Apple has recently rolled out iOS 26.5, and although there aren’t a plethora of new features at this point (considering iOS 27 is just around the corner), there are at least 50 compelling reasons why you should immediately update – with most of them revolving around security in some form or another.
Leading the pack is a new user-focused feature that aims to enhance the security of your conversations when messaging Android users in Messages. This update is significant enough that Apple even issued a newsroom announcement about it, a rare move for a point release, particularly a “.5” release.
Starting today, end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging is being rolled out in beta for iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users using the latest version of Google Messages. With RCS messages being end-to-end encrypted, they remain unreadable during transmission between devices. Users will be alerted to an encrypted conversation by a new lock icon in their RCS chats. Encryption is activated by default and will be progressively enabled for both new and existing RCS conversations.
Apple
Although Apple labels this as a “beta” release, any limitations appear to stem from availability challenges rather than iOS constraints. Apple clarifies that the feature isn’t universally accessible across all carriers yet, and Android users must ensure they’ve updated to the latest Google Messages version to participate.
Thankfully, Apple has streamlined the process of identifying compatible carriers. With iOS 26.5 now public, the carrier support page has been updated to include “End-to-end Encrypted RCS messaging (beta)” for those supporting the new RCS profile, encompassing major North American carriers and several smaller ones. Notably, carriers not on board with E2EE are generally those that don’t support RCS at all.
Conversely, the Android landscape is more complex. While one might assume seamless E2EE RCS chats with all Google Messages users, Apple’s initial reluctance stemmed from Google’s proprietary RCS encryption. It wasn’t until the GSMA introduced an E2EE standard known as Message Layer Security (MLS) that Apple committed to adopting it, necessitating Google to follow suit for interoperability.
Therefore, immediate encrypted communications with Android peers may not be feasible for all, even with compatible carriers. Encouraging friends to update their Google Messages app may help, though some on older devices lacking this option may face limitations, akin to iPhone models excluded from E2EE RCS due to update constraints.
The Other 50 Reasons to Install iOS 26.5
iOS 26.5 introduces several minor features and enhancements while addressing numerous security vulnerabilities. Apple’s security release notes detail over 60 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) rectified in the update, with more than 50 distinct security issues resolved. This prompted the release of accompanying updates like iOS 18.7.9, iOS 16.7.16, iOS 15.8.8, and their respective iPad counterparts, emphasizing the critical nature of these fixes.
Although Apple hasn’t reported any exploits of these vulnerabilities, the extensive list poses a potential threat to devices not updated to the latest iOS version, heightening the risk of cyber attacks. In essence, staying behind on updates exposes iPhones and iPads to newfound vulnerabilities, making it more imperative than ever to stay current.
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