Today, April 21, iOS 26.5 Public Beta 3 was released — a fresh test build open to everyone. A developer account is not required for installation: you just need to sign up for the beta testing program. The update continues the course toward stabilization — there are no major announcements, but there are plenty of fixes. iOS 26.5 remains the final major update before iOS 27, the presentation of which is scheduled for WWDC on June 8. Let’s take a look at what’s inside iOS 26.5 Public Beta 3.
The new public beta of iOS 26.5 is out now!
New Features in iOS 26.5
In terms of features, iOS 26.5 Public Beta 3 is identical to beta 3 for developers — Apple has synchronized the builds. Spoiler: this build is quite modest in terms of new additions. Here’s what users will get in the final release.
iOS 26.5 doesn’t contain many useful features for Russia
- End-to-end RCS encryption — messaging between iPhone and Android via the RCS protocol is now protected just like iMessage. The feature is active by default and can be managed in Settings — Messages — RCS.
- Place recommendations in Apple Maps — when searching in Maps, a Suggested Places section appears with curated selections of popular nearby spots based on trends and your previous searches.
- Advertising infrastructure in Maps — Apple has laid the technical groundwork for displaying paid business recommendations in Maps. Launch is expected in summer 2026 in the US and Canada, with listings marked with an “Ad” badge.
- Annual subscription with monthly payments — app developers will be able to offer a format where you “pay every month but at a discount for a 12-month commitment.” An intermediate option between monthly and annual subscriptions.
- Live Activities on third-party accessories — in the EU, smart watches and other non-Apple devices will gain access to iPhone dynamic notifications: timers, delivery status, sports broadcasts. Not relevant for Russia.
- Auto-pairing of Apple accessories — Magic Keyboard, Mouse, and Trackpad stay connected via Bluetooth after disconnecting the USB-C cable. Manual setup is no longer required.
- Data transfer to Android — when migrating from iPhone, you can now choose which message attachments to transfer: from the last 30 days, the last year, or everything.
- Apple Books — Year in Review — the app is preparing a “Year in Review 2026” feature with reading achievements and awards.
For Russian users, the most notable items are RCS encryption (although it doesn’t work with local carriers) and the new subscription format in the App Store. Recommendations in Apple Maps and especially ads in Maps are irrelevant for now — the service in Russia remains far behind Yandex Maps and 2GIS.
Should You Download iOS 26.5 Public Beta 3
The iOS public beta is not a finished product but a testing platform. Even the third build can bring unpleasant surprises: increased battery drain, app crashes, Face ID issues, or unstable Bluetooth. Banking apps and messengers also sometimes behave unpredictably on beta versions. Anything can happen, although with Public Beta this occurs less frequently.
Beta versions can sometimes behave unpredictably
If you only have one iPhone and you need it for work — it’s not worth the risk. It’s better to install the beta on a spare device or at least make a full backup via Finder or iCloud before installation.
When Will iOS 26.5 Be Released
The iOS 26.5 release date has not been officially announced yet, but Apple has followed the same schedule for years. Fifth-iteration updates consistently appear in mid-May:
- iOS 18.5 — May 12, 2025
- iOS 17.5 — May 13, 2024
- iOS 16.5 — May 18, 2023
- iOS 15.5 — May 16, 2022
- iOS 14.5 — April 26, 2021
The only outlier is iOS 14.5, which was released at the end of April. Otherwise, Apple consistently aims for the May 12–18 window. The final release of iOS 26.5 is expected to arrive May 11–18, 2026 — before that, we expect one more beta and an RC build.
How to Install iOS 26.5 Public Beta 3 on iPhone
Don’t rush the installation if you haven’t downloaded the beta before
Downloading iOS 26.5 Public Beta 3 is available to any owner of a compatible iPhone. Here’s what you need to do:
- Go to the Apple Developer Program and sign up for Apple’s public beta testing program.
- On your iPhone, open Settings — General — Software Update.
- Tap “Beta Updates” and select iOS 26.5 Public Beta.
- When the build appears in the list, tap “Download and Install”.
Before updating, make sure your device has enough free space and the battery is above 50%. And even better — make a backup first. Just in case.
