A brand new day is here, and so is a brand new iOS. Yesterday, Apple released iOS 26.3 approximately two months after the release of its predecessor. While there are not a lot of groundbreaking innovations here, there are still some noteworthy changes aimed at improving the overall user experience.
Let’s check out these updates that came in tandem with iOS 26.3.
Easy Transfer To Android
Apple is widely recognized for its seamless ecosystem and smooth day-to-day performance. Yet, their iPhones have long been notoriously difficult when it comes to switching to the other side (read: Android). That may finally be changing.
With iOS 26.3, Apple is making it easier than ever for users to transfer their data to an Android device—a surprising but welcome shift. It almost feels like Apple is taking a cue from Passenger’s lyrics: “Only know you love her when you let her go.” Perhaps it’s a subtle way of showing confidence in the loyalty of its users.
After all, it’s not like Apple has much to worry about. If their recent sales reports are any indication, more people are moving into the ecosystem than going out.
This new transfer feature allows users to move their data simply by placing their iPhone next to an Android device. Once connected, users can choose to transfer photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone numbers, and more—without needing a separate app. The process is straightforward and hassle-free. That said, not everything makes the jump. Health data, paired Bluetooth devices, and protected items like locked notes will not transfer to the new device.
Interestingly, Google has also implemented a similar feature for users switching to iPhone, suggesting a growing spirit of cooperation between the two tech giants.
Weather Wallpaper
iOS 26.3 introduces a dedicated Weather wallpaper section in the Lock Screen customization options. Previously paired with Astronomy, Weather now has its own independent category.
Users can choose from three pre-designed Weather wallpapers, each featuring different fonts for the time and weather widgets, offering a clearer idea of how they can be used. For those who are particular about their phone’s aesthetics, this is a small but exciting upgrade—and for those who are not, well, they can add it to the never-ending list of “Was it really needed!”.
Precise Location Limit
iOS 26.3 introduces a new privacy-focused option that allows users to limit carrier location tracking on supported devices. This feature works with the C1 and C1X modems found in the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air.
When enabled, carriers will only see approximate locations—like the neighbourhood—rather than a precise street address. This helps protect user privacy by reducing the amount of personal location data shared with mobile networks, giving users greater control over how their information is accessed.
Updates in Other Apple Devices
Alongside iOS 26.3, Apple has also released updates for its other devices, including macOS Tahoe 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3. However, there isn’t much to get excited about—these are minor updates aimed at keeping devices running smoothly and securely. And while not flashy, these updates are crucial for maintaining stability and security across Apple’s ecosystem.
These borderline negligible updates (apart from the ones in iOS 26.3) have made way for rumours suggesting that Apple is saving the bigger changes for the next release. Insiders are claiming that iOS 26.4 is the one that will bring some long-awaited, much-needed updates—like the Siri refresh—and possibly, a new emoji functionality.
That means all of us Apple fans have something exciting to look forward to in the months to come. Hopefully, they won’t disappoint!
