Apple may be quietly preparing to expand what third-party smartwatches can do when connected to an iPhone. According to Macworld, the latest iOS 26.1 code includes references to a new Notification Forwarding feature that could significantly enhance smartwatch compatibility.
One line in the code reads: “Choose which apps can send notifications to your accessory.” Another note: “Notifications can be forwarded to one accessory at a time. Notifications will not appear on Apple Watch while Notification Forwarding is turned on.”
What This Could Mean
The wording suggests that Apple might be preparing to let third-party watches receive iPhone notifications in a more direct and customizable way. There are also hints of a new AccessoryExtension framework, which could make it easier to pair non-Apple devices with the iPhone.
Still, the details remain vague — so it’s not guaranteed that these features are specifically intended for competing smartwatches.
Also read: The Thinnest and Most Durable iPhone In The History Of Apple
Regulatory Pressure
There’s a strong reason to believe Apple could be making these changes in response to new regulations. Under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is required to provide third-party devices — including smartwatches — with greater access to iPhone features traditionally reserved for the Apple Watch.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Department of Justice (DoJ) has also taken aim at Apple’s smartwatch policies. The DoJ argues that Apple restricts third-party devices by:
- Blocking them from acting on incoming notifications.
- Denying them cellular connectivity options.
This issue is now one of the central points in the ongoing Apple vs. DoJ antitrust case.
Apple’s Response to Other DOJ Concerns
Interestingly, Apple has already started addressing several claims from the lawsuit:
- Cloud gaming → Apple now allows streaming services and mini-game apps (iOS 17.4).
- Messaging → Apple adopted RCS support for cross-platform texting (iOS 18).
- Payments → Apple opened NFC chip access to digital wallet providers (iOS 18.1).
These moves show that Apple is willing to adapt — at least when regulatory pressure is strong enough.
Global or EU-Only?
If Notification Forwarding does turn out to support third-party smartwatches, the big question is where Apple will roll it out.
- It could be an EU-only feature, designed to comply with the DMA.
- Or Apple might decide to make the change worldwide, reshaping the smartwatch market in one stroke.
Either way, this would represent one of the most significant shifts in Apple’s approach to third-party accessories in years.
