Apple Releases iOS 26.5 Beta 1 to Developers With Suggested Places in Maps and RCS Encryption

Apple seeded the first developer beta of iOS 26.5 on March 30, one week after the public release of iOS 26.4. The update arrives as build 23F5043g and is available alongside matching betas for iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS.

Credit: Apple

The software introduces a new Suggested Places section in Apple Maps that recommends locations based on trending spots nearby and a user’s recent searches.

It surfaces when tapping into the Maps search box.

This addition also prepares the ground for advertisements in Maps, which Apple intends to launch this summer.

Businesses will be able to buy placements that appear in search results and Suggested Places, labeled as ads and triggered by approximate location, current search terms, or the map view.

In Messages, the beta restores end-to-end encryption for RCS conversations with Android users. The feature is enabled by default, with a toggle available in Settings.

It had been tested in iOS 26.4 betas but did not ship in the final release.

Developers gain a new in-app subscription option through the App Store. They can offer plans billed monthly but locked to a 12-month commitment.

Apple’s release notes state:

“You can read pricing information for subscriptions that have a monthly with 12-month commitment billing plan configuration.”

Users in the European Union will see expanded support for third-party accessories to meet Digital Markets Act requirements.

A new AccessoryLiveActivities framework allows compatible wearables to display Live Activities.

Proximity pairing now works with a one-tap process similar to AirPods, and third-party devices can receive iPhone notifications.

Enabling notifications for a third-party accessory disables them on Apple Watch.

Smaller changes include automatic Bluetooth reconnection for Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad when plugged in via USB-C, a new Inuktitut keyboard layout, updated options for transferring message attachments when moving data to an Android device, and references to a forthcoming “Year In Review for 2026” in Apple Books with new achievement medals.

The beta contains no new Siri capabilities or Apple Intelligence features powered by Google’s Gemini models. Development on those upgrades has shifted to iOS 27.

A public beta is expected later this week or early next.

Apple typically releases the final iOS 26.5 version in May, delivering bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements ahead of WWDC in June.

Registered developers can download it now through the Settings app on eligible iPhones.