Watch how easy it is to activate an Apple Card with an iPhone

Key Points
  • The Apple Card is now shipping to people who signed up for one.
  • It doesn't have any numbers on it,  just your name and some logos.
  • It's super easy to activate with an iPhone, and kind of fun. 
Titanium Apple Card
Source: Apple

The Apple Card is beginning to ship to customers.

If you haven't heard, it's Apple first credit card, which it launched in partnership with Goldman Sachs and MasterCard. There are two components: a digital card you can use immediately after you're approved that can be used wherever Apple Pay is accepted, and a back-up physical card that you can use everywhere else.

With the Apple Wallet app on an iPhone, Apple Card users can see their purchases, make payments and see cash back rewards that are automatically applied at the end of each day to a separate digital Apple Cash card. It's also where you can chat with support over iMessage, request a new card and more. While the benefits aren't amazing compared to other credit cards (you only get up to 3% cash back), the experience is really unique.

We're going to cover the experience more in-depth soon, but I wanted to write a quick post showing you how the setup process is unlike any credit card out there.

This is the FedEx package my Apple Card arrived in this morning.

My Apple Card arrived.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

It comes in this tiny cardboard box. Notice there aren't any big manuals talking about the travel benefits or points, which you might normally expect from a new credit card.

Some cardboard packaging holding my Apple Card.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

Here's the card packaging. It's very Apple-y. Just white with a cut-out of the Apple logo.

The Apple Card envelope.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

And here's my card. Notice there's no account number on it. Everything is kept private inside the Apple Wallet app.

It doesn't come with a book discussing benefits, just this little envelope.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

It says I just need to hold my iPhone to the bottom to activate the card. I don't have to call anyone or visit a website. Apple doesn't have a support website for the Apple Card.

You activate it by tapping your iPhone to the bottom here, which is super fast.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

And here we go. I'm tapping my phone right to that spot:

Here's a GIF showing how quick activation is.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

That's it! The card is now active and I have a new option to use it where Apple Pay from my iPhone isn't accepted, or in places where it's easier to just give a card, like at restaurants.

My new Apple Card
Todd Haselton | CNBC

A bit about the card: I like the titanium. It feels solid. But so does the metal Chase credit card that I normally use.

Todd Haselton | CNBC

I like that it just has my name on it and that my card number, expiration and CVV aren't on it at all. I don't have to worry too much if it's stolen, and I can request a new one right in the Apple Wallet app if that happens.

It's made of titanium.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

My colleague and I are going to be using the Apple Card more over the next few days, and we'll report back on what the experience is like, including a lot more on the software and support.

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