Apple users in the European Union are facing delays and potential feature losses with the upcoming iOS 26 due to strict regulations imposed by the EU. Among the features affected, iPhone mirroring on Macs and the Live Activities feature are among the most notable omissions. Apple has stated that the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation aimed at fostering fair competition, is putting undue pressure on the company. 
In a statement, Kyle Andeer, Apple’s Chief Legal Officer, confirmed that the new rules may cause some of iOS 26’s features to be delayed or even scrapped entirely for European users.
One of the most contentious issues revolves around the requirement for Apple to share its proprietary technologies with other companies. According to Apple, this requirement undermines its competitive edge and could hurt innovation. Additionally, the DMA’s privacy standards, which Apple claims are unrealistic, seem to disproportionately favor certain companies while potentially causing Apple to bear the brunt of compliance costs.
Apple also criticized Meta, accusing the company of exploiting the DMA to gain access to user data and technology that have little to do with Facebook or Instagram’s core operations. As a result, Apple has been forced to slow down or halt the rollout of certain features while also adapting to rules that it believes apply inconsistently across the tech industry.
The company’s official stance is that the DMA was not intended to protect consumers, but rather to favor certain businesses, often European ones. Apple’s concerns about the regulations have been made even more complicated by the fact that the company seems to be willing to comply with Chinese government demands, a sharp contrast to its resistance against EU regulations.
Ultimately, the affected consumers-those in the EU-are left to navigate a situation where they are paying the same price as their counterparts in the U.S., but with fewer features. It’s clear that this regulatory battle is far from over, and the hope remains that a solution will be found that benefits the end users without compromising competition or innovation.