Apple has released iOS 26.5 RC 2 and iPadOS 26.5 RC 2 to iPhone and iPad testers, with build number 23F77. The update arrives four days after the previous beta and release candidate build, which suggests Apple is using this extra release to validate bug fixes before the public version goes live.
This kind of revised release candidate usually doesn’t mean a big wave of visible new features. More often, it means Apple found an issue during final testing and wants one more round of checks before shipping the update to everyone. In other words, the software is still in the last stretch before general availability.
According to the report, Apple is expected to push the public version of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 next week. When that happens, the release is expected to bring several iPhone-facing changes, including the return of RCS encryption in Messages, a Suggested Places feature in Apple Maps, and a new Pride Luminance wallpaper.
One notable detail is that Apple had briefly included end-to-end RCS encryption during earlier iOS 26.4 testing, but removed it before the stable release. Seeing it show up again in the iOS 26.5 cycle suggests Apple is still working toward making the feature part of the final user experience.
The update still does not include the next-generation Siri features that have been discussed for future Apple software releases. That means any larger Siri-related changes may not arrive until iOS 27 or later.
For users tracking the development cycle, the article also lists the recent update timeline for iOS 26.5 and nearby builds. Apple released iOS 26.5 RC on May 5, Beta 4 on April 28, Beta 3 on April 21, Beta 2 on April 14, and the first beta at the end of March. Stable iOS 26.4 landed on March 25, followed by several smaller updates and test builds across April and early May.
Eligible users can install the update through Apple’s beta channels. Public beta users need to enroll in Apple’s Beta Software Program and then go to Settings, General, Software Update, and Beta Updates. Developer preview users need an Apple Developer account and can update through the same Software Update section after signing in.
Taken together, this RC 2 release looks like a final cleanup pass rather than a feature reset. If Apple’s schedule holds, the broader public rollout of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 should begin next week.
