Apple has officially launched Apple Pay in India, bringing its contactless payment service to users across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The service allows eligible customers to make payments in stores, apps and on the web without entering card details, PINs or OTPs at checkout.
Apple Pay Comes to India With Contactless Payments
With Apple Pay, users can make in-store payments by double-clicking the side button or Home button on their iPhone, authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode, and holding the device near a contactless payment terminal. Apple Watch users can similarly authenticate and tap their watch against the reader.
The service is also available for purchases within supported apps and websites on iPhone and iPad. Apple says Mac support is coming soon. One of the key aspects of Apple Pay is its approach to payment security. Instead of storing the actual card number on the device or Apple's servers, Apple uses a unique Device Account Number that is encrypted and stored in the Secure Element on the device. The card number is also not shared with merchants during transactions.
How To Set Up Apple Pay in India
Eligible Axis Bank customers can add their cards to Apple Pay directly through the latest version of the Axis Bank app. Alternatively, users can open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the ‘+' button and follow the on-screen instructions to add an eligible card. Once the card is added, users can start making payments using their Apple devices. Apple says customers will continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their cards when using Apple Pay.
Apple Pay is launching with support across a wide range of merchants and apps in India. These include Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato, among others.
Apple has also worked with payment service providers including Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline to enable Apple Pay across their merchant networks.
Apple says Apple Pay is now available in more than 90 countries and regions and works with over 11,000 bank and network partners globally.
Apple Pay India Availability and Supported Devices
Apple Pay requires an iPhone XR or newer running iOS 18 or later. On Apple Watch, the service requires an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer running watchOS 11 or later, paired with an iPhone XR or newer.
The launch currently focuses on Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards, making Axis Bank the first banking partner announced for Apple Pay in India. Apple Pay's India launch is less about introducing another payment option and more about bringing Apple's tightly integrated hardware-and-software payment experience to the country's already mature digital payments market. The bigger question now is how quickly Apple expands bank and card support beyond Axis Bank.
