Apple Pay could rival Samsung Pay in a major market starting this year

Apple Pay could launch in India later this year, according to a new report. It would compete with Samsung Pay, which is part of Samsung Wallet on Galaxy smartphones and smartwatches. However, Samsung may have little to worry about, as Apple Pay is expected to launch with significant limitations in both features and payment options.

A Business Standard report claims that Apple is preparing to introduce Apple Pay in India in late 2026. The company has reportedly been in discussions with banks, card networks, financial institutions, and Indian government agencies to lay the groundwork for the launch. It will be available on Apple Watches and iPhones.

At first, Apple Pay is expected to support only tap-to-pay functionality. This would allow iPhone and Apple Watch users to make contactless payments at physical stores (via point-of-sale machines) using NFC if their credit or debit cards are stored on their devices. It will lack Unified Payments Interface (UPI) integration, which is the most widely used method for mobile payments and peer-to-peer transfers in India.

In comparison, Samsung Pay supports in-store payments via NFC and QR codes. It also has UPI integration. Samsung Wallet also allows users to store boarding passes, coupons, digital keys, tickets, ID cards, medical records, membership cards, and passwords. Samsung Pay and Samsung Wallet are far more useful than Apple Pay.