Square has announced the launch of Square Handheld, giving Australian businesses, from fine-dining venues to fashion retailers, a new way to serve on the move. Combining a sleek, durable design with versatile, all-in-one software, Square Handheld empowers sellers to manage everything from payments to back-of-house operations, all from a device that fits in their pocket.
Power that fits in your pocket
Built for fast-moving environments like bustling cafรฉs, busy restaurants, and dynamic retail floors, Square Handheld delivers peak performance in a palm-sized package. Weighing just over 300 grams and under an inch thick, itโs IP54-rated to withstand splashes and dust – ready for the rigours of a full shift, no matter the conditions. With a 6.2สบ Gorilla Glass touchscreen and a robust battery that powers through even the busiest days, Square Handheld goes beyond card payments. Itโs equipped with advanced features including:
- Built-in barcode scanning for speedy checkouts, gift cards, and inventory updates
- A 16 MP camera for capturing product photos and updating item libraries
- Seamless integration with Squareโs full software ecosystem, making it easy to manage operations on the go
Whether itโs taking orders tableside, scanning stock in the storeroom, or finalising a sale on the retail floor, Square Handheld gives Australian businesses the freedom, flexibility, and reliability they need to serve customers better.
Adaptable software for every type of business
Square Handheld is powered by the next-generation Square Point of Sale software, bringing years of commerce innovation and technology leadership into a single, powerful hub for running any size or type of business. With customisable Modes โ including Full Service, Quick Service, Bar, and Retail โ sellers can tailor their Handheld experience to suit their specific needs.
Device-specific features like fast-access settings and real-time push notifications make it easy to adapt to any workflow. Restaurants and retailers โ which together represent around half of Square’s global gross payment volume โ are especially well-positioned to benefit from the new functionality.
Aussie hospo businesses in particular are set to see immediate impact. The large, bright display allows staff to view their full section at a glance, streamlining management across indoor and outdoor tables. The interface follows natural service flow โ from specials to sides to order modifications โ and the slim, pocket-friendly design ensures it stays out of the way between tables. With an all-day battery and rugged build, itโs ready to go from morning rush to evening service.
One of the first businesses in Australia to use Square Handheld was Canberra-based restaurant, Lunetta, who has praised the design and ingenuity behind the hardware.
โSquare has been integral to how we run our business from the very beginning, and Square Handheld has elevated that even further,โ says Matt Keeley, Manager at Lunetta. โIt blends beautifully into our space, both visually and operationally. The design is so clean and discreet, it doesnโt interrupt the atmosphere weโve worked hard to create. Instead, it enables our team to take payments and orders right at the table with ease and elegance. That kind of fluid, unobtrusive service helps us maintain the warm, personal experience our guests remember, and return for.โ
Continued innovation for Aussie businesses
Square Handheld builds on more than a decade of hardware innovation, from the original Square Reader to Square Register and Square Terminal. With its slim, durable design and the latest commerce software built in, Square Handheld reaffirms Squareโs commitment to creating tools that meet the evolving needs of modern businesses in Australia.
“Running a restaurant or retail shop today requires speed, efficiency, and flexibility. Square Handheld was designed to help sellers deliver great service anywhere their customers are โ whether thatโs taking orders at the table, completing a sale on the shop floor, or checking stock on the go,” said Colin Birney, Head of Business Development at Square. “With Square Handheld, weโre helping businesses across Australia be more productive, and thrive in an increasingly dynamic market.”
Starting today, Australian businesses can purchase Square Handheld online via Square Shop, for $349. To complement the device, Square has partnered with leading accessories brand Belkin to offer premium protective cases in a range of colours, for $59. These cases help protect Square Handheld from accidental drops and scratches, while keeping its sleek, pocket-friendly profile.
Square also upgrading software offering
Squareโs product innovation is in full swing. Alongside Square Handheld, Square is also unveiling a whole suite of software solutions to make running a business simpler. No matter the size, structure or sector.
Square has reimagined its Point of Sale experience with a powerful new app designed to meet the needs of every type of business, all in one place. Whether running a fast-paced bar, a growing retail store, or operating solo as a service provider, the new Square Point of Sale app is built to flex around how businesses operate, not the other way around.
By unifying the best of Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail, and Square Appointments into a single, streamlined platform, Square is giving sellers more control, more clarity, and less clutter. Customisable layouts, intuitive workflows, and industry-specific tools make it easy to manage everything from complex menus and in-store stock to customer appointments. The result is a simpler way to run operations and a better experience for customers, and allows businesses to more easily open new revenue streams.
โSimplifying our Square Point of Sale app enables businesses to spend less time on admin and more time on their craft and delivering great experiences for their customers,โ says Birney. โFor Australian sellers, having a single, unified app to manage payments, inventory, online orders, and customer relationships means they can operate more efficiently and scale with confidence, no matter their size or industry.โ
Other new software highlights coming to the Square ecosystem include direct online ordering for restaurants (removing costly third-party commission fees for takeout orders), the addition of combos for restaurant sellers, a revamped inventory dashboard for retailers, custom booking forms for health and beauty professionals, and high-value invoice support for service businesses. Together, these updates reflect Squareโs continued commitment to building flexible tools that help local businesses thrive, however they operate.
“One thing that Australian hospitality businesses have been clear about is a delivery solution that protects their margins while maintaining quality service,” said Birney. “With Square’s On-Demand Delivery, we’re eliminating the pain of high commission fees while giving restaurants complete control over their delivery operations. Sellers can now offer professional delivery through their own Square Online ordering page, integrate it seamlessly with their POS and kitchen systems, and keep more money in their pocket. It’s about giving Australian restaurants the freedom to grow their delivery business on their own terms.”
These improvements are part of Squareโs broader seasonal product rollout – Square Releases – which delivers biannual software updates based on feedback from Australian sellers. The next batch of product updates will happen later in 2025.
To learn more about Square Handheld and Square’s ecosystem of business solutions, visit the Square Handheld product page.