I've used contactless payments since 2004 and I still experience reader failures nearly 20% of the time. But you don't need a phone or app to make these types of payments. Merely a chip sticker like those from Citi or Discover attached to a phone case does the trick and without battery anxiety.

Three of the early contactless companies are now back pedaling on RFID. 7-Eleven eliminated their RFID readers. Chase stopped issuing new Blink Freedom cards (unless you have Visa Signature) and in recent months contactless has stopped working at my local CVS's. Apple needs to provide a compelling reason for the merchants to embrace contactless again.