The first beta of iOS 26.5 is here. Based on Apple's previous release schedule, the update should be available to all iPhone users in mid-May – and it brings more than expected.
Just last week, Apple released a major update, iOS 26.4, which included new emojis, video podcasts, and security improvements. Now, Apple has already released the first developer beta of iOS 26.5 – an unusually rapid pace that demonstrates the tight software roadmap leading up to WWDC 2026.
When will iOS 26.5 be released?
Apple follows a remarkably consistent schedule for its x.5 updates. A look at previous years makes the expected release date quite predictable: iOS 18.5 was released on May 12, iOS 17.5 on May 13, iOS 16.5 on May 18, and iOS 15.5 on May 16. The pattern is clear: Apple regularly releases x.5 updates in mid-May.
For iOS 26.5, this means the public version should be released in the week of May 11th, or at the latest, the week of May 18th. This leaves approximately six weeks between the beta launch and the final release – enough time for at least two to three further beta versions.
The new features in iOS 26.5
Even after the first beta, several new features are emerging that go beyond a simple maintenance update.
Apple Maps is getting a new feature called "Suggested Places," which makes recommendations based on trending nearby locations and previous searches. At the same time, iOS 26.5 could be the update with which Apple introduces advertising to Apple Maps for the first time in the US and Canada.
There's a significant step forward for messaging: End-to-end encryption for RCS messages is already active in the beta version. This feature was held back in iOS 26.4 and could now officially launch with iOS 26.5. This would close a long-standing security gap in communication between iPhones and Android devices.
A new subscription option is emerging in the App Store: a monthly subscription with a 12-month commitment period. For developers, this would be an additional pricing model that combines flexibility and planning security.
Specifically for the EU, there are adjustments under the Digital Markets Act. Third-party accessories will be able to support Live Activities in the future – an opening that Apple had previously reserved only for its own products.
The last major update before iOS 27
iOS 26.5 is expected to be the last functionally significant update before the unveiling of iOS 27 at WWDC on June 8th. After that, iOS 26.6 is likely to deliver only stability and security updates, while Apple focuses all its attention on the fall update.
The question remains particularly interesting: Will Apple deliver any delayed Siri features with iOS 26.5, or have these been permanently postponed to iOS 27? The current beta doesn't yet include any new Siri features, but the feature list is likely to grow in future beta versions. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Anonymous Photographer)
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