Apple Pay vs GPay and PhonePe: What could change for iPhone users

Twelve-Year Wait

Apple Pay launched in the US in 2014, but India has had to wait nearly 12 years for the service. Now reports suggest an India launch could come as early as October, opening a new chapter in Apple's push into one of the world's biggest digital-payment markets.

UPI Mystery

The biggest question is not whether Apple Pay is coming, but what it will actually do when it arrives. Reports point to an initial credit-card-focused rollout, while other reports have suggested UPI could also be supported, leaving one crucial piece of the launch puzzle unresolved.

Axis First

Apple could begin its India journey with Axis Bank credit cards before expanding to other banks. With around 1.63 crore active Axis credit cards reported to be in circulation by July, the partnership could give Apple a sizeable starting pool of potential users.

QR Problem

For Indian users, the biggest surprise could come at the neighbourhood shop. If Apple Pay launches without UPI, tapping an iPhone on a contactless card machine would work, but scanning the QR code displayed by a merchant to make a UPI payment may not initially be possible.

Payment Shakeup

UPI has become deeply embedded in everyday Indian spending, with more than 24.5 billion transactions reported in August 2026. That makes Apple's entry different from a conventional payment launch: the real test may be whether iPhone users see enough reason to change habits built around PhonePe and Google Pay.