Apple released a release candidate (RC) for iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 in the week of May 11, 2026, signaling that the stable public update could arrive within days. The RC is currently available only to developers and public beta testers.
The update is expected to include three notable features: end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and Android devices, a new Suggested Places experience in Apple Maps, and new Pride Edition wallpapers.
Apple first introduced E2EE for RCS messages during the iOS 26.4 beta but removed it before the stable release. Its return in iOS 26.5 would mean that messages between supported iOS and Android devices are secured so that only the sender and recipient can read them — Apple itself included. The feature is expected to be limited to supported carriers at launch and may roll out in phases.
The Suggested Places feature in Apple Maps will offer location-based recommendations drawn from what is trending nearby and a user’s recent search history. Its arrival coincides with Apple’s introduction of advertising in Maps. Apple has confirmed that companies in the US and Canada will be able to place ads in Maps search results and at the top of the 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,” Apple stated earlier in 2026.
Users anticipating major AI or Siri upgrades should note that those features are not expected with this release. Apple’s larger AI additions are tied to iOS 27, which is set to be unveiled at WWDC in June 2026 and ship alongside new iPhones in September.
Source: mint – technology