Apple just dropped the third beta of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, and if you are a registered developer, you can grab it right now.
Head to Settings, tap General, then Software Update, and you should see it waiting for you.
So what is actually new here? A few things worth paying attention to, especially if you have been following Apple’s roadmap for the rest of the year.
Siri Is Sitting This One Out
If you were hoping for any kind of Siri upgrade in iOS 26.5, you will need to keep waiting.
Apple appears to be holding those improvements for iOS 27, which is expected to be announced at WWDC in June.
So for now, Siri stays exactly where it has been.
Also: This clever iPhone feature translates your texts in real time without you doing anything extra
Apple Maps Is Getting a Smarter Side
A new Suggested Places feature is coming to the Maps app. It will recommend nearby spots based on trending locations and your own recent searches, kind of like a built-in local guide that learns what you are into.
On top of that, Apple is quietly laying the groundwork for ads in Maps. That detail has already sparked some discussion among users who are not exactly thrilled about it.
Also: The iPhone 18 is getting a surprising downgrade that Apple hopes you’ll never find out about
Encrypted Texting Between iPhone and Android Is Back in Testing
Apple initially included end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android devices in the iOS 26.4 beta, then removed it before the public release.
It is now back in testing with iOS 26.5. Whether it actually ships this time remains to be seen, but Apple’s continued work on it suggests it is a genuine priority rather than a throwaway experiment.
Big News for Third-Party Wearable Users in the EU
If you live in the European Union and use a non-Apple smartwatch or earbuds, iOS 26.5 could genuinely change how those devices work with your iPhone.
Apple is testing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities support for third-party wearables.
Basically, your Garmin or Sony earbuds could start behaving much more like AirPods when paired with your phone.
Apple released the second beta just a week ago, so the pace here is fairly steady. A public release is still likely a few weeks out, but things are moving along.
