Apple on Monday seeded the iOS 26.5 Release Candidate to beta testers, signaling that eager iPhone users should circle May 11 on their calendars. The major new feature is fully secure, encrypted messages when using RCS… though this will remain in beta even after iOS 26.5 launches.
Monday also brought the macOS Tahoe 26.5 Release Candidate, as well as equivalents for iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and more.
iOS 26.5 release date: Mark your calendars
Apple regularly updates its operating systems, rolling out new features, refining existing ones and fixing bugs as they’re discovered. These updates are part of an ongoing effort to enhance security and keep the overall iPhone and Mac user experience running smoothly.
With the upcoming iOS 26.5, Apple’s official release note says, “This update introduces support for end-to-end encrypted RCS (beta) messaging and a downloadable Pride Luminance wallpaper, along with enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.”
The iPadOS 26.5 release notes are almost identical.
End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging means your texts are protected so that only you and the person you’re texting with can read them. Messages are scrambled when they’re sent and only unscrambled on the recipient’s device, so no one in between — not phone companies or hackers — can see what’s being said. The “RCS” part simply refers to a newer, more advanced version of texting that supports features like read receipts, typing indicators and higher-quality photos and videos.
With the iOS 26.5 Release Candidate going out Monday, iPhone users should expect to access the new features and bug fixes when the full version of iOS 26.5 launches on Monday, May 11. That’s if Apple holds to its habit of introducing new iOS versions a week after the Release Candidates go out to beta testers, of course.
That said, there are no hard-and-fast rules, so perhaps the iOS 26.5 release date will be May 12 or even later.
A minor but welcome update
iOS 26.5 testing began in March and has been through multiple rounds.
Months ago, it was hoped that this version would include new AI-powered Apple Intelligence features, but that’s not how things turned out. iPhone users will apparently have to wait until iOS 27 in the fall.
Don’t forget about macOS, watchOS, etc.
Apple typically introduces all the updates for its many operating systems at the same time. So if iOS gets a new version next Monday, then macOS Tahoe 26.5 should be available too. The same goes for iPadOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5.
In the meantime, anyone interested can install the release candidates. They give developers and beta testers one last chance to review the software and catch any remaining problems before the operating systems roll out to the general public.
Getting access requires being part of Apple’s Developer Program or the Apple Beta Software Program.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
