iOS 27 redesigns Apple Pay to cut checkout time by 20%

iOS 27 delivers Apple Pay’s biggest redesign in years, overhauling the entire checkout flow to make paying with iPhone, Apple Watch, or Mac faster and more intuitive. Users will see a cleaner interface, fewer taps, and smarter autofill for cards, shipping details, and coupons. The update lands with iOS 27’s public beta this summer, likely shipping alongside the iPhone 16 in September.

This isn’t just a polish job. Apple Pay has grown crowded with features like Tap to Pay, installment plans, and loyalty integrations, but the checkout screen hasn’t kept pace. Rivals like Google Pay and Samsung Pay already streamline steps with AI-driven suggestions and one-tap rebates. Apple’s redesign cuts clutter by grouping actions—like adding a new card or applying a coupon—into fewer screens and using on-device AI to predict what you’ll need next. Behind the scenes, Apple has rewritten the underlying code to support richer animations and smoother transitions, even on older iPhones.

Early testers report the new flow cuts checkout time by about 20%, according to 9to5Mac’s hands-on. Apple is also testing a “Pay Later” button that surfaces installment options directly in the same UI, rather than hiding them behind a menu. Merchants will need to update their payment buttons to support the new APIs, but Apple says most integrations will work automatically with no extra code.

The redesign matters because Apple Pay handles billions of transactions yearly across 70+ countries. A faster, more reliable experience could nudge more users away from cards and toward Apple’s ecosystem. It also sets the stage for future features like biometric verification mid-checkout and tighter integration with banking apps—moves that could further lock in Apple’s role as the middleman between shoppers and stores.