Apple is making it easier to use Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watches with iPhones

One of the reasons people stick to Apple's ecosystem is because it is easier to pair and use Apple's accessories with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Whenever new AirPods or a new Apple Watch are powered on, they pop up on a nearby iPhone's display, making it easier to pair them using just one tap.

But that functionality is not extended to non-Apple wireless earbuds, smartwatches, and other accessories. That could change soon, though, at least in one region.

Apple is introducing (via MacRumors) interoperability changes with iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates for iPhones and iPads, respectively. They are currently in the beta phase (public beta testing) and could be released in early January 2026. They bring two new features that will make it easier to pair third-party (non-Apple) wireless earbuds and smartwatches with iPhones and iPads.

Proximity Pairing in iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 allows devices like Galaxy Buds to pair with an iPhone or an iPad in an AirPods-like way. Bringing the device closer to an iPad or an iPhone displays a simple pop-up menu on the screen, and pairing them takes just one tap. You don't have to go through the manual process of making an iPad or an iPhone visible via Bluetooth settings, finding your accessory, and tapping on its name to initiate the pairing.

The second feature is Notifications Forwarding. It allows iPhones to mirror notifications they receive to a third-party fitness band's or smartwatch's display. Users can view incoming notifications and react to them. This is generally restricted to Apple Watches, but with the upcoming iOS 26.3 update, users can use this feature on non-Apple smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch.

Notifications can only be forwarded to one device at a time, so you can't view notifications on an Apple Watch and a Galaxy Watch simultaneously.

These two changes are only coming to the European Union (EU) region, though. So, for now, only users in EU countries will be able to enjoy Galaxy Buds and non-Apple smartwatches with their iPhones. Hopefully, those features make it to more regions in the next few years.