We’re only a few weeks away from the iOS 27 unveiling, but Apple has another iPhone update coming first. iOS 26.5 is coming next week, here are five new features it will bring.
#1: Suggested Places in Apple Maps
Apple Maps gets a useful addition in iOS 26.5 to help you discover new places.
“Suggested Places” are integrated into the Maps search screen. So, every time you tap the search bar, you will see two recommendations that might interest you.
Apple says these suggestions are based on “nearby trends and your recent searches.”
I’ve seen a lot of great recommendations while using the iOS 26.5 beta so far, and they seem like a perfect fit for the search screen.
#2: Messages adds end-to-end encrypted RCS
RCS support came to the iPhone in iOS 18, but iOS 26.5 brings a welcome upgrade.
Apple’s Messages app now supports end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta.
It’s not available on all carriers, but we hope most carriers will get on board quickly once iOS 26.5 launches. End-to-end encryption means RCS Messaging can offer some of the same security guarantees that iMessage has long offered.
#3: Pride Luminance brings 11+ new wallpaper options
Apple releases a new Pride wallpaper on iOS every year, but in iOS 26.5, the new Pride Luminance option offers much more than just one wallpaper.
Pride Luminance comes with 11 colorful variants for you to choose from. And if that’s not enough, there’s also a custom option that lets you choose exactly which colors will appear in the wallpaper.
You can choose between 1 and 12 colors to display in your custom wallpaper.
#4: The App Store supports a new in-app subscription model
Starting with iOS 26.5, apps in most countries around the world will be able to start offering a new type of subscription.
Joining the standard monthly and annual options offered by many apps, the App Store will now support a new model: monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment.
Essentially, this allows users to get a discount on the annual subscription without having to pay high fees upfront. Instead, this annual price is divided into 12 monthly payments.
The new subscription option will roll out globally, except for two notable locations: the United States and Singapore. It is not yet clear when Apple might extend these exceptions.
#5: Reminders update the snooze feature
Every time a reminder from Apple’s Reminders app is due, your iPhone sends a push notification about it.
This alert has long provided options to postpone the reminder until later. But iOS 26.5 updates these repeat options in a useful way.
Historically, some snooze options have been a bit vague. They will say “Call me back this afternoon” or “Tonight” without offering specific times.
Now in iOS 26.5, you’ll instead see specific, explicit times so you know exactly when this alert will appear again. An example is shown above, where “Call me back at 3:00 p.m.” would have previously indicated “This afternoon.”
To learn more about what’s new in iOS 26.5, check out our complete guide here.
What new features in iOS 26.5 are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.
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