iOS 26.4 Beta Code Hints Apple Pay Could Finally Launch in India Soon

By Mehtab Ansari • Updated On Feb 17, 2026

Like
Comment
Share

TL; DR

iOS 26.4 beta code includes new “en_IN” (English-India) strings for “APPLE_PAY” and “Apple Pay,” which usually means Apple is actively prepping a launch.
Reports from late 2025 said Apple held talks with major Indian banks like Axis, HDFC, ICICI, and SBI, though UPI support still wasn’t confirmed.
Apple Pay won’t go far in India without UPI-style support, since most everyday payments run through UPI QR, not NFC cards.

Apple may finally be getting serious about Apple Pay in India. User @aaronp613 spotted new code strings inside the iOS 26.4 beta that add “en_IN” (English-India) localization entries for Apple Pay, including labels like “APPLE_PAY” and “Apple Pay.”

This kind of addition usually shows up when Apple starts preparing the Wallet app and backend for a market rollout. Apple has followed this same pattern in other regions, where new localizations appeared shortly before Apple Pay officially went live.

This also lines up with earlier reports from late 2025. At the time, Indian business outlets said Apple had started discussions with major banks, including Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI. Those talks reportedly focused more on card-based payments, and nobody confirmed UPI integration.

ALSO READ: Apple May Borrow Samsung’s Privacy Display For Its 2029 MacBook Pro Models

That’s the key problem. India’s payments ecosystem runs on UPI. NFC card tap-to-pay exists, but most users still pay via UPI QR codes using Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or other UPI apps. Samsung Pay got traction in India mainly because it added UPI QR support, not because of card NFC alone.

So if Apple actually launches Apple Pay in India in a meaningful way, it almost has to include UPI support in some form. That could mean UPI QR scanning inside Wallet, UPI ID linking, or something closer to full UPI functionality.

iOS 26.4 should land around March 2026, so this could set up an India rollout sometime in 2026 if Apple moves fast. Until then, this remains a strong hint, not a confirmation.

ALSO READ: Apple Teases’ Special Experience’ on March 4: Are M5 Macs Incoming?

You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.

Mehtab Ansari

Mehtab Ansari is the Assistant Editor – Features & Reviews at Smartprix, where he writes about smartphones, laptops, audio gear, and everything in between. A computer science student by degree but a tech nerd by heart, he’s been into consumer tech for years and started reviewing products professionally in February 2024. He’s especially into photography and audio, often spending more time testing a smartphone’s camera than he probably should. For him, tech isn’t just work, it’s what he’s always thinking about.

Expertise

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, monitors, smartwatches, photography, and audio gear. I’ve reviewed over 60 products across these categories on Smartprix in the past year and a half.

Education - Bachelor of Computer Applications – Nizam College, Hyderabad (2022–2025) | Joined Smartprix -February 2024 | Published Reviews & Stories - 723

Nothing Phone (4a) and (4a) Pro Specs Leak Ahead of March 5 Launch

With Nothing’s March 5 event now on the calendar, the leaks around the Phone (4a) series are starting to tighten up. Android Headlines has now published what it describes as the official Nothing Phone (4a) specs, while also adding an update that both the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro share the same core hardware …

Apple Pay’s Phased India Rollout Could Begin With NFC Payments, UPI Integration Could Arrive Later

The Cupertino-based tech giant Apple is finally rumored to launch its mobile payment service — Apple Pay — in the Indian market. Even though the country’s digital payments market (quite large) is dominated by homegrown apps (like PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM), several international players, including Google and Samsung, have been part of it. Also Read: …

Apple is Tearing Down its Walled Garden in the Latest iOS 26.3 Beta

Apple’s third beta of iOS 26.3 has arrived, and it signals a massive shift in the company’s philosophy. For years, the iPhone was a digital fortress. Now, between pressure from European regulators and a rare moment of cooperation with Google, Apple is beginning to lower the drawbridge. The update focuses heavily on interoperability and privacy …

Hyundai’s Fronx Rival Spotted Testing In South Korea, Could Launch In India Soon

In November 2025, Hyundai was spotted testing a new vehicle near its Sriperumbudur plant in Chennai, widely believed to be a facelifted version of the Exter. However, a recent sighting of what appears to be the exact vehicle in South Korea indicates that it could carry a new nameplate altogether: Hyundai Bayon. Also Read: After …

iOS 26 Public Beta Could Release Soon; Here’s Why

Shouldn’t iOS 26’s public beta be available by now? Yes, but this year is a bit different, as the Cupertino giant is working on one of the most significant overhauls in a few years. As already seen in the developer beta, iOS 26 bears little resemblance to iOS 18. However, given Apple’s track record with …