It has only been a week since the final iOS 26.4 update was released and Apple has now pushed the first beta update of the iOS 26.5 build. This was supposed to be a big update since Gemini-powered Siri was supposed to arrive with this build. However, with that pushed to iOS 27, iPhones have gained other new features and updates.
iOS 26.5 Beta 1 Release Now Rolling Out
The latest iOS 26.5 beta 1 update comes right after Apple released the iOS 26.4 General Release build and includes key new changes to Apple Maps for iOS 26-supported devices. First is "Suggested Places".
Apple Maps users will now notice a new Suggested Places feature that recommends locations, places and relevant details based on trending places data and recent search results. It is similar to what Google Maps has been offering for years and is designed to help users discover more about their vicinity.
The next big change has landed in the form of adverts inside Apple Maps. For the longest time, Apple has kept its products and services relatively devoid of any advertisements or promotions, especially third-party. That changes with the iOS 26.5 Beta 1 as Apple has laid the groundwork for ads inside its products.
Apple Maps will now show sponsored, promoted and featured locations for businesses that have purchased ads, to be prominently placed in search results and Suggested Places. Apple has clarified that users will be able to identify ads with a clear "ad" label.
Moreover, iOS 26.5 beta 1 is also the first update which has introduced new interoperability features in the EU to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act. They include Proximity pairing for non-Apple earbuds to be able to pair with iPhones in a simple way, an AirPods-like process.
Also, third-party smartwatches will now be able to receive notifications from iPhones running iOS 26.5, which was previously impossible. Even Live Activities will sync to third-party applications and devices, making the process of using an iPhone with non-Apple products smoother and easier.
Aside from these massive changes, there are a few small ones as well. For instance, Apple Books will now have year-end wrap-ups, Magic accessories will now establish a Bluetooth connection automatically and iPhone to Android transfer can now choose from 1 year or 30 days.
That said, eligible users can update to the latest iOS 26.5 beta 1 build by going to Settings> General> Software Update> Update Now. The update is currently going live from the iPhone 11 to the latest iPhone 17e.
