Third-party wearables: Apple expands functionality in the EU
In addition to better integration of headphones and "real" notifications for third-party wearables, iOS 26.5 includes another feature.
Smartwatch not from Apple: Better integration into iOS soon.
(Image: Maridav / Shutterstock.com)
Apple also wants to extend the so-called Live Activities to third-party devices in the future. As part of the opening of iOS for third-party wearables mandated by the EU, this would be another category that is supported. However, this will be implemented at the earliest with iOS 26.5, which is currently in beta testing and will likely not be released before the end of April or May. It is unclear whether Apple is responding to the demands of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) or if this is a "bonus feature" that the company is releasing outside of the Apple Watch for the first time. It is possible that Cupertino assumes that the EU Commission also wants Live Activities, which allow users to monitor ongoing processes such as orders or waiting for a rental car, to be visible not only on the Apple Watch.
EU functions for wearables and other accessories
The currently planned scope of functions is already broad by Apple standards. For the first time, "real notifications" will be able to appear on competing wearables such as those from Samsung, Google, or Garmin, which can then also be responded to on the device – this "Notification Forwarding" is more than the current simple forwarding of the actual message via Bluetooth.
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Furthermore, there is a new Proximity Pairing, where you only need to bring a device like headphones close to the iPhone to trigger the pairing process. This is currently only possible with AirPods and Beats devices. Finally, the aforementioned Live Activities are now being added. Since these also contain graphical elements, the implementation may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is also conceivable that not every wearable provider will implement the feature. Apple intends to provide all functions by 2026.
Prerequisites for developers and device providers
Correspondingly, Apple has also adjusted its developer license terms. These now state that forwarding Live Activities is part of the functional scope. Among other things, it is therefore forbidden to use the function for advertising, profiling, or location monitoring purposes.
Furthermore, the data may not be used to train AI models. Finally, forwarding the data to other applications or devices is also prohibited. Developers must explicitly communicate this to Apple and will then receive a corresponding entitlement. The data is also encrypted; storing notifications in the cloud or on the receiving device itself is not intended.
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