Apple Pay may come to third-party web browsers, but these conditions apply

Apple is reportedly bringing the Apple Pay support to Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox in iOS 16. Steve Moser, a MacRumors contributor has reported via its official Twitter handle that the Apple Pay works with Edge and Chrome in iOS 16 beta 4 update.
Moser has also shared some screenshots that show ‘Continue with Apple Pay’ option while completing a payment on Apple’s checkout page using Microsoft Edge web browser. Those unaware, so far Apple Pay only works with Safari on the web.
Sharing the screenshots he mentioned, “On the latest iOS 16 beta Apple Pay works in Edge, Chrome and I assume any third party browser. On iOS 15 Apple Pay only works in Safari.”

It is important to highlight that Moser hasn’t mentioned Firefox in his tweet. However, a Reddit user has earlier already reported Apple Pay compatibility with Mozilla Firefox while running iOS 16 beta 2 update. The same has been reported by another user running iOS 16 beta 3. So, it would be safe to say that Apple is finally bringing the Apple Pay support to third-party web browsers.
Moser has also confirmed that the Apple Pay does not work on Edge and Chrome in the latest macOS beta update. In a follow-up tweet he says, “This doesn’t work in Edge or Chrome on that latest macOS beta because I assume it requires the third party render engines to be updated whereas Edge and Chrome on iOS use Safari’s render engine.”
As per Moser, the feature isn’t available in the latest macOS beta as browsers on macOS are free to use their own rendering engine. While, on iOS, Apple restricts developers to their own WebKit for the web browsers. So, it is possible that Apple may not extend the Apple Pay support to third-party web browsers on Macs.
However, the sudden change isn’t just because Apple has a change of heart. The reason may be related to the European Union‘s plans to penalise big tech companies’ anti-competitive practices. Digital Markets Act is all-set to go live starting Spring 2023 which will bring several new guidelines on large companies like Apple, Meta, and Google, to promote competition with smaller entities.
Incidentally, Apple Pay’s arrival of third-party browsers on phones makes no difference for iPhone users in India as the payment service is not available in the country.