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September 29, 2025
iOS 26.1 hints at iPhone adding support for third-party smartwatches
iOS 26.1 beta 1 arrived earlier this week with a variety of new features and changes. But the beta’s code also revealed, as discovered by Macworld, Apple working toward the iPhone adding third-party smartwatch support. iOS 26.1 code shows Apple working toward improved compatibility with third-party smartwatches Filipe Esposito writes at Macworld: The latest iOS [...]
Apple might be opening up its ecosystem to play nicer with non-Apple smartwatches, if clues found in the latest iOS beta are anything to go by. iOS 26.1, the first beta release of the next major iPhone operating system, landed earlier this week, packed with the usual assortment of tweaks and improvements. However, eagle-eyed developers have unearthed something potentially game-changing: evidence suggesting Apple is actively working on enabling iPhone support for smartwatches made by other companies.
The discovery was initially reported by Macworld, where tech journalist Filipe Esposito highlighted specific code snippets within the iOS 26.1 beta that point towards expanded smartwatch compatibility. While the details are still scarce and shrouded in technical jargon, the underlying message is clear: Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for a future where users aren’t exclusively tied to the Apple Watch if they want to enjoy smartwatch functionality on their iPhones.
Currently, the Apple Watch enjoys tight integration with the iPhone, offering features like notifications, fitness tracking, and even cellular connectivity for making calls directly from the wrist. These features are largely exclusive to the Apple Watch, leaving users who prefer other smartwatch brands with limited options. Owners of Fitbits, Garmin watches, or other popular smartwatches can connect them to their iPhones, but the experience often lacks the seamless integration and full feature set offered by the Apple Watch.
The potential implications of this development are significant. Opening up the iPhone to third-party smartwatches could give consumers greater choice and flexibility when choosing a wearable device. It could also foster innovation in the smartwatch market, as manufacturers would have a larger potential user base to target.
However, it's important to remember that this is just a beta release, and features discovered in beta code don't always make it into the final public version. Apple could ultimately decide not to pursue this direction, or the implementation could be significantly different from what the current code suggests.
Nevertheless, the discovery is generating considerable buzz in the tech community, as it signals a potential shift in Apple's traditionally closed-off approach to its ecosystem. Only time will tell if this hint in iOS 26.1 will blossom into full-fledged support for third-party smartwatches on the iPhone.
The discovery was initially reported by Macworld, where tech journalist Filipe Esposito highlighted specific code snippets within the iOS 26.1 beta that point towards expanded smartwatch compatibility. While the details are still scarce and shrouded in technical jargon, the underlying message is clear: Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for a future where users aren’t exclusively tied to the Apple Watch if they want to enjoy smartwatch functionality on their iPhones.
Currently, the Apple Watch enjoys tight integration with the iPhone, offering features like notifications, fitness tracking, and even cellular connectivity for making calls directly from the wrist. These features are largely exclusive to the Apple Watch, leaving users who prefer other smartwatch brands with limited options. Owners of Fitbits, Garmin watches, or other popular smartwatches can connect them to their iPhones, but the experience often lacks the seamless integration and full feature set offered by the Apple Watch.
The potential implications of this development are significant. Opening up the iPhone to third-party smartwatches could give consumers greater choice and flexibility when choosing a wearable device. It could also foster innovation in the smartwatch market, as manufacturers would have a larger potential user base to target.
However, it's important to remember that this is just a beta release, and features discovered in beta code don't always make it into the final public version. Apple could ultimately decide not to pursue this direction, or the implementation could be significantly different from what the current code suggests.
Nevertheless, the discovery is generating considerable buzz in the tech community, as it signals a potential shift in Apple's traditionally closed-off approach to its ecosystem. Only time will tell if this hint in iOS 26.1 will blossom into full-fledged support for third-party smartwatches on the iPhone.
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