If you’ve ever fumbled at checkout trying to pay with a different card, iOS 27 fixes one of Apple Pay’s most persistent annoyances. Apple redesigned the payment sheet so you can now swipe between your cards right on the main screen — and see rewards, balances, and pay-later options before you double-click to confirm. It’s a small change on paper, but it reshapes how millions of people choose which card to tap every day.
Below we break down exactly how the new card-switching flow works, what information now appears on the sheet, and how it differs from the clunkier iOS 26 experience.
What changed: the two new ways to switch cards
In iOS 27, the Apple Pay payment sheet gives you two intuitive ways to pick a card:
- Swipe left or right directly on the card shown at the top of the checkout sheet to move through the cards stored in your Wallet.
- Tap the card to open a grid-style view showing all your available Apple Pay cards at once, so you can jump straight to the one you want.
Both gestures do what your instincts already told you they should do. That’s the whole point — Apple aligned the interface with the behavior people were already attempting.
Rewards and balances now appear on the sheet
The bigger upgrade is what you can now see while you swipe. Depending on the card and what your bank or the merchant supplies, the payment sheet can surface:
- Card rewards (points or cash-back details for eligible cards)
- Balances, including a debit account balance
- Pay Later / installment options where offered
- Other payment details a merchant needs to complete your order
Merchants and developers control exactly which details show up, based on the information they need for a given transaction. The goal is to let you make a more informed payment decision at the exact moment you’re deciding — instead of guessing which card earns the most or has room on it.
How iOS 26 handled it (and why it frustrated people)
In iOS 26, the payment sheet was far less intuitive. Most people’s instinct was to tap the card itself to switch it — but tapping the card actually opened the address-editing screen, not a card picker. To change cards, you had to hunt for a separate button lower down on the sheet. The result was a lot of mis-taps and a checkout flow that fought your muscle memory.
iOS 27 removes that mismatch entirely. The card is now the control, exactly as you’d expect.
iOS 26 vs. iOS 27 at a glance
| Action | iOS 26 | iOS 27 |
|---|---|---|
| Switch to another card | Tap a separate button lower on the sheet | Swipe on the card, or tap it for a grid |
| Tapping the card itself | Opened the address-editing screen | Opens a grid of all your cards |
| See rewards / balance before paying | Not shown on the sheet | Shown when your bank/merchant supports it |
| Overall feel | Extra taps, easy to mis-tap | Fewer taps, matches your instincts |
A worked example
Say you’re buying a $240 pair of running shoes in a retailer’s app. You have three cards in Wallet: a travel card that earns 3x points on this category, a cash-back card, and a debit card.
- In iOS 26: The sheet defaults to your cash-back card. You tap the card hoping to switch — and land on the address screen. You back out, find the change-card button, and finally pick your travel card. You have no idea what points you’ll earn until later.
- In iOS 27: The sheet opens on the default card. You swipe once and see your travel card with its rewards detail surfaced. Recognizing it earns 3x on this purchase (roughly 720 points on a $240 order), you keep it selected and double-click to pay. Total time: a couple of seconds, no mis-taps.
That’s the everyday value of the redesign — the information you need to choose the right card is finally in front of you at the moment of payment.
Other Apple Pay upgrades arriving with iOS 27
The card-switching redesign shipped alongside several related Apple Pay features. A few worth knowing:
- American Express Membership Rewards at checkout: Eligible Amex cardholders can see a “Use Rewards” option and pay with points online and in apps. Apple and Amex value the points at roughly 0.7 cents each (about 10,000 points for a $70 credit) — a rate that’s fine for convenience but usually lower than redeeming points for travel, so weigh it before you tap.
- Debit card reloading: With select banks, you can add money to a supported debit card right inside Apple Wallet — during checkout or on its own.
- Tap to Share: An extension of Tap to Pay on iPhone that lets you securely share details like email, shipping address, and loyalty info with a participating merchant’s iPhone for a faster in-store checkout.
Availability varies by bank and merchant. Rewards, balances, and pay-later details only appear when your card issuer and the store support surfacing them, so don’t be surprised if some cards show more information than others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to turn on the new Apple Pay card-switching flow?
No. The redesigned checkout sheet is part of iOS 27 itself, so once your iPhone is updated to iOS 27, the swipe-and-grid card switching is on by default. There’s no separate setting to enable.
Why don’t I see rewards or a balance on some of my cards?
Those details are supplied by your card issuer and the merchant, not generated by Apple. If a bank hasn’t enabled the feature for your card, or the merchant doesn’t request that info, the sheet simply won’t show it. Support is expanding, so cards that don’t display it today may later.
Is paying with Amex Membership Rewards points a good deal?
It’s convenient, but at roughly 0.7 cents per point the value is modest. Redeeming Membership Rewards for travel through Amex’s transfer partners often stretches each point further. Use points at checkout for small, occasional purchases — not as your main redemption strategy.
Does the redesign work in stores as well as in apps?
The swipe-to-switch and grid card picker appear on the in-app and website payment sheet where you’re actively choosing a card. In-store contactless payments still center on your default card and Face ID/Touch ID confirmation, while the separate Tap to Share feature handles richer in-store interactions with participating merchants.
The bottom line
iOS 27’s Apple Pay redesign is one of those changes you feel immediately: swipe to switch cards, tap for a grid, and glance at rewards or balance before you confirm. It replaces the confusing iOS 26 flow — where tapping a card sent you to the wrong screen — with something that finally matches how people actually behave at checkout. Update to iOS 27, try swiping the next time you pay, and let the on-sheet details help you pick the smartest card for each purchase.
WalletWisp is informational and does not provide financial advice. Verify card terms, rewards rates, and feature availability with your bank before making payment decisions.
