Apple has finally allowed third-party accessories such as earphones and smartwatches to use the easy pairing system that was previously only available to AirPods and Apple Watch. This is done through the iOS 26.3 update that will be provided later, but it can only be used by users living in European Union (EU) countries.
The “Proximity Pairing” system will open an interface for tethering earphones, for example, by simply pressing a button on the iPhone or iPad screen. This is different from the previous system that required several additional steps by the user.
In addition to tethering as easy as AirPods and Apple Watch, third-party devices can also display notifications from the iPhone better. This system was previously hindered by notifications usually arriving late or not being sent at all.
Apple opened its ecosystem to third parties to meet the requirements of the Digital Market Act (DMA) which required it to be done in the EU last year if it did not want to be fined. Through the DMA, Apple also offers a third-party app store in the EU and changes the charging port from Lightning to USB-C.
