In response to requirements set by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple’s iOS 26.3 update has introduced AirPods-style pairing and expanded accessory support for third-party devices (via MacRumors).
The update, currently in beta and expected to arrive widely by early 2026, introduces proximity-based pairing for third-party earphones and other Bluetooth devices, along with improved support for notification forwarding.
Under rules introduced by the EU regulator, Apple must allow third-party accessories in Europe to access the same core connectivity features that its own hardware enjoys. As a result, iOS 26.3 will offer a new proximity pairing experience that works much like the popular AirPods setup process.
When a compatible device such as wireless earbuds or a smartwatch is brought close to an iPhone or iPad, the system can trigger an intuitive pairing prompt, replacing the more complex multi-step Bluetooth setup that users have had to navigate for non-Apple accessories.
This shift toward easier pairing could change how many people use accessories with Apple devices. Currently, seamless connections similar to what Apple offers with AirPods and the Apple Watch are rare for third-party gear, and manual Bluetooth pairing has been a barrier for wider adoption of competitive earbuds and wearables among iPhone users. With the new proximity pairing feature, accessory makers in the EU can test and implement this streamlined setup process.
In addition to easier pairing, iOS 26.3 introduces expanded notification support for third-party wearables. Users will be able to receive and interact with alerts on devices like smartwatches that are not made by Apple. This notification forwarding capability works in a way that lets one connected device receive incoming alerts at a time, meaning that enabling alerts on a non-Apple wearable will temporarily suppress notification delivery to an Apple Watch if one is connected.
Both proximity pairing and notification forwarding features are currently designed for users and developers in the European Union, with full availability expected in 2026.
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That functionality is hardware based. Sure Apple could put lipstick on a pig and make the UI somewhat similar, but it’s never going to be as smooth as AirPods and the EU is going to freak out again because they don’t understand how technology works