On Wednesday, Apple rolled out iOS 26.3, and while it may not be the kind of update packed with flashy, headline-grabbing features, it still brings some changes that many users will find genuinely useful.
Most of these updates revolve around Apple following EU regulations and being more compatible with third-party products and security updates.
Here are some of the major highlights from the iOS 26.3 update:
iOS 26.3 Makes Switching to Android Easier
One of the most notable additions in iOS 26.3 is a new built-in tool that makes switching from an iPhone to an Android device much easier. Apple and Google have both been under pressure, especially in Europe, to reduce friction between ecosystems, and this change reflects that broader shift.
With iOS 26.3, users can simply place an iPhone next to an Android phone to start transferring data, without needing to download a separate app or jump through multiple setup steps. Photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, and even phone numbers can move across in one go, making the transition far less painful than it used to be.
But in typical Apple fashion, there are still a few boundaries. Features like Health data, Bluetooth-paired devices, and protected items like locked notes won’t transfer, which means some parts of your digital life could remain tied to Apple’s ecosystem.
Notification Forwarding Brings Better Support for Third-Party Wearables
The update also pushes Apple further into opening up the iPhone experience to third-party devices, at least in the European Union. iOS 26.3 introduces notification forwarding for third-party wearables, allowing notifications from an iPhone to be sent directly to devices like Android smartwatches.
Users can view full notification contents and choose which apps are allowed to send alerts, bringing non-Apple wearables closer to the Apple Watch experience.
New Privacy Setting Limits How Precisely Carriers Track You
As Apple makes these ecosystem changes, it’s also continuing to lean into privacy as a core selling point. iOS 26.3 adds a new “Limit Precise Location” option for certain iPhones and supported carriers, reducing how accurately mobile networks can track a device’s location. Instead of seeing a street-level position, carriers may only get a general neighbourhood-level location when the setting is enabled.
Weather Lock Screen Wallpapers Get a Dedicated Category
Customisation gets a small but welcome boost as well. Apple has split Weather wallpapers into their own dedicated Lock Screen category, separate from Astronomy, and added new pre-designed Weather wallpaper options. These include different clock fonts and widget layouts, making it easier to build a Lock Screen that actually reflects current conditions in a visually interesting way.
Some Continuity Features Still Have Issues
But this won't be complete without any mention of the rough edges that come with this update, too. According to Apple’s release notes, several Continuity features are currently known not to work on newer devices like the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air, and the M5-powered iPad Pro when running iOS or iPadOS 26.3 beta.
These include iPhone Mirroring, AirPlay mirroring to Apple TV 4K, using Continuity Camera wirelessly with a Mac or Apple TV 4K, and Sidecar from a Mac to an iPad Pro (M5). For users who rely heavily on Apple’s cross-device features, this is something to keep in mind.
Overall, iOS 26.3 feels like a steady, maintenance-focused release that quietly improves everyday usability. It's not transforming how you use your iPhone overnight, but it adds up to a more flexible, more private, and more secure experience.
