Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, giving public testers early access to the next round of updates for iPhone and iPad.
The public beta arrives shortly after Apple released the first developer beta earlier this week. Anyone enrolled in Apple’s public beta program can now install the update through the Software Update section in Settings.
What’s new in iOS 26.5 public beta
While this update does not introduce the long-rumored Apple Intelligence upgrades yet, it still includes a handful of smaller changes and experiments.
One of the most visible additions appears in Apple Maps.
Apple has added a new Suggested Places feature that recommends locations based on trending spots nearby and your recent searches. The suggestions appear directly inside the search interface in Maps.
RELATED: iOS 26.5 Beta 1 Features: Apple Maps Changes, RCS Encryption, and More
Apple is also continuing to test end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging. The feature previously appeared in beta builds but has not yet shipped in a public release.
If enabled in a future update, encrypted RCS conversations between iPhone and Android devices would prevent messages from being intercepted or read by third parties.
New interoperability testing in Europe
Apple is also experimenting with additional interoperability features in Europe.
As part of its efforts to comply with the Digital Markets Act, the company is testing the ability to push Live Activities to third-party accessories.
This means devices such as smartwatches or other wearables could potentially receive real-time updates from an iPhone, similar to how Apple Watch currently displays Live Activity information.
The feature remains limited to beta testing for now and it is not clear if it will ship with the final release of iOS 26.5.
Potential changes for App Store subscriptions
Another change spotted in the update relates to subscription billing options in the App Store.
Developers may soon be able to offer monthly payments for subscriptions that require a 12-month commitment. This structure could allow users to pay less per month while still committing to a full year of service.
More details about how this option will work are expected to appear as developers explore the beta.
iPadOS 26.5 public beta is also available
Apple has also released the first public beta of iPadOS 26.5 alongside the iPhone update.
Like the iOS version, the iPadOS update mainly focuses on smaller improvements and feature testing rather than major changes.
Public beta testers can install both updates through: Settings > General > Software Update. Make sure the devices are enrolled in Apple’s public beta program.
When the final iOS 26.5 update may arrive
Apple typically releases several beta builds before pushing a final update to the public.
Based on Apple’s recent release timelines, iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 will likely arrive as stable updates later this spring.
Until then, additional features or tweaks may appear in upcoming beta releases.
