Sincere question - how widespread is actual check usage in the US nowadays? As in, would "mail her a check" be a colloquialism for an Apple Pay transfer or similar, or would it mean just what it says - write out a check, mail it, wait for her to cash it?

(Question comes from Norway, a small country with only a handful of banks which very early collaborated to get electronic payment options available - to the extent that debet card terminals are everywhere, even kids have cards - and I think the last time I saw a check was in 1992 or so, at which point my reaction was "wow, do these still exist?")

Checks are still an everyday thing in the USA and Canada for rent, grocery stores and more-expensive services.

Checks are generally not used for small amounts, and where the Not Sufficient Fee (NSF) fees would be a problem. So usually not for restaurants, barbers, etc.

Banks until recently issued free "basic design" checks, but it looks like my national-level bank stopped doing that last year.

The advantages of checks over eletronic payments is that you don't need an always online network, and you can mail or give checks in advance of the payment date.

My barber has an iPhone, so I offered to Apple Pay him (no fee if linked to debit/cash account). All I needed was his phone number.

Zelle, works with banks and only needs email/phone.