iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#1

Post by Tomte » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 6:22 AM UTC

iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA
macrumors.com

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#2

Post by clayhacks » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:04 AM UTC

So this tap to pair won’t work in the US? The side loading stuff I can understand to restrict to the EU, but this just seems like a nice feature for everyone

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#3

Post by general1465 » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:08 AM UTC

[flagged]

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#4

Post by justapassenger » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:10 AM UTC

clayhacks wrote: post #2

So this tap to pair won’t work in the US? The side loading stuff I can understand to restrict to the EU, but this just seems like a nice feature for everyone

Apple is not really interested in giving you nice features that makes it easier for you to escape their ecosystem and have Apple make less money.

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#5

Post by isodev » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:16 AM UTC

It’s fascinating the kind of cool features we can have when products are made to be useful, with their target user in mind. Go EU!

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#6

Post by madspindel » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:21 AM UTC

Apple should dump their Product Managers and hire the EU bureaucrats directly then we will finally see improvements and innovations again.

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#7

Post by Otek » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:29 AM UTC

clayhacks wrote: post #2

So this tap to pair won’t work in the US? The side loading stuff I can understand to restrict to the EU, but this just seems like a nice feature for everyone

> The side loading stuff I can understand to restrict to the EU

Just curious: why do you understand they restrict it to EU?

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#8

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:32 AM UTC

madspindel wrote: post #6

Apple should dump their Product Managers and hire the EU bureaucrats directly then we will finally see improvements and innovations again.

[deleted]

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#9

Post by Y-bar » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:33 AM UTC

Three months ago a commenter here on HN claimed to me that this will be bad for Apple users:

> There is simply no good way to make the API public while maintaining the performance and quality expectations that Apple consumers have. If the third party device doesn’t work people will blame Apple even though it’s not their fault.

And, competition probably can’t build for it anyway:

> It’s impossible to build Apple Silicon level of quality in power to watt performance or realtime audio apps over public APIs.

And:

> […] Apple has to sabotage their own devices performance and security to let other people use it. The EU has no business in this.

Well, I look forward to next year when we’ll have the receipts and see!

Re: iOS 26.3 brings AirPods-like pairing to third-party devices in EU under DMA

#10

Post by Vespasian » Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 8:34 AM UTC

madspindel wrote: post #6

Apple should dump their Product Managers and hire the EU bureaucrats directly then we will finally see improvements and innovations again.

It's a tragedy, though no surprise, that this is required

I guess "the regulations will continue until product management improves".