Apple released iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 on Monday, which delivers a major privacy upgrade for messaging across platforms. The update brings support for end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iPhone and Android users, provided all members of the conversation are on a network carrier that supports a feature. Apple says this will roll out over time an availability may differ in regions.
If you see a lock next to the RCS messages in question, you’ll be benefitting from secure end-to-end encryption just like you would in an iPhone-to-iPhone iMessage conversation. End-to-end encryption is designed to prevent messages being intercepted or recorded.
The update also brings a new Maps feature offering Suggested Places, with “recommendations based on what’s trending nearby your recent searches.” This might be a nice way to explore a new city by seeing a hot new restaurant. Lastly, Apple is releasing some new Pride Luminance wallpapers that “dynamically refracts a spectrum of colours”
This is a relatively limited docket for a .X version of iOS, but it seems Apple is now fully preparing for iOS 27, which will be revealed at WWDC next month.
The company is expected to reveal the new Apple Intelligence features powered by Google Gemini, including a personalised, conversational Siri. There’s also expected to be some updates to photo editing, and more changes to the Liquid Glass UI that’s prominent throughout the operating system.
Today’s modest software update can be downloaded via Settings > General > Software Update. The update also features fixes for a host of bugs and security vulnerabilities.
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