Apple's iOS 26.5 update is expected to ship this May, following over a month of beta testing. The release is relatively minor, which is not surprising given that Apple is shifting its focus toward iOS 27, to be unveiled at WWDC 2026 on June 8. Still, iOS 26.5 lays groundwork for two notable changes: end-to-end encryption for RCS in Messages, and ads in Apple Maps. It also includes a new Pride wallpaper and a handful of other tweaks.
End-to-End Encryption for RCS
End-to-end encryption for RCS is a security feature that ensures messages sent between supported iOS 26.5 and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted by a third party during delivery. Apple previously tested this feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but it did not make it into the final release of iOS 26.4 in March. The option has returned in the iOS 26.5 beta, though it remains to be seen if it will be included in the final release.
Ads and "Suggested Places" in Apple Maps
In March, Apple announced that localized ads are coming to the Apple Maps app on iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada starting "this summer." Code in iOS 26.5 confirms Apple is preparing for that change. 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 will appear when users search in Maps, and can appear at the top of search results based on relevance, as well as at the top of the Suggested Places experience, which displays recommendations based on what's trending nearby and the user's recent searches. Similar to ads in App Store search results, Maps ads will carry an "Ad" label. Apple says a user's location and the ads they see and interact with are not associated with their Apple Account.
New Pride Wallpaper
iOS 26.5 includes a new Pride-themed iPhone wallpaper, matching the new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face for Apple Watch. Apple describes the wallpaper as a "joyful, vibrant design to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities worldwide during Pride Month and beyond." It has a dynamic design with customizable colors.
Other Changes
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, the update includes only a few other minor changes.
Bottom Line
iOS 26.5 is an incremental release that sets the