The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has issued a landmark ruling against Apple's long-standing policy of requiring all iOS browsers to use the WebKit engine, declaring it a breach of the Strategic Market Status regime introduced under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act in 2024. Apple has until 1 January 2027 to allow alternative browser engines on iPhones and iPads sold in the UK.
The ruling follows an 18-month investigation that examined the impact of Apple's WebKit requirement on developers, web standards and consumer choice.
What the ruling means
Apple has historically required every browser app distributed through the App Store to use the WebKit engine - the same rendering engine powering Safari. That means Chrome, Firefox, Edge and other "browsers" on iOS are effectively just Safari with a different interface. They cannot use Google's Blink or Mozilla's Gecko engines, severely limiting their performance, features and the progressive web app capabilities they can offer.
Under the CMA ruling, Apple must:
- Allow Chrome, Firefox and Edge to use their own rendering engines on iOS in the UK
- Provide the same low-level system APIs to third-party browsers as WebKit enjoys
- Allow progressive web apps installed through alternative browsers to launch in those browsers, not Safari
- Enable third-party browsers to be set as system default in a fair and transparent way
Apple's response
Apple has strongly criticised the ruling, arguing it will weaken iOS security and user privacy. In a statement, the company said: "This decision forces us to make significant engineering changes that introduce potential risks for UK consumers. We will comply with the ruling but we are considering all our legal options."
The company is widely expected to appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, a process that could take 12 to 18 months. However, the CMA's Strategic Market Status designations are subject to significantly narrower appeal grounds than previous investigations, meaning reversal is unlikely.
Why it matters for UK iPhone users
The immediate practical impact on consumers will be modest. Most UK iPhone users stick with Safari and don't particularly care what engine it uses. But the long-term implications are significant:
- Browser competition: Chrome and Firefox will finally be able to differentiate on iOS, potentially offering faster page loads, better developer tools and unique features
- Web apps: Progressive web apps (PWAs) have been crippled on iOS for years. Alternative engines could finally deliver the Android-like PWA experience
- Streaming quality: Some video streaming services deliver lower resolution on iOS Safari due to DRM limitations. Alternative engines may fix this
- Gaming: Cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming have been hamstrung on iOS by Safari limitations
Parallel EU action
The UK ruling echoes broader action in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, where Apple has already been forced to allow alternative app stores and payment systems. The EU had not explicitly mandated alternative browser engines at the time of Apple's DMA compliance in March 2024, though Brussels signalled it was investigating the issue.
The UK's decision may push the EU to issue its own ruling, or may push Apple to apply the UK changes globally to avoid maintaining multiple iOS versions.
Timeline
Apple must present a compliance plan by June 2026 and begin rolling out the changes in iOS 20, expected in autumn 2026. Full compliance is required by 1 January 2027. If Apple appeals, these deadlines could be extended by 6-12 months.