iOS 26.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.5

Apple released iOS 26.5 aft a fewer months of beta testing, and portion it doesn't person the Siri features we were hoping for since those are being held until iOS 27, determination are a fistful of utile changes worthy knowing about.

End-to-End Encryption for RCS

Support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages betwixt iPhone and Android devices is included successful iOS 26.5, which means texts you nonstop your Android friends tin present person the aforesaid information arsenic iMessages exchanged with different iPhone user.


Encrypted ‌RCS‌ messages are disposable connected supported carriers and volition rotation retired implicit time, and for conversations to beryllium encrypted, some the receiver and the sender indispensable usage a bearer that supports the latest mentation of ‌RCS‌.

End-to-end encryption is connected by default, and determination is simply a toggle for it successful the Messages conception of the Settings app. Encrypted messages are denoted with a tiny fastener symbol.

Wallpaper

iOS 26.5 includes a colorful caller Pride Luminance wallpaper that tin beryllium customized with aggregate colour options.

Maps App

The Maps app includes a caller Suggested Places diagnostic that recommends places to sojourn based connected your caller searches and what's trending nearby.


iOS 26.5 besides laid the groundwork for ads successful the Maps app, but ads are not unrecorded yet.

EU Changes for Third-Party Wearables

To comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple is letting third-party wearables access immoderate features that person historically been constricted to the Apple Watch and AirPods.

Here's what's new:

• Proximity pairing - Third-party earbuds are capable to usage proximity pairing to link to an iPhone, akin to the AirPods. Bringing a acceptable of earbuds that enactment the diagnostic adjacent an iPhone volition initiate an AirPods-like one-tap pairing process, truthful third-party wearables similar earbuds volition nary longer necessitate aggregate steps to pair.


• iPhone notifications - Third-party accessories similar smartwatches are capable to person notifications from the iPhone, and users are capable to presumption and respond to them. Interactive notifications from the iPhone person been constricted to the Apple Watch, portion third-party wearables person lone been capable to show read-only notifications. Notifications tin lone beryllium forwarded to a azygous connected instrumentality astatine a time, truthful turning connected notifications for a third-party wearable disables notifications connected Apple Watch.


• Live Activities - Live Activities from the iPhone tin beryllium displayed connected a third-party wearable, akin to however Live Activities are shown connected an Apple Watch.

Accessory makers volition request to adhd enactment for the interoperability updates, truthful they whitethorn not beryllium disposable close away. Third-party TVs, smartwatches, and headphones volition beryllium capable to usage the features.

Expanded enactment for third-party wearables is constricted to iPhone users located successful the European Union with an Apple relationship acceptable to an EU state oregon region.

iPhone to Android Transfer

When switching from an iPhone to an Android device, determination is simply a caller mounting for selecting which connection attachments to transportation over. There are options for All, 1 year, oregon 30 days.

Apple Books

There are mentions of caller awards successful the Apple Books app, which are apt for
year-end wrap-ups.

Keyboard Layout

iOS 26.5 has an Inuktitut keyboard layout option.

Security Fixes

iOS 26.5 addresses more than 50 vulnerabilities, truthful it's a bully thought to update arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to get the latest protections. None of the vulnerabilities are known to person been actively exploited.
This article, "iOS 26.5 Features: Everything New successful iOS 26.5" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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