iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by Juli Clover

The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers.

iOS 26
The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS 26.3, EU wearable device makers can now test proximity pairing and improved notifications.

Here are the new capabilities that Apple is adding:

Proximity pairing - Devices like earbuds will be able to pair with an iOS device in an AirPods-like way by bringing the accessory close to an iPhone or iPad to initiate a simple, one-tap pairing process. Pairing third-party devices will no longer require multiple steps.
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.

The European Commission says that developers can test third-party TVs, smart watches, and headphones with the new features in iOS 26.3, with the functionality to be "fully available in Europe" in 2026.

iOS 26.3 offers "another step towards a more inter-connected digital ecosystem to the benefit of all EU citizens," according to the European Commission. iOS 26.3 is expected to launch at the end of January.

The changes to proximity pairing and notifications are only available for device makers and iPhone and ‌iPad‌ users in the European Union.

Related Roundups: AirPods 5, iOS 26, iPadOS 26

Tag: European Union

Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)

Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

MangoAvocado

11 months ago

Let the lord be praised my 450€ Bose can finally be treated like a first class citizen.

Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Mikep976

11 months ago

I truly don't understand those that are against the DMA, and all I can imagine is its because they see their devices as “pure” or some crap and don't want others to have a choice.

Even if it's from a security perspective, great. Don't use other headphones or smart watches, but to me, even if I may only use an Apple Watch or AirPods, is such a nice step in the right direction, because it's going to be great for those that do need it (see what I did there? It's almost like something can benefit others that doesn't benefit me! Wild!). In addition, it puts other accessories on equal footing and will make Apple work harder from competition (where I CAN benefit)

Wish all this would hit the US too, bug sigh…

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)

philosopherdog

11 months ago

sad that apple only does this when pushed. this isn't conducive to any warm feelings. just cold hard capitalism

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

ronno

11 months ago

The EU didn’t bring USB-C to iPhones. Apple was already planning to.

Apple had high-speed USB-C in the A17 Pro processor (iPhone 15 Pro) which came out a full year before the EU mandate on USB-C was to come into effect.

Given the long lead times to design a new processor the final decision to add USB-C to an iPhone would have been made almost a full 3 years before the EU mandate.

The EU just wants to take credit for something Apple decided years earlier.

Apple put the USB-C in the processor because they knew it was coming.
I remember reading an interview with someone at Apple several years ago, that person claimed that Apple could not innovate if they were forced to use USB-C. It would simply ruin them as a company, because everything hinged on their proprietary connector 😂.

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)

JohnC1959

11 months ago

Some of the DMA changes are good and some not so much.

Yeah, I've been happy with maybe 80% of their rules. For a few, I tend to agree with Apple that the changes could introduce security issues. I love having USB-C for everything now.

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)