Overview
- Apple released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 on Monday with beta end‑to‑end encryption for RCS chats between iPhone and Android users.
- RCS, a modern replacement for SMS used in cross‑platform texting, shows a lock in Messages when encrypted and only works once both users’ carriers support it.
- Apple Maps adds a Suggested Places section with recommendations based on location and recent searches, and the software lays groundwork for local ads planned for summer in the U.S. and Canada.
- In the European Union, iOS 26.5 enables limited features for third‑party wearables such as proximity pairing, interactive notifications, and Live Activities, which will appear only after accessory makers add support.
- Apple lists more than 50 iPhone security fixes in this release, so installing the update provides current protection against a wide range of vulnerabilities.