Apple Releases iOS 26.5, iPhone-Android SMS Becomes More Compatible and Secure

Apple has officially released its latest mobile operating system, iOS 26.5 for iPhone and iPadOS 26.5 for iPad, on a global scale. This newest operating system is the successor to iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which were previously released about two months ago, specifically in March 2026. Referring to the official announcement from Apple on Monday (11/5/2026) US time, iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 now support the Rich Communication Services (RCS) instant messaging feature, which is equipped with end-to-end encryption (E2EE) security system to protect messages between users. “RCS instant messaging protected with end-to-end encryption (E2EE) will be available in the beta version of the Messages app with supported carriers and will be rolled out gradually in the future,” Apple stated, as quoted by KompasTekno from its official website. In the future, encrypted RCS messages will feature a small key symbol and have a display similar to the protection and security of encrypted messages from iMessage (iPhone to iPhone) as before. The iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 updates also arrive in the Maps app. Users will find a new “Suggested Places” feature that contains recommendations for places based on location and recent searches. The Maps app will also display advertising content within the app around the summer season in the US (approximately June—August). As quoted by KompasTekno from MacRumors, the update for iPhone will also be rolled out for iPad tablets. KompasTekno observations indicate that this update is already available for users in Indonesia. You can visit the menu Settings > General > Software Update > Update. iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 appear to be the final updates that Apple will release. This is because the company from Cupertino, US, will begin shifting its focus to iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 updates, which will be released at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026 on 8–12 June 2026.