iOS 26.1 Beta Hints at iPhone Support for Third-Party Smartwatches

For iPhone users, the Apple Watch has long been the default choice for seamless compatibility. That might be about to change. Macworld has uncovered code within the iOS 26.1 developer beta suggesting that Apple could be setting the stage for more third-party smartwatch compatibility with iPhones.

iOS 26.1 Beta Uncovers Potential for Third-Party Smartwatch Integration

The iOS 26.1 beta introduces a feature called Notification Forwarding, hinting at the ability to route iPhone alerts to smartwatches not made by Apple. Essentially, this would mean notifications from apps like Messages and Mail could appear on third-party wearables. However, there’s a limitation: you can only connect one non-Apple smartwatch for this feature, which would disable notifications for the Apple Watch if you choose to enable it.

This is a noteworthy development, as currently, only the Apple Watch offers such fluid notification mirroring with iPhones. Should Apple go through with this, it could pave the way for a variety of third-party options like the Garmin, Fitbit, and Samsung Galaxy Watch to interface more effectively with iOS.

The beta code also points to new frameworks, including one named AccessoryExtension, apparently related to pairing non-Apple devices. While still under construction, this suggests Apple’s looking at streamlining connections to both smartwatches and other peripherals. At present, linking third-party wearables with an iPhone can be less straightforward than with an Apple Watch.

Pressure from EU Regulations?

One likely catalyst for this shift is the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. This legislation mandates companies like Apple to facilitate interoperability, which means third-party accessories would need to display iPhone notifications correctly. The release of this beta feature seems timely and might be selectively rolled out in regions to meet these regulatory demands.

Nonetheless, there’s no absolute assurance that Notification Forwarding or AccessoryExtension will be part of iOS 26.1’s final public release. Apple has a history of testing features that either don’t reach consumer devices or only debut later in particular areas.

If implemented, these changes could mean iPhone users who favor third-party smartwatches might finally have the full notification experience they’re after. For now, we can only speculate about a future where iPhones aren’t exclusively linked to Apple Watches to unlock all smartwatch functionalities.

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