Apple iPhone finally gets better support for Garmin Fenix 8 and other smartwatches

After a test run in iOS 26.3, the update to iOS 26.5 finally introduces better support for third-party smartwatches. At least in the European Union - as Apple is responding to EU regulations with these changes, customers from other regions will not be able to access the new features. The major addition is the ability to forward notifications to third-party products without restrictions.

Previously, smartwatches such as the Garmin Fenix 8 ($749 on Amazon) or the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro were able to display the content of a notification, but it was not possible to react or reply to it. In iOS 26.5, however, iPhone users can decide for themselves which wearable notifications are forwarded to in the system settings under Notifications --> Forwarding. Push notifications can only be forwarded to one device at a time, so users will inevitably have to choose between an Apple Watch and a third-party smartwatch.

It is possible to exclude individual apps from notification forwarding in order to protect privacy, as the third-party smartwatch can otherwise access the content of the respective messages. Live activities can also be displayed on third-party wearables with iOS 26.5. Another new feature is the ability to automatically pair products with an iPhone when they are switched on near the smartphone, just as we already know from Apple AirPods or AirTag. All of these features are only available once the respective smartwatch or accessory manufacturer has provided support for these features via a firmware update