2026-08-03 Author : ZCS
China is the world's largest producer of POS terminal hardware. According to Mordor Intelligence, the China POS terminals market is valued at USD 7.28 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 9.37 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.17%. Several of the world's top five POS manufacturers by global shipment volume are headquartered in Shenzhen, Fuzhou, or Shanghai — yet the differences between them are significant. A payment terminal certified for EMV L1/L2 and designed for banking deployments is a fundamentally different product from an open-Android smart terminal built for restaurant ISVs.
This guide does not rank manufacturers by marketing spend or reputation. It evaluates nine major Chinese POS hardware companies across the dimensions that matter most to B2B buyers: payment certifications, SDK openness, OEM/ODM depth, TMS capability, and primary market fit. Use it as a shortlist tool before issuing RFQs.

Every manufacturer in this guide meets all four of the following criteria:
Manufacturers are listed alphabetically within sections, not ranked. The buyer-type recommendation section at the end provides scenario-based guidance.
| Manufacturer | Core Focus | PCI PTS | EMV L1/L2 | GMS | Open SDK | OEM/ODM | Primary Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAX Technology | Payment terminals | ✓ v7.0 | ✓ | Selective | Restricted | ✓ | Global (120+ countries) |
| Newland NPT | Smart POS + payment | ✓ | ✓ | Selective | Restricted | ✓ | Global (120+ countries) |
| LANDI (Ingenico China) | Smart POS + payment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partial | Limited | China, Asia, Americas |
| SUNMI | Android BIoT terminals | Selective | Selective | ✓ | ✓ Open | Limited | 200+ countries |
| ZCS Technology | Open Android POS + palm vein biometrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Open | ✓ | 100+ countries |
| SZZT Electronics | Payment security hardware | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Restricted | ✓ | 160+ countries |
| NEXGO | Payment terminals | ✓ | ✓ | Selective | Restricted | ✓ | 100+ countries |
| iMin Technology | Android POS terminals | Limited | Limited | ✓ | ✓ Open | Limited | 100+ countries |
| Telpo | Smart payment + biometrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partial | ✓ | 100+ countries |
GMS = Google Mobile Services certification. Open SDK = third-party apps installable without manufacturer approval. OEM/ODM = white-label hardware and firmware customisation available.
Founded: 2000 | Headquarters: Shenzhen, China | Website: paxtechnology.com
PAX is one of the world's largest payment terminal vendors by volume. Its 2025 annual results reported revenue of USD 749.8 million and a total installed base of over 100 million terminals across more than 120 countries. EMEA was its largest revenue region at 36% of global sales, followed by Latin America at 26%.
In 2025, Android-based products accounted for over 70% of PAX revenue — a deliberate shift away from legacy terminals. The A920Pro achieved EMVCo C-8 certification, and the A77 Mini became the first terminal globally certified under PCI PTS POI v7.0. Its MAXSTORE TMS platform connected over 16 million terminals worldwide.
Founded: 1994 | Headquarters: Fuzhou, China | Website: newlandnpt.com
Newland NPT has over 30 years in the payment industry and has deployed over 100 million terminals in more than 120 countries. The company employs over 1,200 people globally and maintains subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Brazil, Singapore, and the US. In December 2025, it partnered with NewBold Technologies to expand its Android terminal distribution across North America — its first direct US channel.
Its N950 SmartPOS received Girocard certification from the German Banking Industry Committee in June 2025, reflecting an active push into EU compliance markets. The portfolio spans countertop, mobile, unattended, and integrated terminals, many featuring large touchscreens and built-in barcode scanners.
Founded: 1992 | Headquarters: Fuzhou, China | Website: landiglobal.com
LANDI was founded in Fuzhou in 1992. Ingenico acquired a majority stake in 2008, and LANDI subsequently became the backbone of Ingenico's China operations. LANDI became fully independent in 2022. In January 2024, it completed its international brand launch as LANDI Global, establishing regional headquarters in Singapore, Paris, and Atlanta while maintaining its China manufacturing base. The company claims over 100 million terminals deployed and holds 500+ global patents.
Notably, LANDI introduced China's first Android-based payment terminal in 2015, establishing the Smart POS category domestically. It supports GMS and provides a merchant-facing software platform alongside its hardware.
Founded: 2013 | Headquarters: Singapore (Global HQ) | Website: sunmi.com
SUNMI is the largest Android-based Business IoT (BIoT) solution provider globally by 2024 revenue, holding over 10% market share in that category according to China Insights Consultancy. Its devices are deployed in over 200 countries and regions, and its cloud-connected monthly active device base reached approximately 4.9 million as of December 2024.
In 2025, SUNMI was elevated to Principal Participating Organization status within the PCI Security Standards Council — a rare recognition for a hardware manufacturer. It also became the first enterprise-focused provider named a Google Android Enterprise Gold Partner. In March 2026, SUNMI partnered with Wink and Qualcomm to bring biometric identity-driven payments to its Android terminal portfolio.
SUNMI's ecosystem is genuinely open: third-party Android applications install freely, and the Sunmi Cloud OS provides remote device management without locking ISVs into proprietary app stores.
Founded: 2009 | Headquarters: Shenzhen, China | Website: szzcs.com
ZCS combines open-Android architecture, GMS certification, PCI PTS and EMV compliance, and deep OEM/ODM capability in a single product line — with factory-direct pricing and low minimum order quantities that larger vendors rarely offer. Distributors and ISVs can pilot with small batches and scale without renegotiating terms, with customisation covering enclosure branding, firmware, and pre-loaded applications.
Its Android POS range supports NFC, EMV chip, magnetic stripe, and QR code in a single device. The open SDK allows third-party application deployment without manufacturer approval, backed by a TMS for remote firmware updates and fleet monitoring.
ZCS is also the only manufacturer in this guide with a dedicated palm vein recognition terminal line — a contactless biometric that authenticates by subsurface vascular pattern, suited to pharmacy, healthcare, and loyalty programmes that operate without a physical card. Markets served include Japan, Southeast Asia, the EU, the UK, the Middle East, and Africa.
Founded: 1993 | Headquarters: Shenzhen, China | Website: szztfintech.com
SZZT's core differentiation is payment security hardware. With an R&D team of over 800 engineers and 309 patents, the company specialises in encrypting PIN pads, payment terminals, ATM modules, and SoftPOS solutions. Its products are certified under PCI PTS, EMV L1/L2, ISO 9001, and VISA/Mastercard schemes.
SZZT ships to over 160 countries and regions across five continents, serving more than 10,000 customers with a cumulative installed base exceeding 10 million units. Its strength lies in financial-grade tamper resistance: hardware-level key storage, cryptographic modules, and tamper-evident casings designed for high-fraud-risk environments.
Founded: 2001 | Headquarters: Shenzhen, China | Website: nexgoglobal.com
NEXGO has shipped over 38 million POS terminals to more than 100 countries. It holds PCI PTS and EMV certifications, and its G-series terminals were among the first in China to achieve PCI 4.0 certification. The company has subsidiaries in Brazil, Dubai, and the United States, with particular strength in Latin American and African acquiring markets where it competes directly with PAX and Newland.
NEXGO supports OEM/ODM customisation and provides firmware development services. Its distribution is primarily through ISOs and regional payment processors rather than direct enterprise relationships, which gives it a different channel profile to SUNMI or iMin.
Founded: 2018 | Headquarters: Singapore | Website: imin.com
iMin is the newest entrant in this guide but has achieved rapid market penetration in Southeast Asia, where it holds the position of the leading Android POS hardware brand by its own account. It operates a dual manufacturing base across Shenzhen and Malaysia, providing supply chain flexibility.
In 2024, iMin became a GMS licensee and the first Android POS manufacturer recognised as a Google Android Enterprise Silver Partner. By 2025, its market coverage extended to over 100 countries, including the US (entered 2023), Japan (entered 2023), and Africa (entered 2025). Total funding raised stands at USD 5 million — a modest figure given the pace of its expansion.
iMin's devices run stock Android with an open application environment, and the company does not restrict third-party ISV deployments. Its hardware focuses on retail, F&B, hospitality, and logistics, with a design-led product philosophy that has produced multiple award-winning form factors.
Founded: 1999 | Headquarters: Foshan, China | Website: telpo.com.cn
Telpo is one of China's most comprehensive POS and smart terminal manufacturers by product breadth. Its factory covers 45,000 square metres with annual production capacity of 2 million units. In 2025, it upgraded its CNAS laboratory to 900 square metres across 12 testing zones including OTA, EMC, and climate chambers, supported by a 200-person R&D team. In January 2026, the company officially renamed itself from Guangdong Telpo Information Technology Co., Ltd. to Telpo Technology Co., Ltd.
Telpo serves four primary overseas business segments: Smart Retail, Smart Payment, Smart Transportation, and Biometric Security, with products deployed across 120+ countries. It holds PCI PTS and EMV certifications and supports GMS. Its biometric terminal range — covering facial recognition and fingerprint — positions it in identity verification and smart transit applications alongside standard payment deployments. Strategic partners include MTN, Vodafone, Alipay, Bank of China, and Burger King.
Payment service providers and acquiring banks require the deepest certification coverage. PAX, Newland NPT, and SZZT have the longest track records with EMV L1/L2 and PCI PTS validation across multiple schemes (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay). For EU deployments, verify scheme-specific approvals: Girocard (Germany), CB (France), and Bancomat (Italy) are not automatically covered by global EMV certification.
ISVs and software vendors should prioritise open SDK access and GMS certification. SUNMI, ZCS, and iMin allow third-party application installation without gatekeeping. SUNMI offers the largest global installed base for ISV partnership. ZCS adds payment certification depth for ISVs operating in regulated payment environments.
Regional distributors and OEM buyers should evaluate ODM flexibility, MOQ, and lead time alongside certifications. ZCS, NEXGO, PAX, and Telpo all support white-label hardware programmes. ZCS and Telpo offer deeper firmware-level customisation than NEXGO or PAX, which operate more standardised platforms.
System integrators in specialised verticals (transit, healthcare, biometrics) should evaluate Telpo and ZCS. Telpo's CNAS-certified biometric and transit terminal portfolio is purpose-built for these environments. ZCS adds palm vein recognition — a contactless biometric modality with specific advantages in hygiene-sensitive settings.
SME-focused distributors in Southeast Asia will find iMin and SUNMI offer the strongest combination of design quality, GMS support, open Android, and regional channel infrastructure at accessible price points.
Buyers frequently encounter certification terminology without a clear explanation of what each standard actually requires.
PCI PTS (Payment Card Industry PIN Transaction Security) governs the physical and logical security of devices that handle PIN entry. The current version is v7.0. Older devices may carry v5.x or v6.x approval — these remain valid until their expiry dates but cannot be newly certified under earlier versions. Devices without PCI PTS approval cannot be deployed in acquiring environments that process PIN-based card transactions. The PCI Security Standards Council publishes the full list of approved devices at pcisecuritystandards.org.
EMV Level 1 and Level 2 are separate certifications. EMVCo Level 1 tests the physical and electrical interface between the card and terminal. Level 2 tests the payment application logic. Both are required for a terminal to process chip card transactions. A terminal with only L1 certification cannot process EMV payments in production. EMVCo maintains the approved product registry at emvco.com.
GMS (Google Mobile Services) certification allows Android devices to ship with Google Play, Google Pay, and Google's core application suite. Non-GMS Android devices cannot run Google Pay or access the Play Store — a significant limitation in markets where Google ecosystem integration is expected by merchants or software partners.
UnionPay certification is required for terminals deployed in mainland China for domestic card acceptance. Several manufacturers in this guide hold UnionPay approvals alongside international scheme certifications.
Q1. Which Chinese POS manufacturer offers the most open SDK for third-party application development?
SUNMI, ZCS, and iMin operate genuinely open Android environments where ISVs can install and distribute applications without manufacturer approval. SUNMI has the largest global partner ecosystem. ZCS adds payment certification depth that allows open-SDK terminals to also handle regulated card transactions.
Q2. What is the difference between a payment terminal and an Android POS terminal?
A payment terminal is purpose-built for card transaction processing, certified under PCI PTS and EMV, and typically operates within a closed, carrier-grade software environment. An Android POS terminal runs a standard Android OS, supports open application installation, and may or may not carry payment security certifications depending on the model. Some manufacturers — including ZCS, PAX, and Newland — produce devices that qualify as both.
Q3. Do Chinese POS terminals meet international payment security standards?
Yes, provided the specific model holds the relevant certification. PCI PTS and EMV L1/L2 are scheme-agnostic international standards administered by the PCI Security Standards Council and EMVCo respectively. PAX, Newland, ZCS, SZZT, NEXGO, and Telpo all hold active certifications across multiple device lines. Buyers should verify certification status directly on the PCI SSC approved device list and EMVCo product registry, as certifications are model-specific and expire.
Q4. How long does OEM/ODM customisation typically take with a Chinese manufacturer?
Lead times vary by customisation depth. For firmware and branding customisation on an existing hardware platform, four to eight weeks is common. For hardware-level modifications — custom enclosures, additional peripherals, or new connectivity modules — twelve to twenty weeks is more typical, depending on tooling and certification requirements for the modified design.
Q5. Which Chinese POS manufacturers support GMS and Google Pay integration?
LANDI, SUNMI, ZCS, iMin, and Telpo hold GMS certification across their current product lines. PAX and Newland offer GMS on selective models. SZZT does not offer GMS products. Buyers who require Google Pay acceptance or Play Store application deployment should confirm GMS certification status at the specific model level before procurement.