Apple’s next iPhone update is almost here.
The company has now released the iOS 26.5 Release Candidate, which is usually the final stop before a public rollout. This means the update should land for everyone later this month.
While iOS 26.5 isn’t a huge overhaul, it does pack in a handful of genuinely useful upgrades across Messages, Apple Maps, CarPlay, and even iPhone customisation.
One of the biggest additions is support for encrypted RCS messaging between iPhones and Android devices. Apple first started testing the feature earlier this year, but it missed the public release of iOS 26.4. If it finally ships in 26.5, messages sent between iPhone and Android users through RCS will gain end-to-end encryption and be much harder for third parties to intercept.
<!–
–>
Apple Maps is also getting a notable, and slightly controversial, change. iOS 26.5 introduces local ads inside Maps, including promoted businesses in search results and a new “Suggested Places” section. Apple says the ads are based on approximate location and searches rather than personal account data. In addition, sponsored listings will carry a clear “Ad” label.
CarPlay users are getting a small AI upgrade too. iOS 26.5 expands chatbot integration beyond Siri, with ChatGPT support now appearing inside CarPlay’s widget screen. It still requires shortcuts for voice activation, but early testing suggests ChatGPT’s conversational responses feel far more natural than Siri.
Elsewhere, Apple is adding new Pride wallpapers with multiple colour combinations and customisation options. There is also a matching Apple Watch face and Pride band for 2026.
The update also includes changes driven by the EU’s Digital Markets Act. In Europe, third-party smartwatches and headphones will gain deeper iPhone integration, including support for notifications, Live Activities, and faster AirPods-style pairing on non-Apple cans.
Taken together, iOS 26.5 feels less like a flashy headline update and more like Apple quietly tightening up the iPhone experience ahead of whatever comes next. And with the Release Candidate now out in the wild, you probably won’t have long to wait before downloading it yourself.
The post iOS 26.5 is due out very soon – here’s every new feature you can expect appeared first on Trusted Reviews.