Just days after Apple officially rolled out the iOS 26.2 update, along with a host of accompanying updates for the rest of its sprawling ecosystem, the Cupertino giant has commenced its next software update cycle by launching the first developer beta builds for iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3.
The first developer beta builds for Apple's iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3 go live
Do note that developer beta builds are not intended for the general public, and are best left to professionals. If you do intend to try out Apple's latest software updates, please wait until the first public beta builds land in the next few days.
Apple generally does not delineate the contents of its beta software updates. Even so, we can deduce the existence of some new features by examining the underlying code.
As such, iOS 26.3 is now finally bringing the much-anticipated facilitation for switching from an iPhone to an Android device.
We noted a few days back that the Android Canary 2512 build for Pixel smartphones included a collaboration between Google and Apple, one that made it a fairly straightforward process to switch from a Pixel device to an Apple iPhone.
An APK teardown revealed that the feature would activate during the device setup process, and allow for a seamless porting over of your personal files, which include:
- Photos and videos
- MP3 and audio files
- Contacts stored on the device or in the cloud, including iCloud
- SMS, RCS messages, and iMessages, including those with photos, videos, emoji reactions, and other attachments
- Documents and downloads
- Calendar appointments stored on the device or synced in the cloud, including iCloud.
- Apps at no charge, which are matched to Google Play
- WhatsApp chat history
- Voice memos
- Notes
- Call history
- Home screen app layout and custom wallpapers
- Device settings:
- Alarms
- Saved Wi-Fi SSIDs
- Font size
- Screen timeout settings
The following, however will not port over:
- In-app purchases
- Device settings, such as Wi-Fi passwords
- DRM-protected music
- Safari bookmarks
- Paid and unavailable apps on Google Play
- Some app data, such as data from apps that aren’t stored in the cloud
Apple's iOS 26.3 is now finally bringing Apple's implementation of the feature to the proverbial table, replete with the ability to initiate the transfer via a QR code or a session ID pairing code.
Additionally, iOS 26.3 also brings with it the ability to forward an iPhone's incoming notifications to a third-party wearable device, further chipping away at the hardware and software moat that Apple had built for its own devices, and which now remains under a concerted scrutiny, especially from the EU's antitrust authorities.
Of course, a given iPhone user will be able to control which apps are allowed to forward their notifications to a third-party wearable device. Also, do note that this feature only works with one wearable device at a time, which means that your Apple Watch will not receive notifications if you activate this feature for another wearable.
We will update this post with additional features that are uncovered as we continue to scrutinize the new developer beta builds.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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