I don't understand how retrieving a phone from a pocket is somehow less convenient than retrieving a wallet from a pocket, and then retrieving the card from the wallet. That's 1 step versus 2 steps.

The convenience comes from leaving your wallet at home. Also, a lost card is a major problem. A lost phone is fine, nobody can do anything with it unless they know your PIN and you can locate it through cell network/bluetooth tracking.

There's not that much fuss with my phone - double tap the side button, look at it to pass a face recognition check, then wave it over the chip reader.

The phone has advantages in that it’s more secure (because you’re not giving the merchant your real card number so when they inevitably have a hack, you don’t need to get your card replaced), and that you can carry multiple cards without taking up any extra space. Also, most people are playing on their phones while they wait to check out so it’s already in their hand.

At least on my country contactless with a card only works up to a limit (€50). Beyond that amount you need to input your pin code.

With a phone, no pin code. With a smartwatch either, and that's my preferred way. No need to pull anything out of my pocket.

Using the phone payment is a convenient to me as I don't have to remember the PIN.

I double click my power button and Apple Pay is there. Way more convenient for me than to pull my wallet out of my purse, pull my card out, wave or insert it, put it back in the wallet, and put the wallet back in my purse.

It’s not for everyone, but I definitely find it more convenient.

Phone out of pocket -> swipe is one less step than wallet out of pocket -> card out of wallet -> swipe.

Samsung here. I pull my phone out of my pocket and without turning on the screen, slide my thumb along the bottom of the screen. Actually faster than pulling cash out of my wallet.