These Two New iPhone Features Are Coming to iOS 26.3

Just three days after Apple released iOS 26.2 for iPhone everywhere, the company is back with a new update. iOS 26.3 is official, but only for beta testers. Those brave enough to install Apple's unfinished software on their devices won't find an update filled to the brim with new features and changes, but they will stumble upon two key new features. The thing is, we already knew they were both on their way.

However, that's not all for the update: Since iOS 26.3 is so new, it's possible that testers will discover additional features hidden in the update. Additionally, Apple may add new changes in future beta versions. I'll continue to update this article to reflect any new features that arrive, but for now here are the two new features we know about.

Forwarding notifications

Back in SeptemberWe've learned that Apple is quietly working on some sort of notification forwarding feature, but details beyond that basic feature remain mere speculation. A common assumption at the time was that Apple intended to use the feature to push notifications to third-party devices, particularly smartwatches, in an attempt to open up the platform to wearables other than the Apple Watch. Of course, this will not be Apple's choice: left to its own devices, the company will retain as many features as possible tied to Apple devices. Instead, the motivation will come from the EU, which has forced Apple to make its platforms more compatible with third-party devices.

Three months later, we're getting our first official look at this feature. In the first beta version of iOS 26.3, the “Forward Notifications” option was added to the notification settings. While this option is currently grayed out, Apple does have a description of how it works, saying that notifications can be sent to one device at a time. It's important to note that the description states that when notifications are forwarded to another device, they won't appear on your Apple Watch. Apple, is this restriction really necessary?

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Transfer to Android

Knowledge about the second feature of iOS 26.3 is not that old. Actually, we only found out about this last week. It just so happens that Apple is working directly with Google on an official way to make data transfer between iPhone and Android device smoother.

Last week, Google already tested the feature for the first time on Android Canary, but it was nowhere to be found in Apple's beta versions. Now we know what to expect: There's a new “Transfer to Android” option in the iOS Transfer or Reset iPhone settings. Here, iOS instructs you to place your iPhone next to your Android device, where you can transfer data such as photos, messages, notes, and apps. However, it appears that not all data will be transferred: health data, Bluetooth-connected devices, and “secure items” such as locked notes will not support this transfer feature.

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Beware of Running Beta Versions on Your iPhone

It's not the flashiest beta Apple has ever released, but you can install it right now. Both developer betas and public betas are now available, meaning anyone can Enroll your device in the Apple beta program try 26.3.

However, before you do this, be aware of the risks. Unfinished software may contain bugs and glitches that may affect the usability of your iPhone. If the software is particularly buggy, you may lose data when upgrading to iOS 26.2. If you do decide to install the beta version, Take a full backup of your iPhone on Mac or PC before you do it.