Last year, the EU introduced new rules for large tech companies that are considered gatekeepers under its Digital Markets Act (DMA). Among the targeted companies are Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, but also Apple. While Google only had to change a few details about the way it handles Android with some small Android 14 updates, Apple was forced to drastically change its iPhone app store model, opening up its platform to third-party app markets and allowing more types of previously banned apps.
With the DMA set to take effect this week, Apple has released a special update to bring its software into line with the new EU rules, iOS 17.4. As someone who predominantly uses Android and happens to live in the EU, I was curious to see how close this brings iPhones to an Android-like experience. Here’s what I found out.
New EU laws aim to crack down on ‘gatekeeping’ by big tech companies
Google is one of six companies targeted by the European Commission
The new iOS doesn’t look much different from the old one
Hardly anything has changed on the surface
Immediately after installing iOS 17.4 on my trusty iPhone 13, I noticed that there were no signs of any major changes under the hood. The only thing I immediately asked to set up was Stolen Device Protection, which makes it difficult for thieves to get hold of your Apple account even when they get your PIN. However, this feature is available worldwide and is a much needed improvement that I wish we had on Android as well.
Another thing I quickly noticed was the new prompt to select my preferred browser when I first started Safari. I was presented with a choice of 12 alternatives, including big names like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, but that’s nothing new to me. In the EU, Android has had to show a similar screen for a long time. On iOS, I reverted to the old default setting after testing what happens when I select Chrome:Safari.
Here’s what happens if you switch to Chrome after the update
That’s right, I’m a Safari user on my iPhone. I have Google Chrome installed to sync bookmarks and history if I need to reference something I’ve looked up on another device, but I mostly use Safari for everything else on my phone. I think Safari offers the most intuitive interface once you get used to its gestures.
Another reason is that using a different browser is not a thing on iOS. According to Apple’s policy, all browsers must use the Safari rendering engine, which means that all others are just different interfaces placed on top of the web content displayed by Safari.
Browsers and payment apps are yet to appear
Other browsers and contactless payment applications are still missing
With iOS 17.4, the browser situation changes in the EU, as other developers are allowed to use their own engines. However, neither Google nor Mozilla have yet released such versions of their browsers for the iPhone, and there are some obstacles. The biggest is that these special versions of their browsers would only be available in the EU, forcing companies to devote a disproportionate amount of resources to a relatively small market and maintain two different versions of their products in the EU and the rest of the world. .
Apple also said that other browsers will only get the green light “after they meet certain criteria and commit to a set of ongoing privacy and security requirements,” which all in all sounds like a lot of work for just 450 million potential users. Even so, Google seems to be working on a Blink-based version of Chrome for iOS, so there might be hope.
Source: Google
Chrome for iOS offers some smart features you don’t get on Android, like the address bar at the bottom, but it’s still just Safari with a different user interface
A similar issue affects payment apps that want to use Apple’s NFC chip directly, bypassing Apple Pay. I ended up switching banks after being forced to use a poorly designed and expensive third party app provided by my bank for mobile payments on Android, so I’m not sure any financial institution would be doing themselves any favors by moving away from a well designed and fully integrated Apple Wallet system. Banks may have to pay a fee to Apple for each transaction, but developing your own payment app isn’t free either.
App stores aren’t here yet
Third-party app markets are now allowed, but not yet
The topic continues with the app stores themselves. Although Epic and at least two other companies have announced plans to launch their own app stores, they are not yet available. Given the convoluted process Apple has set up for third-party app stores, it may take longer for those to be available as well.
Starting an iPhone app store involves a lot of steps, including a “stand-by letter of credit in the amount of €1,000,000” from a reputable financial institution. This requirement almost certainly stops open source projects like F-Droid, an alternative to the Play Store on Android that is filled only with FOSS apps. But even beyond that, app stores must agree to some rules, including Apple’s scanning of newly submitted apps for technical compatibility, removing those that might try to use private or hidden APIs.
Apple touts what makes its App Store great on first launch after an update
On top of that, for-profit developers must pay “technology fees” for each first annual installation of €0.50. Depending on how the app store makes money, the sudden spike in popularity could backfire. At least there is a fee waiver for nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions.
All of these things are much easier to achieve on Android, where basically anyone can run an app store — not to mention the fact that you can simply download an app from the web, without any app store involved in the process. There are security and practical reasons to stick to the Play Store and other trusted sources, but the Play Store competes much more directly with other forms of app distribution.
The new changes do not apply to iPad devices
EU rules only apply to iPhone devices
Another thing that might make the new EU rules uninteresting to many is the fact that they don’t apply to iPads. People who have both an iPhone and an iPad may still prefer to stick with the original App Store. An app they buy once in the App Store can be used on both iOS and iPadOS, whereas they would otherwise have to make two separate purchases on iPhone and iPad.
Android tablets and Android phones offer the same app stores, third-party or not
It also doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that Apple will revoke access to alternative app stores when you leave Europe for too long. A European exchange student spending a year in the US may suddenly need to reinstall large amounts of their apps after Apple deems they haven’t been home long enough, and some may not be available at all.
While Android may not have a thriving ecosystem of great tablets, you can easily install the same third-party app stores on your phone and tablet — no matter where you live.
iOS is now closer to Android, in theory
Only time will tell if third-party developers will take advantage of the new rules
In theory, iOS is now much closer to Android than it has ever been, but in practice the change is still invisible. I can’t currently install app stores or third-party browsers with different engines. It’s a little easier to change my default browser during my first Safari launch, but without truly different browsers available, it’s moot. Regional restrictions are another downfall, making the digital world even more fragmented than it already is.
In the long term, it remains to be seen whether third-party app stores can really thrive in the EU. Epic Games will almost certainly gain popularity simply because it will be the only way to get Fortnite on iOS. There’s also a market for business-focused stores with special requirements for device management and more, which German company Mobivention wants to focus on. Mac app subscription service Setapp is also planning its own iOS app store in Europe. It’s just a shame that these fun and potentially innovative solutions may not make it to the global market anytime soon.