Apple Pay Introduces Four New Features and Expands to Walmart Stores

Apple has announced a series of updates that will make its mobile payment service even more convenient, with four new features rolling out in the upcoming iOS 27 release and a major retail partnership that is already underway.

The most visible change comes from a redesigned Apple Pay checkout interface that will debut in iOS 27. The new design lets users swipe between cards on the main screen and tap a card to reveal a grid of all cards stored in Apple Wallet. It also displays key information about each card—including rewards, balances, “Pay Later” options and other details—so shoppers can choose the right card at a glance. The beta of iOS 27 is available to developers and public beta testers, and Apple plans to ship the update to all iPhone users in the fall.

A second update is a partnership with American Express that allows Apple Pay users to redeem Membership Rewards points at checkout. When a customer is shopping online or in an app with an AmEx card, a new “Use Rewards” option appears next to the points balance. The points can be applied to cover all or part of the purchase, and each point is worth 0.7 cents. For example, 10,000 points would give a $70 credit on the transaction. The feature is integrated directly into the Apple Pay checkout flow, so users do not need to leave the app to redeem their points.

Apple’s third addition is a “Tap to Share” feature that extends its existing Tap to Pay functionality for in‑store purchases. The feature will launch this fall and lets shoppers tap their iPhone against a participating merchant’s iPhone to share contact details, shipping addresses, loyalty‑reward information and more. While the transaction is in progress, customers can see a live view of the items in their basket, which helps ensure that all sales, discounts and taxes are applied correctly. Once the items are confirmed, the shopper can finish the payment on their phone with Apple Pay.

The fourth announced change concerns debit‑card management. Apple says that later this year it will allow users to view and manage their debit‑card balances directly inside the Apple Pay interface. The feature will also let users add money to a supported debit card from Apple Wallet or during checkout. While Apple has been working on this capability for years, it is expected to launch with the iOS 27 update.

Apple has also expanded the reach of its payment service in retail. Walmart announced that it is beginning a nationwide rollout of Apple Pay and broader contactless support, starting in Arkansas this week. The retailer says the service will be available at all U.S. stores by the end of the year. Sam’s Club, another Walmart‑owned membership warehouse club, is also adding Apple Pay as part of the same initiative.

The updates come as Apple Pay continues to grow in popularity. The company does not publish usage figures for the service, but industry analysts estimate that the number of active Apple Pay users has surpassed 400 million worldwide. The new features aim to make the experience smoother for both shoppers and merchants, while the Walmart rollout signals a broader acceptance of the technology in brick‑and‑mortar stores.

Apple’s strategy appears to be to keep Apple Pay at the forefront of the mobile‑payment market by simplifying the checkout process and adding new ways for users to save money and share information. The upcoming iOS 27 release will bring the redesigned checkout flow and the debit‑card management tools to all iPhone users, while the AmEx partnership and Tap to Share will be available immediately to anyone who has the updated software. Walmart’s rollout will add another major retailer to the growing list of merchants that support Apple Pay, further cementing the service’s place in everyday commerce.