I got my Apple Card this weekend. While I don’t have intention to use the physical card itself due to its low cash back (1% compared to the standard 2%), I am happy with the how easy the application and activation of the card is.

To apply for the card, you only need to have an eligible phone (iPhone 6 and later I believe), open the wallet application, fill in some basic information, take a photo of a valid ID such as State ID or Driver License and be done with it. The application is processed within seconds. When I applied for other credit cards, the process was a bit more tedious. Online forms and sending physical proof of identity are usually required. With Apple Card, everything is done via the Wallet app, right on the phone.

To activate an Apple Card is even easier. The screenshot below shows all you have to do to activate it

Connect your phone to Wifi, hold it close to the package Apple sends and that’s it. Your card will be activated.

With Apple’s appeal, marketing prowess and a sleek design, I think there will be a lot of activations. Yet, I doubt the physical card will be used much. The benefits are inferior to what the market offers. I won’t be surprised if Apple and Goldman Sachs work together to give users a reason to use the physical card more often. Nonetheless, I am pretty pleased with how I came to receive the card.

Disclaimer: I own Apple stocks in my portfolio