La The first beta of iOS 26.5 is now available for developers and it's shaping up to be the last major update to iOS 26 before Apple focuses all its attention on iOS 27. It arrives just days after the stable version of iOS 26.4 and opens a new testing cycle that will last approximately a couple of months.
Although it doesn't represent as big a plot twist as other installments, this beta brings together Significant changes in interoperability, messaging, and services like Apple MapsThis is especially true given the weight given to European regulatory requirements. At the same time, it confirms what many already suspected: Siri's major overhaul will have to wait for the next generation of the system.
A bridge update before iOS 27
iOS 26.5 is released as a intermediate but key update on Apple's calendarBased on the timing, everything points to the final version being distributed at the end of May or the first weeks of June, coinciding with the WWDC where iOS 27 will be presented.
Apple usually spends about two months polishing these types of versions, so a cycle of several betas, first for developers and then publicwhere additional minor adjustments may appear. For now, the company is maintaining a high release pace: iOS 26.4 arrived last week, and this first beta has followed.
For iOS 26.5 public betaIt is expected to arrive in a matter of days or, at most, a couple of weeks, provided that no serious errors appear in this first round for developers.
In any case, this is a version whose role is to close out the year of iOS 26 with several improvements distributed between security, third-party compatibility and small additions to system apps, while a good part of Apple's internal resources are already being moved to iOS 27.
The new Siri is still nowhere to be seen in iOS 26.5
One of the notable absences from this first beta is, once again, The long-awaited Siri refresh linked to Apple IntelligenceFor months there had been speculation that iOS 26.4 or, as a last resort, iOS 26.5 would be the moment to see profound changes in the assistant, but the reality is that Siri's interface and capabilities remain as we already knew them.
With WWDC scheduled for June 8, the move fits with Apple's usual strategy: Save the big AI and assistant headlines for the iOS 27 presentation, instead of introducing them in a version with a lifespan of just a couple of months.
The company had reportedly been internally testing new Siri features focused on smarter search or content generation, but None of that has materialized in this iOS 26.5 betaFor those who were expecting a drastic change from the assistant in this phase, it's time to keep looking ahead to summer.
Interestingly, Apple Intelligence even made an accidental appearance in China when updating to iOS 26.5, before the features were removed from the settings due to not yet having regulatory approval in the country, a further indication that the great leap in AI is in the works but not yet ready for global production.
Europe takes center stage
Where clear changes are seen is in the area of interoperability required by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European UnioniOS 26.5 beta 1 again focuses on how the iPhone interacts with third-party accessories, something particularly sensitive for the community regulator.
Apple recovers and expands features that had already appeared in iOS 26.3 preview betas and iOS 26.4, but they never made it to the final version. Among them, the following stand out: proximity matching for compatible accessories, designed so that headphones or similar devices can connect to the iPhone simply by bringing them close together, with a confirmation process very similar to that of AirPods.
The possibility also reappears that watches and other third-party wearables receive notifications from the iPhoneThis capability was previously almost entirely monopolized by the Apple Watch. The system allows users to select which apps can send notifications, and if these are enabled on a third-party accessory, they are disabled on the Apple Watch to prevent duplication.
The big new feature in this beta is the Live Activities for external devicesThis opens the door for non-Apple accessories to display real-time information, such as navigation routes, order tracking, or timers, in the same way that the Apple Watch currently does.
It's worth noting that Apple already removed proximity pairing and extended notifications in two previous beta cycles, so There is no absolute guarantee that all of these features will make it into the public version of iOS 26.5Even so, the fact that the company continues to add capabilities in each iteration indicates that the work to meet the DMA is progressing.
RCS encryption returns to the forefront
Another important area in this beta is messaging. Apple continues to refine support for RCS (Rich Communication Services) between iPhone and AndroidAnd in iOS 26.5, end-to-end encryption is reactivated for this type of message.
This feature was already seen in the latest beta of iOS 26.4, But It did not reach the final stable versionThis time, encryption is enabled by default again, and unlike before, the developer notes do not include the warning that it might not be available in the general release.
Within the iPhone settings, in the Messages section and more specifically in the RCS messaging options, developers find a switch identified as “End-to-end encryption (beta)”Apple clarifies that the feature is still in testing and that not all carriers or devices are compatible, but conversations marked as encrypted remain protected throughout their transmission between devices.
If it is ultimately retained in the stable version of iOS 26.5, the RCS chats between iPhone and Android users will be protected from third partiesoffering a level of security similar to that already enjoyed in iMessage or other modern messaging services.
Apple Maps changes: suggested places and on-the-way ads
iOS 26.5 also touches on the subject of maps, although with an important nuance: The major new features of Apple Maps are initially geared towards markets outside the European Union, at least for now.
The application incorporates a new section called “Suggested places”This appears when you click on the search box. It displays recommendations for trending sites near the user's location, combined with recent search history to offer more refined suggestions.
Meanwhile, Apple is preparing to introduce advertising to its Maps service. The code for this beta version already includes text explaining that... Maps may display local ads based on approximate location, current search terms, or the area of the map being viewed.These ads will be displayed both in search results and in the suggested places section itself.
All of that promoted content will be properly labeled so that it is clearly distinguishable from organic results. The company plans activate these ads throughout the summer, which represents a further step in the monetization strategy of its services.
For users in the European Union, Apple notes that, for now, neither ads nor suggested locations based on this system will be available, a decision that is likely related to local regulations on privacy and competition.
Other less visible adjustments and improvements
Beyond the major messaging, maps, and interoperability features, iOS 26.5 incorporates a number of small changes spread throughout the system that can make everyday life a little more comfortable.
When connecting a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad to iPhone via USB-CThe system now automatically establishes Bluetooth pairing without the user having to navigate through the settings. Previously, this process required an extra manual step to complete the pairing of the accessory.
Improvements have also been made to the platform switching tools. When Export data from an iPhone to an Android deviceThere is now more control over which message attachments are included: you can choose not to transfer any, only those from the last 30 days, the last full year, or all files.
The App Store includes references to new subscription models with monthly billing and a 12-month commitmentThis could translate into more varied subscription offers within the apps, although details have not yet been made public.
In the realm of reading, the iOS 26.5 code reveals a future “Annual summary” on Apple Books in the style of Spotify compilationswith reading statistics and badges for the most active users. In terms of languages, a new keyboard layout for Inuktitut, an Indigenous language of Canada, has also been added, thus expanding the system's language support.
How to install the iOS 26.5 beta on your iPhone
La The first beta of iOS 26.5 is initially available to registered developers. in the Apple program. The download is managed directly from the iPhone itself, through the OTA update system integrated into iOS.
To install it, simply link your Apple account to Developer Program and follow these steps from the device:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Wait for the "Beta updates" option to appear.
- Select "iOS 26 Developer Beta" as the testing channel.
- Return to the previous screen and download the new version when it becomes available.
Apple reminds users that these builds may include errors, performance issues, or app compatibility problemsTherefore, the most sensible thing to do is to install them on a secondary iPhone or, at the very least, make a full backup before making the switch.
With all these new features, iOS 26.5 positions itself as a transitional update that reinforces key aspects such as interoperability in Europe, the security of RCS messages, and the evolution of services like Apple Maps, while Apple reserves its most ambitious moves in artificial intelligence and Siri for the grand debut of iOS 27 at the next WWDC.
