- iOS 26.5 is deployed on our iPhones
- It includes new third-party wearable support for previously exclusive Apple Watch and AirPods features.
- This is only available in the EU at the moment
Apple’s latest iOS 26.5 update brings some AirPods and Apple Watch-exclusive features to third-party headphones and wearables, but only for EU phones.
This is done so that Apple can better comply with the EU Digital Markets Act, which means that Apple must give up some of the software advantages that were exclusive to its own hardware and bring them to third-party smartwatches like those made by Garmin, Amazfit and Huawei, as well as third-party headphones and earbuds.
For smartwatch users, the biggest update will be the ability to respond to message notifications with reactions or replies. Currently, you can only see iOS notifications on third-party technologies, while Apple Watch users can send a response via the notification pop-up. With this iOS 26.5 update, that should start to change, provided other smartwatch manufacturers update their hardware to support the new features.
Just note that your phone can only forward notifications to one device at a time. Therefore, if for some reason you own an Apple Watch and another smartwatch, you will need to choose which one you prefer to support.
Returning to iOS 26.5, you’ll also get a second notification change with third-party support for your iPhone’s live activities – real-time notifications that appear on your iPhone’s lock screen or in Dynamic Island, like a sports score or the distance of your Uber driver. These over-the-air updates may also appear in your Apple Watch’s Smart Stack, and they could now appear on your other smart wearable – again, if the manufacturer adds support.
Others to come?
Not forgetting the headphone update, iOS 26.5 also adds proximity pairing support for non-Apple headphones.
This is the feature that lets you pair AirPods to your iPhone with just one click when you start setting them up nearby. With the update, third-party headphones can start supporting this simplified setup process.
While none of these new tools seem revolutionary, they further remove the friction of choosing a third-party option over Apple’s own technology, making it a fairer choice between available technology options. So this update should be considered a serious win if you live in the EU.
As for people who live outside the EU, don’t hold your breath for a similar update. While European regulations have seen Apple make global changes – such as implementing USB-C charging – digital rules are much easier to geolocate. We’ve seen this before with App Store regulations, and I think Apple won’t want to tear down its walled garden any more than is legally required.
Additionally, Apple has argued that the EU’s Digital Markets Act should be scrapped and warned that there are risks for users if it is forced to change the way its products interact with each other and third parties.
For now, we’ll just have to look longingly at the EU-exclusive update and hope our own governments introduce similar rules of their own – despite Apple’s protests.
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