Apple Seeds iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to Developers
Apple has released the iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 release candidates to developers, signaling a potential public launch soon. The updates include a new Suggested Places feature in Maps, groundwork for ads in Maps, and continued testing of RCS end-to-end encryption. New Pride-themed wallpapers and EU-specific features for third-party wearables are also included.
- ▪Apple seeded iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 release candidates to developers on May 4, 2026.
- ▪The updates introduce a Suggested Places feature in the Maps app and lay the foundation for future ads in Maps.
- ▪Siri does not receive new capabilities in iOS 26.5, indicating updates may be delayed until iOS 27.
- ▪Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages again after removing it from the iOS 26.4 public release.
- ▪In the EU, Apple is testing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables.
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Apple Seeds iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Release Candidates to DevelopersMonday May 4, 2026 10:12 am PDT by Juli CloverApple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 do not include new Siri capabilities, suggesting any Siri updates are being held until iOS 27. The Maps app has a Suggested Places feature for recommending locations to visit nearby based on trends and recent searches, plus Apple is laying the groundwork for ads in the Apple Maps app.
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