Apple is enhancing compatibility for third-party devices with iPhones to align with the European Union's Digital Market Act (DMA). According to reports, the upcoming iOS 26.3 will introduce support for proximity pairing and notifications for devices such as Sony headphones and Wear OS smartwatches, but this feature will initially be limited to Europe.
The EU Commission has indicated that these functionalities are expected to be fully operational by 2026, highlighting the DMA's potential to foster innovation in Europe. An EU spokesperson emphasized that the changes aim to create a more interconnected digital environment benefiting all citizens within the bloc.
The new proximity pairing feature allows users to connect earbuds and other accessories to their iOS devices simply by bringing them close, resulting in a streamlined pairing process. Additionally, third-party smartwatches will be able to receive notifications from iPhones, although this capability is restricted to forwarding notifications to one device at a time, disabling alerts on connected Apple Watches.
While these updates represent a slight improvement in user experience, there are concerns that Apple may only be meeting the minimum requirements of the DMA, as some features available outside of Europe, like iPhone mirroring to Macs, may not be implemented to avoid further obligations.