Right now, the seamless combo of iPhone and Apple Watch is hard to beat, but try strapping on a Fitbit or Galaxy Watch and things get clunky fast.
Apple seems to be softening its stance in iOS 26.1 with a hidden feature called Notification Forwarding.
As the name suggests, it would allow iPhone alerts to appear on one non-Apple device at a time. Turning it on would disable Apple Watch notifications, making the hand-off clear.
Alongside that, Apple has added fresh frameworks like “AccessoryExtension” that could pave the way for simpler pairing with third-party wearables. It’s early days, and the code doesn’t mean it will ship publicly, but it’s the clearest sign yet that iPhones might soon play nicer with other smartwatch makers.
Why now?
The move might not be purely out of generosity. The EU’s Digital Markets Act has rules specifically targeting interoperability between iPhones and other wearables, forcing Apple to let rival smartwatches display notifications.
We’ve seen similar regulatory pressure shape Apple’s decisions before, from the switch to USB-C on the iPhone 15 to sideloading changes in iOS 17.4.
How it could shake up your options
For anyone who’s never loved the Apple Watch’s design or price tag, this could be a small revolution. It means you might finally strap one of the best Wear OS Watch, best Galaxy Watch or best Garmin Watch and still get your iPhone notifications without awkward workarounds.
Apple’s wearable will still feel the most integrated option, but broader support could give iPhone owners real choice and that’s been missing for years.
It’s rare to see Apple bend toward openness, but with regulators watching, the iPhone may soon feel less like a gated garden when it comes to wearables. For users, that can only be a win.
