Apple Releases Revised iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Betas to Developers
On April 3, 2026, Apple distributed updated first betas of the forthcoming iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 to developers, arriving four days after the initial beta versions. Developers registered with Apple can access these updates through the Settings app on their devices by navigating to General and selecting Software Update. The specific reasons for this revised beta release remain undisclosed, but it is likely intended to address critical issues that couldn’t be postponed until the second beta.
The iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates do not introduce new Siri functionalities, indicating that significant Siri enhancements may be reserved for the upcoming iOS 27 release. However, the Maps application now features Suggested Places, a tool that recommends nearby locations based on user trends and recent searches. Additionally, Apple appears to be preparing to incorporate advertisements within the Maps app.
In this beta, Apple is once again testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users. This feature was previously trialed in iOS 26.4 but was removed prior to the final release. Furthermore, within the European Union, Apple is experimenting with proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third-party wearables such as earbuds and smartwatches.
For a comprehensive overview of the new features in iOS 26.5, refer to our beta 1 features guide.
