One day after the release of iOS 26.5 beta 2 for developers, today, April 14, Apple released iOS 26.5 public beta 2 — the second public test build of the upcoming update, available to everyone. The update is still relatively small — Apple’s main efforts are focused on iOS 27. But a few important things were added in the second public beta.
New Public beta iOS 26.5 released. Photo: macrumours.com
What Changed in iOS 26.5 Public Beta 2
The second public beta is primarily about bug fixes. In Public beta 2, Apple focused on fixing various issues that appeared earlier. But there are new features too. Let’s go through the key changes in iOS 26.5 that can now be tested in a more stable form.
End-to-End Encryption for RCS Messages
The main feature of this update is end-to-end encryption for messaging between iPhone and Android via the RCS protocol. Apple had been testing this feature back in iOS 26.4, but it didn’t make it into the release. In iOS 26.5, encryption is back and enabled by default. You can manage it through iPhone settings, where a toggle for enabling end-to-end encryption has appeared.
RCS testing continues in iOS 26.5
For iPhone owners in Russia, this isn’t relevant — RCS isn’t used there. But globally, it’s a significant step: messaging between iPhone and Android finally gets the same level of protection as iMessage.
Recommendations and Ads in Apple Maps
Apple Maps continues to feature the Suggested Places function — recommendations for interesting places nearby. When you tap the search bar, the system suggests popular locations based on trends and your recent searches. The idea is similar to recommendations in Google Maps. For Russian users, the benefit is questionable: Apple Maps in Russia still significantly lags behind both Yandex Maps and 2GIS.
Apple Maps will never be the same — ads are coming
At the same time, Apple is preparing infrastructure for ads in Maps. In summer 2026, businesses in the US and Canada will be able to purchase placements in search results and the recommendations section. Ad cards will be marked with an “Ad” badge. Apple promises that user location data and other information will not be linked to the user’s Apple ID.
Subscription Payments in the App Store
Developers will be able to offer monthly subscriptions with a 12-month payment commitment. For users, this is convenient: you pay a small amount each month but get a discount for the annual commitment. This model has long been available on other platforms, and Apple is now doing the same.
New iOS 26.5 Features
Live Activities capabilities will be expanded, but only in EU countries
In the European Union, testing continues for Live Activities on third-party devices — smartwatches and accessories not made by Apple. They will be able to receive and display dynamic notifications from iPhone: delivery status, sports scores, timers, and other useful information. This is not yet relevant for Russia — the changes are tied to European regulatory requirements.
- By the way, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and other accessories now automatically stay connected to iPhone via Bluetooth after disconnecting the cable.
- Additionally, Apple Books is preparing a “Year in Review 2026” feature with awards for readers.
- And when transferring data to Android, new options for transferring message attachments have appeared: from 30 days to the entire history.
How to Install iOS 26.5 Public Beta 2 on iPhone
The iOS 26.5 public beta is available for free to everyone — a paid developer account is not required. To install it, do the following:
- Go to the developer website and register for the beta testing program if you haven’t already.
- Open Settings — General — Software Update.
- In the “Beta Updates” section, select iOS 26.5 Public Beta.
- Wait for the update to appear and tap “Download and Install”.
You shouldn’t download the iOS beta without a real need — there may be battery issues, app crashes, and other quirks typical of test builds. iOS 26.5 for everyone will be released in mid-May 2026 — if you’re not in a hurry, it’s better to wait for the stable release.
