Apple Pay has finally debuted in India. Here is what the launch means for iPhone users and the payments market.

How it works: users add their bank cards to the Wallet app, then tap their iPhone or Apple Watch on contactless terminals to pay. Authentication happens through Face ID or Touch ID, and card numbers are never shared with merchants.

Why it took so long: India already has UPI, which is free and ubiquitous, handling billions of transactions a month. Global wallet services have struggled to find a niche in a market where payments cost nothing.

What changes now: Apple Pay enters a crowded field with Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm. Its edge is the premium Apple user base and tight integration with Apple devices. It may appeal most to users who already pay internationally and want a single wallet.

The timing is interesting: NPCI’s new MDR framework for select UPI transactions takes effect on October 15, potentially reshaping the economics of digital payments in India just as Apple arrives.