iOS 26.5 Officially Available in Indonesia, iPhone Finally Gets Android Phone Feature

iOS 26.5 has been officially launched to the public. Previously, Apple conducted beta testing for six weeks.

One of the updates introduced this time is support for end-to-end encryption on RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages, which was previously available on Android phones. Apple states that this feature is still in beta and can be enabled by default.

To use it, open Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging. Then, toggle the End-to-End Encryption (Beta) switch to enable or disable this capability.

Apple indicates that the feature rollout will be gradual over the next few months.

There is a list of mobile operators that support this feature. This support is available in nearly all regions worldwide, including Indonesia.

Three mobile operators—Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, and XL SMART—are listed as supporting this feature. Its capabilities include 5G, cellular FaceTime, LTE, personal hotspot, and VoLTE.

However, 9to5Mac explains that the feature may not be immediately available to users of operators listed on Apple’s Support page. The iPhone manufacturer states that the feature will be automatically enabled for new conversations as it becomes available with the rollout.

For information, RCS is still similar to other messaging platforms in that it connects mobile phone operators or between phones and mobiles. However, it is often referred to as a replacement for SMS and MMS, with many features such as group chats, sending images, videos, and high-resolution audio clips.

Additionally, Apple has updated the Messages app interface. The update is said to accommodate RCS encryption support.

Users can see a lock icon at the top of the conversation when sending messages with RCS encryption enabled.

This is not only for iPhone users; Android users will also see the same lock icon. The lock icon also serves as a way to confirm that the feature has been rolled out to the respective operator and device.