iOS 26.5 Opens AirPods-Style Features to Third-Party Accessories in the EU

That matters because pairing is one of the most visible advantages of Apple’s own accessory ecosystem. If third-party earbuds can present a more native setup flow, the first-use experience becomes less of a reason to choose AirPods by default .

2. Notification forwarding to third-party wearables

iOS 26.5 also expands notification forwarding for third-party wearables, giving supported non-Apple smartwatches and accessories access to iPhone notifications in ways that bring them closer to the Apple Watch experience . The European Commission’s DMA interoperability guidance says Article 6(7) requires gatekeepers to let third parties access the same operating-system hardware and software features available to the gatekeeper’s own services or hardware, so competitors can compete more equally .

There may still be practical limits. One report on the iOS 26.5 beta says notification forwarding is currently limited to one connected device at a time, meaning enabling it for a third-party wearable would disable it on a paired Apple Watch . That detail should be treated as implementation-specific rather than a broad promise about every device.

3. Live Activities on accessories

The newest layer is Live Activities support for third-party accessories. Code found in iOS 26.5 beta 1 reportedly references a framework called AccessoryLiveActivities, designed to let accessories receive and display Live Activities from an iPhone . Like notification forwarding, that support is described as EU-only and part of Apple’s DMA compliance work .

In practical terms, this could let compatible non-Apple wearables or accessories show real-time iPhone updates such as timers, trips, deliveries, sports scores, or workout-related activity, depending on the accessory and app support . The core point is that real-time glanceable information would no longer be reserved only for Apple’s own devices in the EU.

Why the Digital Markets Act is the reason

The legal driver is the EU Digital Markets Act, not a general worldwide policy reversal by Apple. The European Commission says DMA Article 6(7) requires designated gatekeepers to provide third parties with free and effective interoperability with hardware and software features controlled by the operating system, where those features are available to the gatekeeper’s own products or services .

Apple’s iOS accessory layer fits directly into that debate. AirPods and Apple Watch are not just separate devices; they benefit from privileged iPhone integration around pairing, notifications, and live system information. The EU’s position is that competing hardware makers should be able to request access to comparable capabilities so they can compete on more equal terms .

Apple has framed the DMA changes as something it must balance against privacy and security. In 2024, Apple said it had created ways for EU apps to request additional interoperability with iOS and iPadOS while protecting users, and warned that weakening protections could create risks for European consumers . That context helps explain why the rollout is likely to remain controlled rather than a fully open accessory free-for-all.

How this changes Apple’s accessory ecosystem

The biggest ecosystem change is that the iPhone becomes less tightly coupled to Apple-made accessories in the EU. AirPods and Apple Watch may still have Apple-designed advantages, but supported rivals can now integrate with core iPhone experiences that previously made Apple’s own accessories feel uniquely seamless .

For consumers, the benefit is choice. A user in the EU could buy third-party earbuds or a non-Apple smartwatch without giving up as much convenience in setup, notifications, or live information display . For accessory makers, the benefit is a more realistic path to building iPhone-compatible hardware that feels native rather than bolted on .

For Apple, the change weakens one layer of ecosystem lock-in in Europe. The company still controls iOS, the access process, and the user experience, but the DMA requires it to open specific hardware and software features where its own services or devices have had preferred access .

What is still uncertain

The available evidence is a mix of DMA materials, reporting on iOS 26.5, and code-level findings around Live Activities. Apple has not provided a broad public technical breakdown covering every supported device, every developer requirement, or every rollout condition in the sources available here .

That means three caveats matter. First, the changes are described as applying to users in the European Union, not as a worldwide iOS accessory-policy shift . Second, support will depend on whether accessory makers adopt the relevant capabilities . Third, some behavior may remain constrained by Apple’s implementation, such as the reported one-device-at-a-time notification forwarding limit .

The bottom line

iOS 26.5 is a concrete example of the DMA changing how Apple’s ecosystem works in Europe. By opening proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities to supported third-party accessories, Apple is giving rival earbuds and wearables access to iPhone experiences that helped make AirPods and Apple Watch feel uniquely integrated . The result is not a fully open iOS accessory market, but it is a significant EU-only step away from Apple’s traditional accessory lock-in.