Apple has rolled out the iOS 26.3 update, which comes with enhancements that primarily benefit users of non-Apple devices.
But here's where it gets controversial: this latest update includes a feature known as "notification forwarding" that is designed to bridge the gap between Apple and third-party gadgets, particularly those adhering to European Union regulations. This feature allows your iPhone to send notifications directly to various third-party accessories, such as smartwatches powered by Google's Android-based Wear OS. Once you enable this setting, you can choose which applications are permitted to send their alerts to these external devices. This functionality resembles how notifications are currently managed on the Apple Watch.
However, in the current beta version, users can only forward notifications to one device at a time. Therefore, if you opt to send your notifications to a third-party device, they will not be available on your Apple Watch. This limitation raises questions about the flexibility and usability of Apple's ecosystem.
Furthermore, both iOS 26.3 and its counterpart iPadOS 26.3 are launching a new feature for select recent models equipped with Apple’s proprietary C1 and C1X modems: a toggle for "limit precise location." Apple claims that this option enhances location privacy by decreasing the accuracy of location data accessible to cellular networks. However, it's important to note that this feature is only available on a limited selection of devices and an even smaller number of carriers—currently, only Boost Mobile in the United States supports it. The iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and the M5 iPad Pro are the only devices offering this toggle, while models like the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and older phones using Qualcomm or Intel modems will not have access to this new capability.
In addition to these updates, Apple has also refreshed all its other main operating systems today. The updates for macOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and HomePod software version 26.3 are more subdued, mainly focusing on fixing bugs and improving performance. Interestingly, beta testers have uncovered early signs indicating support for the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, suggesting that some higher-end Macs may soon receive an upgrade, although this information doesn't reveal anything significantly new.
While the 26.3 updates are relatively minor, anticipation begins to build for the upcoming 26.4 releases, which are expected to be more impactful. These future updates are rumored to introduce Apple’s revamped "more intelligent Siri," a feature that was originally slated for inclusion in the first wave of Apple Intelligence updates during iOS 18 but was postponed due to quality control issues.
Apple and Google jointly announced in January that the updated Siri will utilize Google’s Gemini language models for its operations instead of relying on OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other competitive frameworks. As with other features tied to Apple Intelligence, we anticipate that the new Siri will first be accessible to beta testers through Apple’s developer and public beta programs before becoming available to all users.
