Apple Pay India: iPhone users can now tap to pay

Apple Pay is finally in India. iPhone users with supported Axis Bank cards can now tap to pay in shops and pay inside apps and websites. But there is a catch many users should know before they use the service.

Apple Pay is now live in India

As reported by The Hindu, Apple Pay went live in India on September 30, giving iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users a new way to make card payments. The first launch is limited to Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Support for Mac is set to come soon. Apple Pay lets users add an eligible card to Apple Wallet and use it at stores, apps and websites. Users can double-click the side button, use Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode, and hold the device near a contactless reader.

The service uses NFC, a wireless system for tap payments. Users do not need to swipe or insert the card at a supported terminal. The company says it can work without Wi-Fi or mobile data for in-store payments. The launch comes 12 years after Apple first introduced Apple Pay. India already has contactless card payments through other services.

Apple Pay India: Only some cards work for now

Apple Pay’s first India launch supports eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. RuPay cards are not supported. UPI is also not part of the first launch. That makes Apple Pay different from the payment apps many Indians use each day. UPI moves money from one bank account to another. Apple’s application uses a linked credit card, with payment handled through the card network.

Axis Bank had 16.29 million credit cards in August, while India had 124.05 million in total. So the single-bank launch gives Apple Pay a smaller starting base. Apple has been in talks with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, but no deal had been finalised at launch. Users can add an eligible card through the Wallet app. Axis Bank also allows cardholders to add supported cards through its mobile banking app. Card rewards continue as usual.

Simple payments with a focus on safety

A real card number is not stored on the device or Apple servers. Instead, Apple Pay uses a unique Device Account Number. It is kept in the device’s Secure Element. Payments can be confirmed with Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode. Users do not have to type the card PIN or an OTP at checkout. If an iPhone is lost, putting it into Lost Mode can turn off Apple Pay on that device.

Apple Pay can be used at participating stores, apps and websites. Apple lists merchants such as Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Croma, Tata 1mg and Zomato. More businesses and banks may join over time. India is a huge digital payments market, led by UPI. Apple Pay is entering with a card-based model, not as a replacement for UPI. For iPhone users with an eligible Axis Bank card, the change is simple. Add the card, verify it, and tap.

Author’s Opinion

Apple Pay entering India is a useful change for iPhone users who already prefer cards. Still, its first reach is limited. Wider bank support will matter. UPI remains central to daily payments, so Apple Pay’s growth will be worth watching.

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