For years, the Apple Pay checkout screen did one thing well—double-click, glance, pay—and one thing badly: switching cards. If your default card wasn’t the one you wanted, you had to tap into a fiddly menu, hunt for the right card, and hope you didn’t fat-finger the wrong account. iOS 27, rolling out to iPhones this month, finally fixes that. Apple has rebuilt the checkout sheet so you can swipe between cards and see the details that actually drive your decision—rewards, balances, and installment options—without leaving the payment screen.
Here’s exactly what changed, how the new flow works step by step, and the other Apple Pay upgrades riding along with it.
What the redesigned checkout screen looks like
When you double-click the side button (or trigger Apple Pay in an app or on the web), you no longer see just your default card floating alone. Instead, your default card sits in the center with the edges of your other cards peeking out on either side—a visual cue that you can swipe left or right to change payment methods. It works like a carousel.
Two ways to switch:
- Swipe sideways to move card by card through your wallet.
- Tap the card to open a grid view showing every card you have in Apple Pay at once, so you can jump straight to the one you want instead of swiping past five others.
The bigger change is what each card now shows. As you land on a card, the sheet surfaces relevant context—rewards points, an available balance, and any pay-later or installment options tied to that specific card. Apple also added colorful icons to label the shipping method, shipping address, and billing address, so you can verify the whole order at a glance before you confirm. The goal, in Apple’s framing, is that you can still “double-click to pay” in a second—but now with the assurance you picked the right card and nothing’s wrong.
A quick worked example
Say you’re buying a $200 pair of headphones in an app. Old way: Apple Pay defaults to your debit card, you tap into a menu, scroll, pick your travel rewards credit card, back out, then pay. New way: the sheet opens on your debit card, you swipe once to your travel card, see it earns 3x points on this purchase and offers a “pay over 3 months” option, and double-click. Same two seconds—but you actively chose the card that earns rewards instead of defaulting into the wrong one.
The four Apple Pay upgrades in iOS 27
| Feature | What it does | Where you’ll see it |
|---|---|---|
| Redesigned checkout | Swipe between cards or tap for a grid; see rewards, balances, and pay-later info per card | Apps, websites, and in-store checkout |
| Amex rewards at checkout | Apply American Express Membership Rewards points directly to a purchase | Checkout sheet, when an eligible Amex card is selected |
| Tap to Share | Tap your iPhone to a participating merchant’s iPhone to share contact info, shipping address, and loyalty details | In-store checkout |
| Debit card balance reload | Add money to a supported debit card from Wallet or during checkout | Wallet app and checkout sheet |
Redeeming rewards at checkout (American Express)
The headline rewards feature is a new American Express integration. When you’re paying with an eligible Amex card, a “Use Rewards” option appears alongside your Membership Rewards points balance. You can apply points to the purchase without opening the Amex app first.
The value matters here. At checkout, Amex is redeeming Membership Rewards at roughly 0.7 cents per point. So 10,000 points knocks about $70 off your order, and 5,000 points is worth about $35. That’s a real convenience, but note it’s on the lower end of how Membership Rewards can be valued—transferring points to airline or hotel partners often stretches each point further. Use points at checkout for ease, not for maximum value.
Debit balance top-ups and pay-later visibility
iOS 27 also lets you reload a supported debit card’s balance—the kind of prepaid or app-based debit card that can run low—directly from Wallet or mid-checkout, so a low balance doesn’t kill the transaction. And because installment and pay-later options now display on the card itself, you can see whether a given card offers a “pay over time” plan before you commit, rather than discovering it after the fact.
Beyond checkout: Wallet gets smarter too
The checkout redesign shipped alongside a broader Wallet refresh in iOS 27:
- AI bill splitting: Photograph a receipt and Apple Intelligence calculates who owes what, including tax and tip, with payments settled via Apple Cash (U.S. only).
- Insights: Expanded account monitoring tracks spending, recurring charges, and balances across participating institutions.
- Upgraded passes: A “Poster” style with full-background images, plus up to two tappable actions like “get directions” or “check rewards balance.”
- Create a Pass: Digitize physical membership and event tickets using Visual Intelligence.
- Order tracking expanded to Australia and Canada, and richer digital hotel keys with trip details.
How to get it and turn it on
- Update to iOS 27 via Settings → General → Software Update. Apple targeted mid-September for the public release.
- The checkout redesign is on automatically—there’s no toggle. Just double-click and swipe.
- To use Amex rewards, make sure your American Express card is added in the Wallet app and select it at checkout to see the “Use Rewards” option.
- To reorder which card appears first, set your default in Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay → Default Card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new iPhone for the iOS 27 Apple Pay redesign?
No. The redesign is a software feature that comes with the iOS 27 update, so any iPhone that supports iOS 27 gets it. Some extras—like AI bill splitting—rely on Apple Intelligence, which requires a newer, compatible iPhone.
Can I use rewards points from any card at checkout, or only American Express?
At launch, the “Use Rewards” redemption is an American Express Membership Rewards integration. Other issuers may show rewards balances on the card, but direct point redemption at checkout is the Amex feature. Points redeem at about 0.7 cents each, so 10,000 points is roughly $70 off.
Is the old way of switching cards gone?
The clunky menu is replaced by swiping. You now swipe left or right between cards on the checkout sheet, or tap the card to open a full grid of every card in your wallet—faster than the previous multi-tap flow.
Does Apple see my card balances and rewards?
Apple Pay is built so your actual card numbers and transaction details stay between you, your bank, and the merchant. Balance and rewards displays come from your participating card issuer through Wallet; Apple’s design keeps payment data private rather than routing it through Apple.
The bottom line
iOS 27 turns the Apple Pay checkout sheet from a “pay and hope” screen into a genuine decision screen. Swiping between cards is faster, seeing rewards and balances up front helps you pick the card that actually pays you back, and Amex point redemption removes a step. It’s a small interface change with a real payoff: fewer wrong-card mistakes and a little more money left in your pocket.
WalletWisp is informational and not financial advice. Verify current rewards rates, redemption values, and card terms with your issuer before making a purchase.
