Apple Releases iOS 26.3 Public Beta with Android Transfer Tools

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 26.3, introducing tools to simplify data transfers to Android devices and enable notification sharing with third-party wearables in the European Union, along with minor updates to the wallpaper gallery. The beta became available Monday to participants in Apple's public testing program, just days after the developer version and the broader rollout of iOS 26.2 last week.

The update's most prominent addition is a streamlined process for transferring content from an iPhone to an Android phone. Users can initiate the transfer wirelessly by placing the devices near each other, without needing additional apps. Supported data includes photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, contacts, and even the phone number. The process requires both devices to be on the latest software, connected to Wi-Fi, and have Bluetooth enabled, typically involving a QR code scan or pairing code for authentication. However, sensitive information such as health data, locked notes, and Bluetooth pairings remains on the iPhone. Google is implementing a reciprocal feature in Android to facilitate transfers from Android to iPhone, promoting smoother cross-platform...