Earlier this week, Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 26.5. So far, the update appears to be relatively minor, which isn’t too surprising as Apple is likely beginning to shift its focus toward iOS 27.
iOS 27 is expected to be unveiled during Apple’s WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, with a public release anticipated in September.
Below, we take a closer look at what’s new in iOS 26.5 so far, along with some of the rumored features expected in iOS 27.
iOS 26.5
iOS 26.5 appears to be a relatively minor update, but it does lay the groundwork for a couple of notable changes, including end-to-end encryption for RCS in Messages and the introduction of ads in Apple Maps.
End-to-end encryption for RCS is a security upgrade designed to ensure messages sent between supported iOS 26.5 devices and Android users are fully encrypted, preventing third parties from intercepting or reading them during transmission.
Apple had already tested this feature in the iOS 26.4 beta, but it was ultimately removed before release. It’s currently unclear whether it will return in iOS 26.5 or reappear later in the iOS 27 cycle.
Another major development involves Apple Maps. Apple announced last month that ads will be introduced in Maps on iPhone and iPad in the U.S. and Canada starting “this summer,” and early signs of this rollout are already appearing in the iOS 26.5 beta.
These ads will appear in search results and in a new “Suggested Places” section, which highlights recommendations based on nearby trends, user activity, and search history. Businesses will be able to promote listings at the top of search results and within this curated section.
As with App Store ads, Apple Maps ads will be clearly labeled, and Apple says user privacy will remain a priority. Location data and ad interactions are not tied to Apple Accounts.
iOS 26.5 also includes early work on expanded interoperability features in the EU, allowing certain iPhone functions—such as notifications, Live Activities, and AirPods-like pairing—to work with third-party smartwatches and headphones under Digital Markets Act requirements.
Beyond these changes, the update remains fairly limited in scope.
iOS 27
Looking ahead, iOS 27 is shaping up to be a much more significant release, with Apple’s long-awaited Siri overhaul expected to headline the update.
The new Siri is rumored to feature deeper personal context awareness, on-screen understanding, and improved app-level control. For example, Apple previously demonstrated Siri retrieving details about a user’s mother’s travel plans and dinner reservations by pulling information from Mail and Messages.
In addition, Apple is reportedly working on a dedicated Siri app with chatbot-style interactions and conversation history. Users may also be able to access third-party AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic Claude through a new “Extensions” system.
Apple Intelligence is also expected to expand further across system apps, with integration potentially coming to services like Apple Calendar.
Another rumored addition is 5G satellite internet support, potentially tied to the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s next-generation C2 modem. Additional satellite capabilities may include Apple Maps access and the ability to send photos via Messages over satellite.
Beyond new features, iOS 27 may also focus heavily on performance, stability, and refinement—similar in spirit to Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Apple is expected to continue refining the Liquid Glass design language while improving system reliability.
There are also reports of an upgraded system keyboard with smarter autocorrect and word replacement suggestions, functioning in a way similar to Grammarly.
Finally, while major visual changes are not expected, Apple may introduce a system-wide Liquid Glass opacity control, similar to the existing Lock Screen clock customization slider.
As always, these features remain based on early findings and rumors, and Apple’s plans may change before release.