Updated: December 23, 2025 — Apple’s next iPhone software update, iOS 26.3, is already in beta and is shaping up to be the first notable iOS release of 2026. Reports point to a familiar late‑January launch window, while a separate (and potentially bigger) story is unfolding in Europe: iPhone users in the EU may soon be able to pair non‑Apple earbuds and smartwatches with an AirPods‑style, one‑tap setup, driven by the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). [1]
The quick take: what’s happening with iOS 26.3 right now
- iOS 26.3 is in beta: Apple shipped the first developer beta on December 15, 2025. [2]
- Public beta is available: Apple followed with the first public betas for iOS 26.3 and other platforms a couple days later, making it possible for anyone enrolled in the Beta Software Program to try it. [3]
- Release date (expected): Based on Apple’s recent pattern for “x.3” updates, Monday, January 26, 2026 is being flagged as the most likely public rollout date (with some wiggle room). [4]
- EU interoperability changes: In Europe, iOS 26.3 is also tied to DMA‑driven “interoperability” work—especially proximity‑triggered pairing and notification delivery for third‑party wearables. [5]
iOS 26.3 release date: why Jan. 26 is the frontrunner
Apple hasn’t announced an official iOS 26.3 launch date, but the best predictor is its own track record. Coverage tracking the last several iOS “x.3” releases shows they landed on Mondays in late January, following a near‑identical calendar pattern year‑to‑year—pointing to January 26, 2026 as the likeliest target for iOS 26.3. [6]
That said, it’s still a forecast, not a confirmation. Even the same reporting notes the date could slip by a day or two within the same week depending on Apple’s internal readiness. [7]
MacRumors’ own expectation is broadly similar: a release “around the end of January” remains the working assumption across Apple watchers following the beta cycle. [8]
What’s new in iOS 26.3 so far: three early headline changes
Early iOS “x.3” releases often lean incremental—especially when the bulk of beta testing spans the holiday period—and iOS 26.3 looks consistent with that trend so far. Current reporting highlights three main user‑visible additions/changes in the first beta:
- Wallpaper gallery tweaks
iOS 26.3 reorganizes the wallpaper area, splitting Weather into its own dedicated section separate from Astronomy, and adds more Weather options. [9] - “Transfer to Android” option
A new iOS setting, described as an Apple‑Google collaboration, aims to make switching from iPhone to Android easier (with Google also working on a similar pathway in the other direction). [10] - EU notification forwarding for non‑Apple wearables
For iPhone owners in the EU, iOS 26.3 introduces a way to forward iPhone notifications to third‑party wearables, expanding a capability historically associated with Apple Watch. [11]
The EU angle: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods‑style pairing to third‑party devices (in Europe)
The most consequential iOS 26.3 story may not be about wallpapers or switching platforms—it’s about how iPhones interact with accessories in the EU.
According to MacRumors, iOS 26.3 introduces DMA‑linked interoperability improvements that let EU accessory makers test two big capabilities:
- Proximity pairing (AirPods‑like setup): bringing earbuds close to an iPhone or iPad triggers a simple, one‑tap pairing flow, removing the usual multi‑step Bluetooth setup process. [12]
- Notifications for third‑party accessories: third‑party watches can receive notifications from iPhone, with the user able to view and react—while the system remains constrained to one connected device at a time (enabling third‑party notification forwarding disables Apple Watch notifications). [13]
MacRumors also reports the European Commission characterized iOS 26.3 as another step toward a more interconnected ecosystem, with the new interoperability functionality expected to be fully available in Europe in 2026. [14]
The key detail many people miss: there’s a regulatory timeline behind this
The European Commission’s DMA interoperability documentation spells out implementation deadlines for “connected devices” measures. Notably:
- For iOS notifications, the Commission describes a beta version by the end of 2025, with all measures by June 1, 2026. [15]
- For proximity‑triggering pairing, the Commission similarly points to a beta version by the end of 2025, with availability for end users by June 1, 2026. [16]
This framing helps explain why iOS 26.3—still in beta—can be both (a) already showing pieces of the feature set and (b) still part of a longer runway to broader end‑user enablement across devices and companion apps.
What’s “current” today, Dec. 23: how outlets are framing the story
While the two core reports driving attention were published on December 22, additional coverage on December 23, 2025 is emphasizing the real‑world impact—especially for people using non‑Apple earbuds and watches:
- Accessory pairing becomes more “AirPods‑like”: Today’s coverage is highlighting that third‑party Bluetooth earbuds could pair with iPhone more seamlessly—an experience long associated with AirPods’ pop‑up pairing flow. [17]
- Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watches are the obvious winners (in the EU): SamMobile spells out how “Proximity Pairing” could make Galaxy Buds pairing a one‑tap process and how Notification Forwarding could make iPhone notifications more practical on non‑Apple watches—while stressing the EU‑only nature of the change. [18]
- Regulatory compliance as the backdrop: Gadgets360 similarly frames iOS 26.3’s third‑party accessory changes as aligned with DMA compliance, pointing to streamlined pairing workflows and expanded notification support. [19]
EU-only (for now): will AirPods‑style pairing come to the US and other regions?
Right now, the reporting is clear on one point: the proximity pairing and expanded notifications features are EU‑scoped, available for device makers and iPhone/iPad users in the European Union. [20]
Whether Apple expands the same capability globally is unknown. Apple has repeatedly argued that DMA‑mandated interoperability requests can raise privacy and security concerns, especially where sensitive data or system features are involved. [21]
So, outside Europe, the safe takeaway is: don’t assume iOS 26.3 will change how your third‑party earbuds pair—unless you’re in the EU.
How to try iOS 26.3 early (and what to watch)
If you want iOS 26.3 before the public release, the public beta route is straightforward: Apple says anyone can install public betas by enrolling via the Beta Software Program, then downloading via the Settings app’s Software Update section. [22]
A few practical things to watch between now and late January:
- Beta 2+ could change the story: current reporting notes only one iOS 26.3 beta has shipped so far, and additional features can surface in subsequent builds. [23]
- EU features may roll out in phases: the Commission’s timeline suggests some pieces can be in beta in 2025 while full implementation for end users stretches into June 2026 for key measures like notifications and proximity pairing. [24]
Bottom line
If Apple follows its recent playbook, iOS 26.3 is likely to arrive in late January 2026—most likely Monday, January 26. [25]
But the bigger long‑term significance may be regulatory: in the EU, iOS 26.3 is a visible step toward opening iPhone accessory integration—with AirPods‑style pairing and improved notification support for third‑party devices on a Commission‑defined schedule that targets broad end‑user availability by June 1, 2026. [26]
References
1. 9to5mac.com, 2. developer.apple.com, 3. www.macrumors.com, 4. 9to5mac.com, 5. www.macrumors.com, 6. 9to5mac.com, 7. 9to5mac.com, 8. www.macrumors.com, 9. 9to5mac.com, 10. 9to5mac.com, 11. 9to5mac.com, 12. www.macrumors.com, 13. www.macrumors.com, 14. www.macrumors.com, 15. digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu, 16. digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu, 17. www.cultofmac.com, 18. www.sammobile.com, 19. www.gadgets360.com, 20. www.macrumors.com, 21. www.apple.com, 22. www.macrumors.com, 23. 9to5mac.com, 24. digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu, 25. 9to5mac.com, 26. www.macrumors.com
