What Apple’s new casting decision means
Apple’s reported decision to add Google Cast and other third-party casting standards to iOS 27 means iPhone users will gain system-level alternatives to AirPlay and can choose non-Apple technologies as their default way to stream media to TVs, speakers, and other devices, marking a significant loosening of Apple’s traditionally closed ecosystem under regulatory pressure. According to Bloomberg, Apple is building support so iOS 27 can use “third-party media-casting protocols” side by side with AirPlay, with Google Cast expected to be the primary option. Today, AirPlay is the only casting method built into iOS at the system level, so any Google Cast iPhone support relies on individual apps. With the shift, Apple is responding to the EU Digital Markets Act, which aims to limit how much control large platforms have over key services. The exact geographic scope of the feature is still unclear.
DMA: the regulatory push behind Google Cast on iPhone
The EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) is at the core of this change. The law targets “gatekeeper” platforms, forcing them to open key services and avoid locking users into first-party options. Apple Insider reports that Apple sees the DMA as a problem because of unclear rules and potential security risks, but it is still adapting iOS 27 to comply. That includes support for third-party casting at the system level and broader steps like alternative app stores and sideloading. Digital Trends notes that Apple has already been required to allow third-party app stores and alternative payment systems, and disputes continue over fees for these marketplaces. Casting is the next front: by letting users adopt an AirPlay alternative in iOS 27, Apple is giving regulators a visible sign that it is weakening its walled garden, even if reluctantly.
How default third-party casting changes everyday iPhone use
For everyday users, the practical impact is about freedom of choice and smoother interoperability. Right now, casting from an iPhone works best with Apple TVs or AirPlay-enabled hardware that often carries licensing obligations for manufacturers. Android Authority reports that iOS 27 will let users set Google Cast as the default way to beam video, photos, and audio from an iPhone to compatible TVs and speakers. That makes it far easier to use low-cost Google Cast streaming sticks or existing Cast-enabled TVs without needing AirPlay support. It also opens the door for other third-party casting Apple integrations, potentially covering protocols used by smaller streaming platforms. In short, Google Cast iPhone support at the system level reduces friction when you mix Apple phones with non-Apple living room gear and removes one of the main reasons to favor AirPlay-specific hardware.
A crack in the walled garden and what comes next
This AirPlay alternative in iOS 27 is more than a technical tweak; it shows how sustained regulatory pressure is reshaping Apple’s platform. GSM Arena notes that Apple is adding Google Cast and other AirPlay alternatives “in order to make sure that it satisfies” DMA requirements, and that users will be able to set these as the default streaming option. The company has already limited some features in Europe in response to new rules, and commentators warn it may resort to narrow or “malicious” compliance when forced to open up. Even so, each concession—whether alternative app stores, relaxed rules for emulators, or third-party casting Apple support—makes it easier for users to mix devices and services. If this casting change works well and spreads beyond Europe, it could signal a slow but steady move toward a more interoperable iPhone ecosystem.
