Apple Pay Debuts in India After Years of Waiting, Axis Bank Becomes First Partner
What Happened
Apple Pay has officially launched in India, marking the service's long-awaited entry into one of the world's largest digital payments markets. Axis Bank is the first banking partner, allowing eligible customers to add their cards to Apple Pay and make contactless payments using iPhones and Apple Watches. The service requires an iPhone XR or newer running iOS 18+, while Apple Watch support starts from Series 6 with watchOS 11+.
Key Takeaways
Apple's entry strengthens competition in India's rapidly growing digital payments ecosystem. While the rollout initially starts with Axis Bank, more banks are expected to join, potentially expanding Apple Pay's reach among premium smartphone users.