Apple released the second public beta of iOS 26.5 on Tuesday, nearly three weeks after the company released the big iOS 26.4 update, which included new emojivideo podcasts and more. iOS 26.5 beta brings several small — but important — changes iPhones for developers and beta testers, including a screen in Maps that announces in-app ads and encrypted RCS messages around the edges.
Because this is a beta, I recommend that you only download it on something other than your primary device. This is not the final version of iOS 26.5, so the update may be buggy and the battery life may be short, so it is best to save those problems on the second device.
Also, since this is not the final version of iOS 26.5, Apple can add more features to the update before it reaches your iPhone.
Here are some features that developers and beta testers can try now, and what might stay on your iPhone when Apple releases iOS 26.5.
Ads may come to Maps soon
When you open your Maps app after downloading the iOS 26.5 beta, you’ll see a new screen announcing the arrival of ads in the app.
“Maps may show local ads based on your location, current search terms, or map view while searching,” Apple said. “For your privacy, advertising information is not linked to your Apple Account.”
Apple announced Apple Business in March, allowing companies to communicate with customers through some of Apple’s first-party applications, such as Mail and Wallet. Apple Business also allows companies to place local ads on Maps. So you can start seeing ads on Maps for the coffee shop down the street from your home.
Suggested locations on Maps
iOS 26.5 beta also brings a new section called suggested locations to your Maps app. Once you’re in the app, tap your search bar like you’re going to look for a nearby cafe or restaurant, and the category Suggested areas will appear below The latest.
Returns encrypted RCS messages to end-to-end
iOS 26.5 beta brings back the option to enable end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging on your device. When Apple delivers RCS messages on iPhones with iOS 18one feature the messaging protocol was missing was end-to-end encryption, and iOS 26.5 can finally bring this privacy protection to your iPhone.
To find this setting, go to Settings > Apps > Messaging > RCS Messaging and press the slider close Edge encryption (Beta).
Apple writes in the feature description that it is still in beta, and only works on certain carriers and devices. Apple also writes that these encrypted messages will be written as such, so you should know when your messages do not have this level of protection.
Apple included end-to-end encrypted RCS messages in beta versions of iOS 26.4, but the tech giant did not include the feature in the final release.
Those are just a few of the new features that developers and public beta testers can try out now with the second public beta of iOS 26.5. There are likely to be many betas before the OS is released to the public, so there is plenty of time for Apple to tweak these features and add more. Apple has yet to say when it will release iOS 26.5 to the general public.
For more iOS news, here’s everything you need to know iOS 26.4 again iOS 26.3. You can also check our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
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