Overview
- Apple released the watchOS 26.5 Release Candidate, a near-final build that outlets expect to precede a public update as soon as next week.
- The update fixes a bug that made Messages on Apple Watch send SMS instead of iMessage when paired with a dual SIM iPhone.
- It also resolves an issue where Workout app audio alerts failed to play if the paired iPhone was not nearby.
- The release adds a Pride Luminance watch face with a layout and colors users can customize.
- After 26.5 ships, coverage is expected to shift to watchOS 27, which Apple is slated to unveil at WWDC on June 8.