Apple Releases Second iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and watchOS 26.5 Public Betas - MacRumors
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Apple Releases Second iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and watchOS 26.5 Public Betas

Apple today provided public beta testers with the second releases of upcoming iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5, and tvOS 26.5 updates for testing purposes. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the betas to developers.

iOS 26
After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section of the Settings app on each device.

iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 include a new Suggested Places feature for recommending nearby locations to visit, and Apple is also gearing up to start showing ads in Maps.

Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android users again, and there are proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables in the EU.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe
Related Forums: iOS 26, macOS Tahoe

Top Rated Comments

7 hours ago at 10:25 am

does 26.5 add anything other than ads in Apple Maps?
Nope.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2 hours ago at 02:49 pm

Apple is not marketing the 'feature' to users, but you can be sure they are marketing it to their real customers, advertisers.

The clear and increasing desperation of advertisers to scream "Buy, Buy, Buy!" at every opportunity is not a sign of a sound economy.
Idk about increasing, everything gets ads eventually, publicly traded companies only care about increasing profits as much as possible. Everything they claim to be about serves the only purpose of getting more money. When it stops making them money, theyll just drop whatever idea/value theyve been about. Disclaimer: I hate ads and been using adblockers since ive been on the internet.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3 hours ago at 01:50 pm
Next up, increased prices for their stuff will be a feature.. ridiculous!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5 hours ago at 11:46 am

What a time to be alive when "Ads" are a touted feature 🫠🫠🫠
Idt apple is marketing this as a feature haha. Its just macrumors mentionning it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
exodiusprime Avatar
6 hours ago at 11:18 am

does 26.5 add anything other than ads in Apple Maps?
What a time to be alive when "Ads" are a touted feature 🫠🫠🫠
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
What_Is_George Avatar
7 hours ago at 10:16 am
does 26.5 add anything other than ads in Apple Maps?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)