iOS 26.5 is out: Everything iPhone users need to know

Source Domain: techcabal.com

Apple released iOS 26.5 on May 11, 2026, exactly 48 days after iOS 26.4 debuted. The update is not a massive overhaul, but it brings three things Apple officially highlighted: end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (in beta), a new Suggested Places section in Apple Maps, and a customisable Pride Luminance wallpaper. Alongside those, there are more than 50 security fixes and a handful of smaller quality-of-life changes across the system.

This guide covers everything: what’s new, which iPhones support it, and which features are available across different regions.

What is new in iOS 26.5

1. End-to-End Encrypted RCS Messaging (Beta)

This is the biggest change in iOS 26.5. When you send a message to someone on Android, it usually goes as an RCS message (if both carriers support it) or plain SMS. Either way, the conversation has not been encrypted end-to-end until now.

With iOS 26.5, Apple has added end-to-end encryption to RCS conversations. The feature is built on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, developed with Google and the GSMA. When it is active, you will see a lock icon and the word “Encrypted” at the top of the conversation thread.

A few things to keep in mind:

It is still labelled as beta.
Both your carrier and the Android user’s carrier must support it. If only one side has a supported carrier, the conversation falls back to unencrypted RCS or plain SMS, with no warning beyond the absence of that lock icon.
The Android user needs the latest version of Google Messages.
The toggle is on by default once you update. You can check yours under Settings Apps Messages RCS Messaging.

Carrier support is patchy right now. Here is where things stand:

United States: 23 carriers are supported, including AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless, Boost Mobile, Cricket, Mint Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile.
Canada: 12 carriers, including Bell, Rogers, Telus, Fido, Freedom Mobile, and Koodo.
United Kingdom: Three,…

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