Apple Pay is getting more useful this fall, with iOS 27 changing how you choose cards, redeem rewards, and interact with stores before paying.
At the same time, one of Apple Pay’s biggest remaining U.S. holdouts is finally coming aboard. Walmart has started accepting contactless payments at select stores, with a nationwide rollout planned before the end of 2026.
Here are the biggest changes you’ll notice.
Switching cards takes fewer taps
One of the simplest improvements in iOS 27 fixes something that could be unnecessarily cumbersome: changing cards during checkout.
You can now swipe directly between cards on the main Apple Pay payment screen or open a grid showing all the cards in your Wallet.
Apple is also surfacing more useful information before you pay, including available credit, rewards balances and pay-later options when supported.
American Express is taking advantage of the new interface by letting Membership Rewards members spend points directly during Apple Pay purchases online and in apps.
A new “Use Rewards” option shows your available points and lets you apply them toward some or all of the purchase. The redemption rate is 0.7 cents per point, meaning 10,000 Membership Rewards points knocks $70 off the transaction.
That’s convenient, although it’s worth checking the value before using it. Membership Rewards points can be worth more when redeemed in other ways, particularly through eligible travel partners.
Your iPhone can share more with a store
Tap to Share expands the familiar tap-your-iPhone interaction beyond simply making a payment.
At participating stores, tapping your iPhone against a merchant’s iPhone can securely provide information such as your contact details, shipping address, or loyalty account instead of requiring you to enter it manually.
You can also see what’s in your basket on your own iPhone before paying, including whether expected discounts have been applied. Once everything looks right, you can complete the transaction with Apple Pay.
iOS 27 also adds the ability to reload supported debit cards from within Apple Wallet, including during checkout. Availability depends on your bank, and Apple hasn’t published a complete list of participating institutions.
Walmart is finally accepting Apple Pay
The other big Apple Pay change isn’t coming from Apple. Walmart has begun rolling out contactless payments at stores in Arkansas, ending years of resistance to Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay services.
The retailer plans to bring contactless payments to its U.S. stores nationwide before the end of 2026, with Sam’s Club included in the rollout.
Walmart had long pushed shoppers toward its own payment system rather than enabling the NFC terminals required for Apple Pay.
Its change of direction removes one of the most conspicuous holes in Apple Pay’s U.S. retail coverage. Once the rollout reaches your local Walmart, you’ll finally be able to pay with the same iPhone or Apple Watch tap you can already use at many other major retailers.
