iOS 12 Apple Pay Suica bugs are causing headaches for some users getting exchanges for iPhone X Suica problem devices (a NFC hardware problem across all iOS versions): users find they have the same Suica problems running iOS 12 (iOS 12.0 specific software bugs) on NFC hardware problem free Revision B iPhone X devices. Unfortunately for iPhone X users the 2 issues merge in a perfect storm. It’s confusing and only natural to assume nothing is fixed and yet another Apple Support runaround iPhone X exchange is needed to fix it. If you are using iOS 11.4.1 on Apple Pay Suica iPhone X, I suggest staying with it and not updating to iOS 12 just yet.
Apple Pay Suica users who have updated to iOS 12.0 and watchOS 5.0 report the following problems:
- Transit gate error flicker
- Unresponsive Express Transit at transit gates with Face ID/Touch ID/Passcode Apple Pay authentication request
- Suica card balance doesn’t update
- Slow or failed Apple Pay Suica Recharge attempts
Affected devices: iPhone 7/7 Plus (JP models only), iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X, Apple Watch Series 2 (JP Model only), Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 4.
iPhone XS is not affected by iOS 12 Apple Pay Suica issues thanks to A12 Bionic.
Fortunately iOS 12.1 has Suica bug fixes: Apple Engineering closed my original iOS 11.2.5 Suica error bug report filed in January 2018 saying the issue has been fixed in iOS 12.1. iOS 12.1 developer beta 4 went out earlier this week with 2 more likely to go before the official release. The just announced October 30 Apple Special Event would be a natural iOS 12.1 official drop date.
UPDATE
iOS 12.3 fixes all Apple Pay Suica software issues for all iPhone users with very fast performance, a highly recommended update for all Apple Pay Suica users.