Flashspoter - Apple is making some changes to the iPhone ecosystem in Europe in order to be in line with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). With the iOS 26.3 update, which is still in the beta testing phase, Apple will unlock new supports for third-party products, especially for proximity pairing and notification features. The change is only valid within the European Union and serves as a significant move in the company’s efforts to allow iPhones to work with non-Apple accessories.
Apple has long been recognized for creating a closed ecosystem that heavily depends on the tight integration of its own hardware and software. AirPods and Apple Watch are two of the best examples, where the quick pairing processes and the availability of advanced features to third-party products are limited. With the DMA, the approach must now be adapted, at least on the European market.
With the release of iOS 26.3, Apple will offer third-party manufacturers the possibility to integrate their devices with the proximity pairing method that has only been possible with AirPods so far. Therefore, it is going to be enough to just get the earbuds or headphones near the iPhone or iPad to initiate the single-touch pairing process. The new process supersedes the previous one where the user had to open the Bluetooth menu and carry out some manual steps. Even so, this feature is focused on the initial ease of connection, not deep integration such as automatic switching between devices available in the Apple ecosystem.
In addition to pairing, more significant changes come to notification support. Third-party smartwatches can now get notifications directly from the iPhone for the first time. Earlier, only the Apple Watch was able to have this feature, and other smartwatches were offering only limited functionality. With iOS 26.3, users can view and respond to notifications from the iPhone through non-Apple wearable devices, as long as the manufacturer of the device supports its technical implementation.
Yet, Apple still limits the freedom of users in some respects. For instance, notifications can be sent to only one wearable device simultaneously. If users enable notifications on a third-party smartwatch, then those on the Apple Watch will be automatically disabled. Such conduct from Apple might be an indication that they are complying with regulatory requirements by opening up access, but they are still exercising control over the usage of the feature.
The European Commission considers these changes as part of the implementation of the DMA aimed at creating fairer competition in the digital market. The regulation requires large technology companies not to discriminate against third-party products and provide equal opportunities in terms of access to core features. Basically, non-Apple earbuds or smartwatches should be given the same level of integration as AirPods and Apple Watch, at least for basic features such as Quick pairing and notifications.
It is quite interesting that this update reveals that Apple's ecosystem shift is not a worldwide thing. People using IPhones in the US and other places outside Europe will not have such a feature available to them in the near future. This gives more ground to the idea that Apple is only making the minimum changes necessary to meet the regulation, without turning them into a global standard. In some previous cases, Apple even chose to disable certain features in Europe, such as iPhone mirroring to Mac, so as not to have to provide the same functionality for non-Apple platforms.
Nevertheless, for European consumers, iOS 26.3 brought considerable practical impact. Users now have more choice of accessories without having to sacrifice basic comfort. Headphones from other brands can be paired much faster, and alternative smartwatches have finally become more relevant for iPhone users due to more complete notification support.
Besides that, Apple has also revealed that developers will get a chance to experiment with these sharing interoperability features on the iOS 26.3 beta version. The European Union has said that all these features will be fully available in their region by 2026. Thus, this update is not merely a quick fix but the basis for a more open iPhone ecosystem in Europe.
Overall, iOS 26.3 shows how regulation can affect the technology strategies of large companies. Apple retains the identity of its ecosystem, but at the same time must unlock some core features for legal compliance. For users, especially in Europe, the end result is an iPhone experience that is a little more flexible and friendlier to third-party devices.
Source Engadget, BGR
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