Wire · regulatory
Apple Will Let Meta Glasses Pair Like AirPods, but Only in Europe
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Fusion42 · 16 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
Apple will open its AccessorySetupKit pairing infrastructure to Meta's Ray-Ban glasses and Quest headsets in the EU from spring 2027, enabling seamless cross-device pairing like AirPods—the first time Apple has granted third-party hardware access to this ecosystem feature. The commitment follows Meta's October 2025 DMA petition; Apple has not committed to supporting the feature outside the EU.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of AR & VR.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you make AR glasses or wearables outside Apple's orbit, the DMA just proved you can force access to Apple's pairing stack—but only in the EU, and only if you petition first and wait 18 months. Everywhere else, Apple's friction remains your competitor's moat.
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1 source · 15 Jul 2026
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