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iOS 26.5 Coming Soon With These New Features

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iOS 26.5 is expected to be released this May, following more than a month of beta testing. The update is relatively minor so far, which is not too surprising given that Apple is starting to shift its focus towards iOS 27.

iOS-26.5-Glass-Feature-Green.jpg

iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for end-to-end encryption for RCS in the Messages app and ads in the Apple Maps app, and it will include a new Pride wallpaper and a few other changes. Below, we outline all of the notable additions in iOS 26.5.

End-to-End Encryption for RCS

General-Apps-Messages-Redux.jpg

End-to-end encryption for ‌RCS‌ is a security feature that ensures that messages sent between supported iOS 26.5 and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by a third party while they are being delivered.

Apple already tested end-to-end encryption for RCS in the iOS 26.4 beta, but the feature did not make it into the final release of iOS 26.4 in March. The option returned in the iOS 26.5 beta, but it remains to be seen if it makes it into the final release.

Ads and "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps

Ads-Are-Coming-to-Apple-Maps-Feature.jpg

In March, Apple announced that localized ads are coming to the Apple Maps app on the iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada starting "this summer," and there is evidence of Apple preparing for that within iOS 26.5's code.

Apple says businesses in the U.S. and Canada will be able to place local ads in search results and at the top of a new "Suggested Places" section.

"Ads on Maps will appear when users search in Maps, and can appear at the top of a user's search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of a new Suggested Places experience in Maps, which will display recommendations based on what's trending nearby, the user's recent searches, and more," says Apple.

Similar to the ads that are already shown in App Store search results on the iPhone and iPad, ads in Apple Maps will have an "Ad" label, and Apple promises strong privacy protections. For example, Apple says a user's location and the ads they see and interact with in Apple Maps are not associated with a user's Apple Account.

New Pride Wallpaper

Apple-Announces-2026-Pride-Band-Watch-Face-and-iPhone-Wallpaper-Article-2.jpg

Alongside the new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face for the Apple Watch, iOS 26.5 will include a matching iPhone wallpaper.

Apple said the wallpaper features a "joyful, vibrant design to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities worldwide during Pride Month and beyond."

The wallpaper has a dynamic design with customizable colors.

More

In the iOS 26.5 beta, Apple is also working to extend iPhone features like notifications, Live Activities, and AirPods-like pairing to third-party smartwatches and headphones in the EU, as required under the Digital Markets Act.

Beyond that, iOS 26.5 has only a few other minor changes.

Article Link: iOS 26.5 Coming Soon With These New Features
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/05/04/ios-26-5-coming-soon-with-these-new-features/
I hate the check valve effect on Apple updates. Once an update is installed, the ability to revert does not exist in an easy manner .

One has to completely reset the device and then can download over the internet the original operating system that was installed onto the device after final assembly.

Kind of like on death row, the soon to be deceased can choose between an electric chair, firing squad, toxic gas and hanging. The end result is the same for that individual.

Apple updates are often like getting a choice from above as no matter what we do, the results seem to never improve. We trade LIST A problems for LIST B problems which are supposed to be different. But LIST B is usually tweaked code from LIST A........
 
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When I see an ad for a restaurant, I assume I will not enjoy my meal. It means they have enough margin after paying for ingredients, staff and overhead to advertise, and much like a franchise restaurant that has to pay a percent of revenues, by definition prices will be too high compared to food quality.

Thanks for letting me know who to avoid.
 
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would really love the ability to simply swipe on the music app on the lockscreen to go to the next or previous track rather than having to carefully press the forward and back while biking, skating, etc. simple and nice. - oh, and an EQ that is customizable and system wide and remembers settings for each bluetooth device! 😎
 
I'll be interested to see how many people in the US (I'm not) avoid updating to 26.5 just to avoid maps ads.

Encrypted RCS sounds great.

Here's hoping under JT Apple will stop being so asinine and stop locking people into having to use the slightly illegible green for RCS.

Apple:

I don't know if you know this, but since the 00s there has been a technology breakthrough that has enabled users of other messaging apps to change their message bubble colours.

Many of these apps are open source, so you can peek at their code and work out how they did this. You're welcome.
 
Does RC3.0 still require every carrier to run RSC servers, or will Apple run the back end so we can message with Android users regardless of wether your carrier supports it or not?
 
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