iOS 26 Beta Gives Hint On iPhone Pairing With Galaxy And Pixel

Buried code in the iOS 26 beta is pointing to a subtle but potentially far-reaching change in Apple’s wearable strategy: native hooks that may allow iPhones to work with non-Apple smartwatches, such as Google’s Pixel Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch family. Strings pointing to a new Notification Forwarding toggle and an “AccessoryExtension” framework point at Apple laying the plumbing third-party watches will need to be set up as primary companions, not workarounds.

What the iOS 26 beta code reveals about watch pairing

References found within the beta suggest a Notification Forwarding feature which sends iPhone notifications to an accessory (though distinct from the Apple Watch). One line says forwarding is restricted to a single accessory. That limitation seems by design, and more to the point, is what we’ve come to expect from smartwatches when they play the role of that one, always-on-notification-endpoint for a phone.

The code also exposes a framework named AccessoryExtension. Though not finished being filled out, the name field and location indicate that Google would rely on some sort of standardization for accessories (which could be Wear OS devices) to register capabilities, request permissions, and keep up background communication for sending off notifications, performing actions, or managing a device. The Macworld website was the first to report these discoveries and the pieces fit into a much larger puzzle that has been dogging Apple recently — interoperability.

Why Apple may be opening the door to third-party watches

Regulatory pressure is the most likely cause. The Digital Markets Act of the European Union mandates that platform holders provide fair access to essential platform functions such as notifications, proximity pairing and media sharing. European Commission documents and briefings had repeatedly pointed to a wish to cut down unfair lock-in around accessories such as smartwatches and earbuds.

Apple has a history of rolling out hardware and software overhauls widely when the work is justified, even if an initial push was regional. The transition to a universal charging port on all iPhones is a prominent, relatively recent example of how such restraints begin as compliance considerations and later end up defining the global norm.

What it might mean for Galaxy and Pixel watches on iPhone

Wear OS cleanly separated from iPhone support in newer generations, though, which is why the Pixel Watch and new Galaxy Watch models aren’t compatible with iPhones today.

If Apple makes a first-party notification and pairing pathway available, Google and Samsung can both revive iPhone support without resorting to fragile background hacks.

At a real-world level, it’s probably about alerts, calls and media playback. Should Apple permit actionable notifications via AccessoryExtension, users could answer messages at the wrist as well as simply read them. A standardized top-to-bottom pairing experience would also lessen the setup friction that plagued third-party watches on iOS in years past. The missing part is a re-added companion app from Google or Samsung to deal with managing watch updates, apps, tiles and health syncing.

Interoperability limits to expect with non-Apple watches

Full feature parity with Apple Watch is probably not there on day one. Deeper integrations (such as iMessage-specific behaviors, seamless handoff and advanced phone-call routing) are controlled by private APIs and entitlements. Health capabilities could also face regulatory and technical chasms: ECG, blood oxygen readings, and irregular rhythm notifications rely on device approvals as well as platform-level permissions.

There are also Bluetooth limitations to keep in mind. Apple’s ANCS (Apple Notification Center Service) already offers a way for some fitness bands to have notifications from iPhone, but wearables that want to act like a full-on smartwatch require richer, more bidirectional channels for actions, app data and watch face control. AccessoryExtension would seem to be the missing layer, but how much Apple opens for developers — and how quickly Google and Samsung move to support it in reality — will be what ultimately matters.

Why this shift matters for iPhone and Wear OS users

Choice. Analysts say that Apple holds about four in 10 smartwatches shipped globally, with Samsung in the high teens and Google smaller but growing. Getting iPhones to sync smoothly with Wear OS would open up millions of people to choose a watch for its look, battery life and fitness features or price — and not the brand of phone they own.

Imagine a few common situations:

• An iPhone user who prefers Samsung’s spinning bezel and long-lasting battery
• A Pixel Watch owner who switches phones but doesn’t want stranded hardware
• A family with iPhones and Androids that wants the ability to cross-compete

Garmin and Fitbit now offer notification mirroring on iOS, but beyond that, broader smartwatch functionality has been a tough nut for Wear OS to crack. That gap could finally narrow.

The bottom line on iOS 26 and third-party watch support

Code in iOS 26 is not a guarantee, but it is a strong indicator. Notification Forwarding and AccessoryExtension sound like they are specifically designed to enable third-party watches to make first-class friends with the iPhone. If Apple goes through with it — and if Google and Samsung meet Apple halfway — Galaxy and Pixel watches could grace the wrists of iPhone owners without the compromises that characterized previous efforts.