- iOS 26.3 provides AirPods-style options to different wi-fi earbuds
- The software program will roll out someday early in 2026
- It is the newest EU regulatory requirement, so it does not apply worldwide
One of many advantages of utilizing AirPods with iPhones (or actually any Apple gadget) is that pairing is so fast and straightforward. That very same comfort is quickly going to be obtainable to third-party earbuds as effectively – however provided that you reside within the European Union.
Like USB-C charging ports and different app shops, that is pushed by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Handed in November 2022, it basically places limits on how far huge tech firms can go when it comes to maintaining their very own ecosystems closed off.
As per MacRumors, iOS 26.3 will open the door to earbud producers who need their very own merchandise to work as effectively with iPhones as AirPods do. That testing will take a while, however we could start to see this performance rolling out throughout the course of 2026.
Proper now, iOS 26.3 is just out in beta, however we’re already listening to loads concerning the new options it’ll convey to hundreds of thousands of iPhones globally. Among the others embrace notification forwarding and a recent batch of wallpapers.
‘Extra inter-connected’
EU regulators are eager to speak up the person advantages of this, after all: the change supplies “one other step in the direction of a extra interconnected digital ecosystem to the good thing about all EU residents”, in line with the European Fee.
There are two options particularly that shall be open to third-party earbuds. They embrace proximity pairing (transferring the earbuds shut collectively will begin pairing) and notifications (so earbuds and different gadgets obtain alerts and might reply).
That second characteristic shall be a bonus for the greatest smartwatches, too – the seamless notification syncing expertise that’s at the moment unique to the Apple Watch must be coming to fashions from different wearable makers, too. Once more, for those who’re within the EU.
Apple hasn’t stated something about these options particularly, however has repeatedly criticized the DMA and the EU’s efforts to implement it. It has led to quite a lot of options, together with Apple Intelligence and Stay Translation for AirPods, being delayed in European nations.
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