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iOS 26.5 will add new features to three popular iPhone apps

read original get iOS 26.5 Update Guide → more articles
Why This Matters

iOS 26.5 introduces significant updates to key iPhone apps, enhancing messaging privacy with beta end-to-end encrypted RCS, improving search with 'Suggested Places' in Apple Maps, and expanding subscription options in the App Store. These features aim to improve user experience, privacy, and monetization opportunities for developers, reflecting Apple's ongoing commitment to innovation and user-centric design in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways

iOS 26.5 is coming very soon with a variety of brand new features for users. Here are the new iOS 26.5 features being added to three popular iPhone apps.

#1: Messages

Apple’s Messages app is getting an important upgrade in iOS 26.5 for RCS messaging.

RCS is the best messaging option for green bubble friends, providing many iMessage-like features that SMS doesn’t support.

And in iOS 26.5, Apple has added end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in beta. Per Apple’s fine print:

End-to-end encryption is in beta and is not available for all devices or carriers. Conversations labeled as encrypted are encrypted end-to-end, so messages can’t be read while they’re sent between devices.

Apple previously tested this RCS upgrade in iOS 26.4 but removed it before launch. However, it warned testers that would happen, and no such caution has been shared for iOS 26.5, so it seems the new feature will ship this time.

#2: Apple Maps

Apple Maps is getting a useful addition to the search screen in iOS 26.5.

‘Suggested Places’ is a new feature that recommends two places every time you tap into the search field.

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