Apple has pushed out the iOS 26.5 release candidate to developers, offering a clear sign that the public rollout is close. The update could arrive as early as tomorrow or within the next few days, with next week being the latest window. At the same time, Apple has shared the official changelog, giving a better look at what users can expect.
One of the key updates confirms earlier reports. With iOS 26.5, Apple is introducing support for end-to-end encryption in RCS messaging. However, this feature comes with a few limitations that users should understand.
To start, the encryption support will launch in beta. In addition, Apple says it will only work with supported carriers. The company also notes that the rollout will happen gradually. So, users should not expect the feature to activate instantly after installing iOS 26.5.
Even so, this is an important step forward. Once fully available, Android devices will be able to exchange RCS messages with iPhones in an end-to-end encrypted way.
