With the European Union’s Digital Markets Act coming into effect on November 1, 2022, Apple has had to make a lot, I mean a lot, of changes to stay afloat. Implemented in March 2024, the DMA shook Apple’s ecosystem somewhat. After legal challenges, Apple introduced a number of new iPhone features in the EU to comply with the DMA and avoid fines. These EU-exclusive iPhone features are not currently available elsewhere, including the United States.
While Apple has added some big and small changes to its policy, some of them are extremely exciting. In this article, I have listed the best EU-exclusive iPhone features that no one else would get. If you live outside the EU, like me, these features will help you understand what you’re missing out on. Trust me, you’ll be the envy of EU iPhone users once you find out about these benefits.
1. Access to third-party app stores
One of the biggest EU-exclusive iPhone features introduced by Apple is iOS 17 sideloading. Ever since the giant announced its 2023 iPhone software update, iPhone superfans have been excited to know whether sideloading is coming to iOS 17 or not. After all the apologies and efforts to maintain its walled garden, Apple needs to push those boundaries to avoid a major lawsuit.
Finally, with iOS 17.4 EU users have the freedom to access alternative app stores. Now, that means iPhone users in the EU can download third-party marketplaces. Here they can install apps that may not be available in Apple’s official app store. Apple ‘split the App Store in two’ to comply with the DMA. Now the App Store has two versions. One is an EU-only version that allows access to third-party app stores. The second version will remain the same for all other countries.
Every app developer has the freedom to create an app market for iPhone users. Also, they may use third-party payment mechanisms for purchase. Everything they need to make sure they meet Apple’s criteria for customer support, user experience, fraud prevention and more. McPaw’s Setapp has already launched its alternative iPhone app store in the EU. Of course, Apple won’t offer the much-opposed sideloading feature for free. To make sure it continues to make money, Apple will charge app developers a commission of 50 Eurocents per install. This will apply when the app reaches 1 million downloads per year in the EU.
In addition, the company specifically mentioned the applications that are distributed through third-party app stores will not support certain features. This includes features such as screen time and in-app purchase limits. These features are not supported because Apple will not promote app purchases through alternative app stores.
Regardless of the reasons and conditions, sideloading is one of the main changes that Apple has introduced for its users in the EU.
2. Ability to uninstall Safari and switch to a third-party browser
Another iPhone feature that would be limited to the EU is the freedom to completely uninstall Safari and switch to third-party web browsers. Well, this has to be a big change on Apple’s part to comply with the Digital Markets Act. With iOS 14, Apple allowed iPhone users to choose their own default web browser. However, there was no way to uninstall Safari, Apple’s built-in browsing option.
Well, that will soon be a thing of the past. Apple is preparing to enable iPhone users in the EU completely uninstall Safari by the end of 2024. Therefore, iPhone users in the EU will see a new selection screen where they can choose their default web browser. When a user opens Safari on iOS 17.4, they will be presented with a list of the main available web browsers. From that list, the user is prompted to select a default web browser.
What’s more? By fall 2025, Apple will also offer more “user-friendly ways” to transfer data from an iPhone to a non-Apple device. When that happens, Google and Samsung can come up with better data transfer tools to make it easy for a user to switch from an iPhone to an Android smartphone.
Considering Apple’s business model and its obsession with locking users into the iPhone system, it would be quite difficult for the giant to open its walled garden to competition. Well, he had no choice but to offer this option.
3. Download apps directly from websites
Another EU-exclusive iPhone feature that will make other users jealous is the freedom to download iOS apps directly from a developer-owned website. Yes, you heard right! Frankly, I think it’s one of the most significant DMA-inspired changes to date. As long as app developers are willing to adhere to Apple’s strict guidelines, they are allowed to distribute iOS apps in EU markets without the need for a separate app store.
To make this happen, Apple is ready to launch new web distribution feature via software update later this spring. To use this feature, developers will have to agree to the App Store’s new business terms, which include a new commission rate. Developers will have to pay a core technology fee of €0.50 for each first annual installation after 1 million installations. On top of that, developers must meet certain eligibility criteria to distribute their apps through the website.
So later this year iPhone users in the EU they can download their favorite apps directly from the website. I think that’s cool! I honestly envy EU users for this.
4. Pay using third-party banking services or wallet apps
Apple has also made some significant changes to its contactless payment policy as part of DMA compliance. Developers can now offer their own touch payment solutions from within their banking or wallet apps while maintaining user security and privacy. Now that means iPhone users in the EU can initiate NFC payments directly from a third-party banking application or the Wallet app, without the need for Apple Pay or the Wallet app.
Moving on, users can also select i manage your preferred default contactless payment application through the new setting for contactless payment. Once selected, the default contactless payment application can be launched by double-pressing the side button on the iPhone. The app will also launch when the iPhone detects the NFC field on compatible terminals.
5. Interoperability request form for developers
Apple is also announcing some additional benefits for EU developers. In order to comply with the EU DMA, Apple introduced a new request form that allows iOS app developers request additional interoperability with iPhone hardware and software features. For reference, Apple already provides developers with more than 250,000 APIs that allow them to access iPhone features and frameworks such as Bluetooth, microphones, cameras, SiriKit, HealthKit and more.
In the future, EU developers can submit requests for additional iPhone features and technologies for use in their EU applications. Div will examine these requests on a case-by-case basis. And if they’re technically feasible and comply with the Digital Markets Act, Apple will release additional APIs in future iOS updates.
Since Apple has rolled out a handful of changes to the App Store in Europe, the giant will provide all developers around the world with updated analytics. More than 50 new reports are now available through the App Store Connect API, so developers can closely analyze the performance of their application. Some of the new metrics include commerce, app usage, engagement, and frame usage.
These were the 5 new exclusive iPhone features that only EU users will enjoy. At this time, no other country, not even the US, has access to these features.
Interestingly, this exclusivity story may soon change. Recently, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolizing the iPhone ecosystem. The US government claims that Apple’s practices raise prices for consumers at the expense of locking users into its ecosystem. It also deliberately places restrictions on app developers to destroy competition.
With the DOJ poised to shake up Apple’s business model and the iPhone ecosystem with its ambitious lawsuit, we could see Apple expand some of its EU-exclusive services to the US. Or maybe, Apple is cooking up something special for iPhone users in the US.