Apple Pay Finally Launches in India After Years on the Sidelines

Apple Pay has launched in India, according to TechCrunch, ending years in which the contactless payment service remained absent from one of the world's largest smartphone markets. The service is reportedly launching with support from Axis Bank among its initial banking partners.

India's mobile payments landscape has been dominated by domestic systems, particularly the government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has become the default method for digital transactions across much of the country. Apple Pay's entry places it in a market where established local alternatives already have deep consumer adoption.

Limited Bank Support at Launch

Notably, some of India's largest banks are holding off on supporting Apple Pay initially, according to sources cited by TechCrunch, which could limit the service's reach among iPhone users in the country at launch. Broader bank participation would likely be needed for Apple Pay to gain significant traction against UPI-based alternatives.

Apple has previously expanded Apple Pay to numerous markets worldwide, and its arrival in India follows years of anticipation given the size of the country's smartphone user base and Apple's own growing retail and manufacturing presence there.

Further details on the full rollout timeline and additional banking partners were not immediately available.