In order to comply with the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA)Strict regulations, Apple is expected toThe upcoming iOS 26.3 updateIn the meantime, two key features will be available for the European Union (EU): "Proximity Pairing" for third-party devices and more complete "Notification Interaction," meaning that in the future, non-Apple brand headphones or smartwatches in Europe will also be able to enjoy a seamless pairing and connection experience similar to AirPods or Apple Watch.
Just like AirPods, they connect when you bring them close.
According to the current Beta version description and an EU spokesperson, this change is primarily intended to provide third-party developers with a level playing field. Specific new features include:
• Proximity Pairing:Previously, connecting third-party Bluetooth headphones usually required users to manually go to "Settings" and search for connected devices in the "Bluetooth" option. With the new feature, simply bringing a third-party accessory that supports this function (such as Sony headphones) close to the iPhone or iPad will cause a pairing card similar to AirPods to pop up on the screen. A single tap completes the connection, greatly simplifying the pairing process.
• Notifications and Interactions:In the future, when third-party watches like Wear OS connect to iPhones, they will not only "receive" notifications, but users will also be able to view and reply to messages directly on the watch, which was originally an exclusive advantage of Apple Watch.
Conditional opening up: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
However, Apple has clearly kept a caveat: while granting notification permissions, the system limits notifications to only one connected device at a time. In other words, if you enable notifications on a third-party watch, your Apple Watch notifications will be forcibly turned off.
Furthermore, while quick pairing is supported, there is currently no indication that third-party devices can support the "automatic switching" connection function between different Apple devices (such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac) like AirPods.
Analysis: Apple's "Incremental" Compliance Strategy
In my opinion, this once again demonstrates Apple's consistent strategy when facing EU digital market law: "to comply with only the minimum requirements and strictly limit its use to the EU only."
For European consumers, this is undoubtedly good news, as they can finally buy their favorite headphones or watches without worrying about poor compatibility with iPhones. However, for users in other regions (including Taiwan), this "differentiated" software experience may leave a bitter taste.
Apple's preference for developing two separate system logics over globalizing these convenient features stems from its desire to protect the vast ecosystem of its AirPods and Apple Watch. After all, if third-party watches become perfectly compatible with iPhones, Apple Watch's competitive advantage will inevitably be challenged.
This feature is expected to be fully implemented in the EU in 2026. As for whether it will be extended to other countries, given Apple's track record, the chances are extremely slim unless local governments also impose regulations similar to the EU's Digital Markets Act (such as Japan's current approach).
