Apple Pay is picking up four new capabilities this year, and Walmart is finally joining the platform after years as one of its most conspicuous holdouts.
A redesigned checkout experience
The most visible change arrives with iOS 27, which overhauls the Apple Pay checkout interface on websites and in apps.
The updated design lets users swipe between cards directly on the main payment screen or tap to pull up a grid of all saved cards.
Individual card details are also more accessible on that screen, including rewards balances, pay-later options, and available credit.
iOS 27 is currently in beta and is scheduled to release publicly this fall.
American Express points and debit reloads
Apple and American Express have partnered to let cardholders pay with Membership Rewards points directly inside the Apple Pay checkout flow.
When using an eligible Amex card for online or in-app purchases, a new “Use Rewards” option displays the available points balance.
Cardholders can apply points to cover part or all of a transaction, with each point valued at 0.7 cents, meaning 10,000 points offset $70 of a purchase.
Later this year, Apple Pay will also let users reload supported debit card balances without leaving the Wallet app, either from the card detail view or during checkout.
Tap to Share for in-store shopping
A feature called Tap to Share, launching this fall, extends the existing Tap to Pay on iPhone infrastructure to create a closer connection between a shopper’s iPhone and a merchant’s device.
According to Apple, the feature enables “secure sharing of information, such as email and other contact information, shipping address, loyalty rewards information, and more” with a single tap at participating retailers.
Shoppers can also view their basket in real time to confirm items and verify that discounts have been applied correctly before completing payment through Apple Pay.
Walmart comes aboard
Separately from Apple’s feature announcements, Walmart confirmed this month that it is rolling out Apple Pay support across its U.S. stores, including Sam’s Club.
The rollout began this week in Arkansas and is expected to reach all U.S. locations by the end of 2026.
Walmart had long resisted contactless payment standards that competing retailers adopted years ago, making it one of the last major American chains to accept Apple Pay.
For iPhone users who shop at Walmart regularly, the change means they will no longer need to carry a physical card or use Walmart’s own payment app to check out.
