Following the public release of iOS 26.4 a week ago, Apple released iOS 26.5 developer beta 1 on Monday.
Unlike its immediate predecessor, the first iOS 26.5 beta arrives with few new features. Most of the changes focus on users in the European Union.
iOS 26.5 beta 1: What’s new and changed
iOS 26.5 will likely stand as Apple’s final major update of this software release cycle. The company will soon shift its focus to iOS 27, which Apple will unveil at WWDC26 this June. So, iOS 26.5 might not introduce any radical new features or changes.
For now, here’s everything new we have found in iOS 26.5 beta 1.
Ads in Apple Maps
iOS 26.5 beta 1 adds the underlying foundation for ads to appear in Apple Maps. A week ago, Apple confirmed its plans to sell ads in Apple Maps starting this summer.
Suggested Places in Apple Maps
Apple Maps will gain a new “Suggested Places” feature in iOS 26.5, showing nearby trending places worth visiting. Apple will use the same space to show ads in the future.
Bluetooth pairing with Magic accessories
If you connect a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad to your iPhone, the Apple peripheral will automatically connect over Bluetooth. This is exactly how Magic accessories pairing works on the Mac.
New in iOS 26.5 b1: Magic accessory bluetooth pairing via USB.
When you plug in a Magic accessory to your iPhone or iPad, it will automatically connect to your device via Bluetooth when unplugged.
Just like how it works on Mac pic.twitter.com/foPB2lnw1z
— Aaron (@aaronp613) March 30, 2026
EU-specific changes
Apple is testing Live Activities support for third-party accessories in iOS 26.5 beta 1. This will enable non-Apple wearables to receive and display Live Activities from your iPhone. This feature builds on the Notification Forwarding option that Apple tested in iOS 26.3.
9to5Mac spotted references to the feature. Apple has not officially announced the feature yet, so it may not go live with the stable release of iOS 26.5.
New in iOS 26.5 b1: Live Activity Forwarding for 3rd party devices.
“Sync iPhone Live Activities with other devices”
“Live Activities include app names and app content, which may contain personal information such as your health data, location data, and purchasing history.” pic.twitter.com/dZeEvuIrmk
— Aaron (@aaronp613) March 30, 2026
Upgrades to iPhone-to-Android transfer
iOS 26.5 beta 1 appears to improve the iPhone-to-Android transfer process by letting you choose how many messages to migrate. The options include none, 30 days, one year and all.
Seemingly new in iOS 26.5 b1 – When transfering from iPhone to Android, you now have the option to how far back you want your message attachments to transfer:
None
30 days
1 year
All pic.twitter.com/xc9J2e6tvF— Aaron (@aaronp613) March 30, 2026
New App Store subscription options
Apple plans to introduce new subscription options for developers with iOS 26.5, including a new 12-month subscription plan that lets users pay monthly.
Noticed any other changes in iOS 26.5 beta 1? Drop a comment and let us know!
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
One response to “iOS 26.5 beta 1: All the new features and changes”
The 26.5 beta 1 appears to have removed the new emoji from 26.4