Apple says iOS 26.5 adds three new features to your iPhone

iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple’s release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week.

As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers worldwide and will continue to roll out.

End-to-end encryption for ‌RCS‌ is a layer of security that ensures that messages sent between supported iOS and Android devices are encrypted and cannot be intercepted and read by Apple or any third party during transmission. Keep in mind that text messages sent via the old SMS standard still don’t have end-to-end encryption.

iMessage conversations with blue bubbles are already end-to-end encrypted since iOS 5.

The second new feature added in iOS 26.5 is “Suggested Places” in Apple Maps. This section of the app provides recommendations based on your location and recent searches. It will begin running ads in the United States and Canada later this year.

Similar to ads already running in App Store search results on iPhone and iPad, ads in Apple Maps will have an “Ad” label, and Apple is promising strong privacy protections. For example, Apple says that a user’s location and the ads they see and interact with in Apple Maps are not associated with a user’s Apple account.

Third, a new Pride Luminance wallpaper that “dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors” is available for download on iPhones and iPads running iOS 26.5 or iPadOS 26.5. Launching alongside a new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Luminance watch face, Apple says the wallpaper celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world.

Here are Apple’s full release notes for iOS 26.5:

This update includes the following improvements:
• End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (beta) in Messages is available from supported carriers and will be rolled out over time.
• Pride Luminance wallpaper which dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors is available for download.
• Suggested Places in Maps: Shows recommendations based on nearby trends and your recent searches.

Since the iOS 26.5 release candidate was released this week, it is likely that Apple will make the update available to all users next week.