, the rapid consumer shift toward digital wallets and contactless payments is compelling merchants across the retail and hospitality sectors to adopt these versatile acceptance tools to enhance customer convenience and operational mobility.

Despite this robust growth trajectory, the market faces a significant impediment regarding data security, as the reliance on commercial mobile devices introduces vulnerabilities to cyber threats and data breaches unlike closed-loop legacy systems. This challenge necessitates rigorous adherence to evolving compliance standards, which can be resource-intensive for smaller vendors. To illustrate the scale of this payment evolution, according to the GSMA, in 2025, the total value of merchant payments processed globally within the mobile ecosystem surpassed 100 billion dollars. This figure underscores the critical expansion of mobile-based transaction infrastructure that underpins the demand for mPOS hardware.

Key Market Drivers

The rising preference for cashless and contactless payment methods is driving the Global Mobile POS Terminals Market as consumers increasingly favor swift digital transactions over physical currency. This behavioral shift compels merchants to upgrade legacy infrastructure to versatile mobile systems capable of processing near-field communication interactions. The scale of this transition is evident in the ubiquity of tap-to-pay behaviors; according to Mastercard, in 2025, contactless technology represented approximately 75% of all in-person switched purchase transactions globally. Retailers are consequently prioritizing mPOS units that seamlessly accept these modern payment forms to maintain customer retention. Further validating this demand, according to Worldpay, March 2025, in the 'Global Payments Report 2025', digital wallets accounted for 32% of global point-of-sale transaction spend in 2024, underscoring the critical necessity for hardware supporting contactless acceptance.

Simultaneously, the low total cost of ownership is accelerating adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises through software-based point-of-sale innovations. By converting standard smartphones into payment acceptance devices, micro-merchants can bypass the prohibitive expense of dedicated hardware and lengthy contract commitments associated with traditional banking. This democratization enables service providers and gig workers to rapidly deploy secure payment solutions with minimal capital expenditure. Highlighting the speed of this uptake, according to Visa, March 2025, in the 'Visa Tap to Phone Adoption Soars' announcement, the company recorded a 200% increase in Tap to Phone adoption over the past year. This dramatic surge confirms that reducing entry barriers via mobile technology is a potent catalyst for expanding the mPOS ecosystem.

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Key Market Challenges

The Global Mobile POS Terminals Market faces a critical impediment regarding data security, which significantly restricts broader adoption. Unlike closed-loop legacy systems, mPOS solutions often rely on commercial off-the-shelf devices like smartphones that operate on open ecosystems. This reliance makes the hardware inherently more susceptible to cyber threats, including malware and unsecure network connections, thereby exposing sensitive cardholder data to breaches. Consequently, merchants must shoulder rigorous compliance burdens to mitigate these risks, necessitating continuous, resource-intensive software updates that strain the operational budgets of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

This operational pressure counters the primary cost-saving advantages that typically drive mPOS adoption, causing hesitation among potential users who fear liability. The severity of the prevailing threat landscape reinforces this caution. According to UK Finance, in 2024, criminals stole over 1.17 billion pounds through payment fraud. This elevated fraud environment compels vendors to implement complex and costly security protocols, which directly raises the barrier to entry for smaller merchants and hampers the speed at which mobile point-of-sale infrastructure can be scaled globally.

Key Market Trends

The widespread adoption of Android-based all-in-one terminals is fundamentally reshaping mPOS hardware by transitioning devices from single-purpose payment tools into versatile business hubs. Unlike legacy proprietary operating systems, the open Android architecture allows "smart" terminals to support a vast ecosystem of third-party applications, enabling merchants to integrate loyalty programs and inventory tracking directly onto the payment device. This architectural shift significantly reduces operational complexity, as retailers can consolidate multiple peripherals into a single handheld unit that offers the same functionality as a smartphone. Validating this transition, according to PAX Global Technology, March 2025, in the '2024 Annual Results', sales of Android smart terminals surpassed 60% of total revenue, highlighting the decisive market preference for multifunctional devices over traditional systems.

Simultaneously, the convergence of omnichannel payment and inventory systems is driving the integration of mPOS terminals into broader unified commerce platforms. Retailers are deploying cloud-native terminals that synchronize real-time transaction data with backend engines, ensuring that a sale instantly updates stock levels across all channels. This integration empowers associates to offer "endless aisle" capabilities, where out-of-stock items can be ordered for home delivery directly from the interface, thereby preventing lost sales and enhancing the customer journey. The demand for this unified approach is robust; according to Adyen, August 2025, in the 'H1 2025 Shareholder Letter', point-of-sale processed volume reached €137.8 billion, a 44% year-over-year increase, driven largely by enterprise merchants adopting these connected cross-channel solutions.

Segmental Insights

The Software segment is projected to be the fastest-growing category within the Global Mobile POS Terminals Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the increasing demand for integrated business solutions that combine payment processing with inventory management and customer relationship tools. Merchants are prioritizing flexible application-based platforms that allow for scalability without requiring substantial hardware investments. Furthermore, the necessity to comply with evolving data security mandates established by the PCI Security Standards Council ensures continuous adoption of updated software to maintain regulatory adherence and operational efficiency.

Regional Insights

North America maintains the leading position in the global mobile POS terminals market due to the extensive integration of digital payment methods across established retail and hospitality sectors. The region benefits from high consumer demand for contactless transactions and widespread smartphone usage, which facilitates portable payment processing for merchants. Additionally, the industry-wide transition to EMV chip card standards has necessitated hardware upgrades, compelling businesses to adopt compliant mobile solutions. This strong infrastructure and the rapid shift away from cash transactions secure North America’s dominance in the global landscape.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, SumUp introduced the "SumUp Terminal," a standalone mobile point-of-sale device engineered to support growing businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors. The unit integrates a card reader, receipt printer, and touch-screen ordering system, allowing staff to process sales and manage orders without being tethered to a counter. A key feature of the device is its use of artificial intelligence to automatically digitize physical menus into editable catalogs, significantly streamlining the setup process for merchants. The Chief Hardware Officer at SumUp noted that the device, retailing at £169, was developed to bridge the gap between simple card readers and complex traditional systems.
• In May 2025, Square launched "Square Handheld," a new portable all-in-one point-of-sale device designed to provide mobility for service and retail businesses. The hardware features a compact, durable design with a built-in 16-megapixel camera that functions as a barcode scanner for inventory management and product lookups. Priced at $399, the terminal supports dipping and tapping for credit cards and is described by a company spokesperson as their smallest and lightest device to date. The launch aimed to offer a powerful, multipurpose tool that integrates payment acceptance with operational software, allowing merchants to serve customers anywhere on the floor.
• In January 2025, Verifone unveiled its new "Victa" hardware portfolio and a SoftPOS solution known as "Verifone Tap" during a major retail trade show in New York. The newly introduced device range includes mobile and multilane terminals that are PCI 7-capable and run on the Android 14 operating system, featuring powerful processors for enhanced transaction speed. The accompanying SoftPOS technology allows merchants to accept contactless payments using standard NFC-enabled smartphones, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware in some use cases. The Chief Executive Officer of Verifone stated that these innovations were designed to modernize payment experiences and offer scalable solutions for diverse business environments.
• In June 2024, xnPOS and Adyen announced a strategic partnership to launch a new fully integrated mobile point-of-sale and payment device tailored for the hospitality industry. The collaboration focused on the deployment of the Castles Technology SF12, a handheld Android terminal that combines a full point-of-sale system with secure payment processing capabilities. This mobile solution enables hotel staff to perform tasks such as tableside ordering, bill splitting, and accepting various payment methods including contactless and Chip & PIN directly from a single device. The initiative aimed to increase operational efficiency and improve guest satisfaction by reducing the need for staff to return to fixed workstations.

Key Market Players

• HP Development Company, L.P
• Fiserv, Inc
• NEC Corporation
• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
• VeriFone, Inc.
• Panasonic Corporation
• NVIDIA Corporation
• Toshiba Corporation
• Oracle Corporation
• Posiflex Technology, Inc.

By Component	By Type	By Application	By Region
Hardware Software Service	Tablets Others	Restaurants Hospitality Healthcare Retail	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Mobile POS Terminals Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Mobile POS Terminals Market, By Component:

• Hardware
• Software
• Service

• Mobile POS Terminals Market, By Type:

• Tablets
• Others

• Mobile POS Terminals Market, By Application:

• Restaurants
• Hospitality
• Healthcare
• Retail

• Mobile POS Terminals Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE