Apple may be getting ready to loosen its grip on smartwatch compatibility. Clues found in the iOS 26.1 beta point to support for third-party wearables, potentially opening the door for devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Google’s Pixel Watch to work more seamlessly with the iPhone. If this ships in a public release, it would mark one of the most significant changes in how the iPhone interacts with non-Apple hardware.
Hidden in the latest beta is an unreleased feature called Notification Forwarding. As the name implies, it lets users push iPhone notifications to another accessory, with a key limitation: only one device can receive notifications at a time. The code also suggests that enabling forwarding to a third-party wearable will disable notifications on Apple Watch to prevent duplicates. That detail alone hints at a more deliberate, system-level approach rather than a simple workaround.
There’s also a new framework referenced in the beta called AccessoryExtension. While it appears unfinished, its purpose seems clear—streamlining how third-party accessories pair with and communicate across iOS. Together, Notification Forwarding and AccessoryExtension suggest Apple is actively building the plumbing needed for broader smartwatch support, even if the first phase focuses on the basics.
It’s not hard to see what might be driving this shift. The EU’s Digital Markets Act pushes major platforms toward greater interoperability, and similar pressure is growing in the United States. Opening the iPhone to more wearables could be Apple’s way of addressing regulatory concerns while giving users more choice.
That said, the scope of support remains unknown. Early signs point to core features like notifications making the cut first. Deeper integrations—think advanced fitness metrics, health data syncing, and system-level controls—may not arrive right away, if at all. Apple is likely to move cautiously, expanding capabilities over time based on testing and regulatory guidance.
For iPhone owners, even basic third-party smartwatch compatibility would be a big deal. It means you could keep your preferred wearable without giving up your iPhone, and it could make switching to iPhone more appealing for people already invested in another smartwatch.
Apple is expected to iterate on these features in upcoming iOS 26.1 beta builds. Keep an eye on future releases for clearer details on which devices will be supported, how setup will work in Settings, and whether functionality expands beyond notifications.
