Now Reading: Apple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank credit cards
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Apple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank credit cards
Apple launched Apple Pay in India on 30 September, initially supporting Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Eligible iPhones must be XR or later with iOS 18 or later, Apple Watch support starts with Series 6 running watchOS 11 or later, paired with an iPhone XR or later.
To set up, open the Wallet app, tap the plus button, or add a card through the Axis Bank app. At payment, double-click the side or Home button, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or passcode, and hold the device near a contactless reader. Apple says the actual card number is never shared with merchants.
Industry experts note that UPI accounts for over 80 per cent of digital payments in India and is unlikely to be displaced. Research Director Tarun Pathak of Counterpoint Research said a key factor will be how quickly other banks join, as that determines the addressable base.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Businesstoday.in delivers a neutral how-to guide focused on device compatibility and setup steps, with no commentary on market impact. Sentinel Assam, while also factual, leads with UPI's dominance and includes expert analysis from Prabhu Ram (CMR) and Tarun Pathak (Counterpoint) questioning Apple Pay's broader relevance. Both sources agree on the launch fact and Axis Bank partnership, the difference is framing: one treats it as a product feature, the other as an ecosystem move in a UPI-dominated market. Neither outlet is pro-government or critical, both are neutral-report on this story.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): businesstoday.in (neutral report), sentinelassam.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
