It starts with a tap, and for the first time in the company’s history, that tap may happen on a non-Apple device. With the update to iOS 26.3, for the first time ever, EU iPhone users get the same chance to watch the smooth and quick pairing gesture that was the sole preserve of the AirPods. This “Proximity Pairing” option, coupled with the Notification Forwarding functionality for non-Apple accessories and the new universal data transfer tool, is the result of the Digital Markets Act enforced by the EU on the company.
The proximity pairing feature found in iOS 26.3 relies on the same Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies used by AirPods for immediate pairing. Upon recognizing the broadcast identifier of a compatible third-party device within proximity, the iPhone checks its compatibility through a secure handshake, and it shows a pairing card. There’s no longer a need to go through the Bluetooth pairing ordeal, which has long been a hurdle for third-party accessories not from Apple. According to the European Commission, app developers can start experimenting now using the new feature on third-party TVs, headphones, and smartwatches, and it will be available across the EU by 2026.
Notification Forwarding solves another longstanding problem, the lack of the same level of iPhone notifications on non-Apple smartwatches. Starting from iOS 26.3, EU users can forward their notifications, complete with the name of the app and the text, to a third-party device. However, the feature is designed to be limited. Turning on the feature on a Garmin, Suunto, Samsung, or Google watch disables the feature on the Apple Watch. Apple argues that this is because the data is subject to the privacy policies of third-party platforms, but by the provision of DMA Article 6(7), the company is required to allow other users the same level of access to its system-level services. There’s a related option available at Settings > Notifications > Notification Forwarding.
Although these changes provide a greater degree of interoperability, these too result in new levels of complexity for security. These, as has been explained in the attack surface expansion section, provide new levels of entry for attackers as a result of opening up new interfaces for non-trusted actors. Such functionality, as Notification Forwarding, could potentially result in a scenario where far more data can be compromised, much as was the case with Android’s accessibility features. Apple’s approach to security, with its use of hardware-verified authenticate through the Secure Enclave, was designed specifically for its vertically integrated hardware product lines; interoperability via DMA forces Apple’s hand in exposing its internal interfaces.
Transfer to iOS, which allows users to easily transfer data from iOS to android, is now joined by Transfer to Android, which is a collaborative initiative of Apple & Google, and it completely changes the game of data transfer and is easier than ever. Users simply have to sit their android device next to the iPhone they just purchased or redeemed and follow the instructions to wirelessly transfer all data encrypted. This is applicable to all types of data – Contacts, Messages, Photos, Documents, Wi-Fi networks, Passwords, and even app data for third-party apps.
In contrast to the pairing and notification services, the Transfer to Android app itself will be introduced worldwide. The European Commission still counts it as one of its success stories under DMA, based on its requirement for “effective data portability” and avoiding lock-in. This follows on from the previous eSIM transfer solution, which was also a result of their DMA obligations and removed another significant barrier to changing carriers or services. Behind such provisions lies another paradigm shift in regulation.
The interoperability obligation imposed by the DMA forces “gatekeepers” such as Apple to grant third-party hardware the same system-level access as their own. For developers, there is now more scope to closely integrate with iOS without having to reverse-engineer private APIs. For consumers, there is now greater choice for accessories and platforms but with possible consequences for reliability and security. The European Commission policies this move as “another step towards a more inter-connected digital ecosystem for the benefit of all EU citizens,” but the cautious execution of this move by Apple highlights its conflicting interests.
iOS 26.3 has started its beta testing phase, with an expected final release towards the end of January. iOS represents a rare occasion for users of an EU country to have regulatory force impact how an iPhone is used – not merely through policies but in the gesture of touching that makes an object become an iPhone.
