Apple's iOS 26.3 will introduce proximity pairing to third-party devices in the EU

Apple's iOS 26.3 will introduce proximity pairing to third-party devices in the EU The feature for TVs, smart watches and headphones will be 'fully available in Europe' (but nowhere else) in 2026. Apple is making it a little easier to use third-party devices with iPhones in order to comply with Europe's Digital Market Act (DMA), MacRumors reported. For iOS 26.3, Apple's devices will support third-party proximity pairing and notifications in Europe only, according to the latest beta notes. That will make it a bit easier to connect devices like Sony headphones or receive notifications from an iPhone on Wear OS smartwatches - provided manufacturers support the new feature. Engadget "The DMA creates new opportunities for developers to bring to market innovative products and services in Europe," an EU spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal . "This is another step towards a more inter-connected digital ecosystem to the benefit of all EU citizens." The EU Commission added that the functionality will be "fully available" in the bloc in 2026. The new capabilities are as follows: Notifications - Third-party accessories like smart watches will be able to receive notifications from the ‌iPhone‌. Users will be able to view and react to incoming notifications, which is functionality normally limited to the Apple Watch. Notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, and turning on notifications for a third-party device disables notifications to an Apple Watch. Proximity pairing is a relatively minor quality-of-life upgrade, allowing you to connect with a tap via NFC rather than diving into the Bluetooth settings. However, there's no indication that it will allow seamless switching between devices as you can do with Apple's iPods, for instance. Notifications, however, will finally make third-party watches feasible with iOS devices. Apple's DMA compliance efforts are interesting to watch, as it appears to be doing the bare minimum required, often for what it calls privacy reasons. In some cases, the company is removing features in Europe that are available elsewhere, like iPhone mirroring on Mac - meaning it doesn't have to implement the same feature on Android devices or PCs. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.

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