iOS 26.5 RC is out and it is the final build before public release. The headlining change is RCS encryption in Messages, closing a long-standing security gap in cross-platform texting. Apple Maps also gets updates, and the App Store receives unspecified changes ahead of the rollout.
The more interesting story is what Apple did not announce. A new framework buried in the release could enable Live Activities on third-party accessories, a capability that would significantly expand the utility of that feature beyond Apple's own hardware. The video also covers data transfer improvements for users switching to Android, Apple Books changes, and new Pride Luminance wallpapers.
The framework discovery is the reason to watch this in full, not the wallpapers. If third-party accessory support for Live Activities ships, it changes the peripheral ecosystem. The breakdown runs through every confirmed change and the unannounced one, giving you the complete picture before the public build lands.
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