Apple is reluctant to share this AirPods feature with Meta, but the EU might compel it to do so.

      I have used AirPods for the past four years, and one of the hardest aspects to give up is the incredibly smooth and almost magical pairing experience across devices. Just open the AirPods case near your iPhone, and a pop-up appears in seconds. Switch to your Mac, and the audio seamlessly transfers.

      However, this experience is restricted to Apple devices only. It doesn’t matter if you own some of the latest technology available; if it’s not made by Apple, you won’t receive the same treatment. This might change for the Meta Quest or Ray-Ban Meta glasses due to pressure from the EU.

      What is Apple planning, exactly?

      Apple's EU Interoperability request page indicates that the company is working on a new API based on AccessorySetupKit and Proximity Pairing. In simpler terms, this API will facilitate seamless pairing of third-party accessories, like Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses and Quest headsets, with an iPhone (a request made by Meta in October 2025).

      Once the devices are paired, they should automatically appear on all your Apple devices, eliminating the need for manual pairing. There will be no need to re-pair or deal with additional prompts, just the same effortless experience that AirPods users have enjoyed for years.

      On February 4, Apple informed Meta that it intends to share cryptographic session keys on a one-time-consent basis for each accessory. Additionally, development is expected to be completed by spring 2027, with shipping likely happening soon after, potentially in a future iOS update, with iOS 27.4 as a tentative target (according to MacRumors).

      Will this be effective outside the EU?

      Not at this time, and that’s where things become complicated because Meta has a significant objection. Embracing Apple’s AccessorySetupKit would require Meta to give up Core Bluetooth, which is its preferred pairing method outside of Europe.

      Meta requested Apple to separate the two, but Apple refused, while mentioning that global expansion is “something we are still considering.” For now, this initiative is focused solely on the EU due to the Digital Markets Act. If Apple eventually decides to decouple the two systems, it’s quite possible that the feature could be rolled out globally.

      Until then, it could be a European exclusive with intriguing potential. To me, it seems like a gatekeeping approach that Apple is reluctant to relinquish, and I understand why. The seamless pairing experience provides a significant advantage for Apple hardware with iPhones.

      Why is Apple so hesitant?

      Additionally, if you weren’t aware, Apple is reportedly developing its own pair of smart glasses, anticipated to be released by the end of 2027. These, similar to other Apple products, will ideally offer users all the Continuity features typically associated with Apple devices. This could include switching audio from an iPhone to a MacBook or using them with an iPad.

      For Apple, separating AccessorySetupKit from Core Bluetooth would mean sacrificing the iconic experience it has protected for years.

      From my perspective, the company may be forced to comply within the EU, but a pairing experience similar to that of AirPods for Meta Glasses, or any other devices for that matter, may not be available globally.