Apple has released the first public beta for iOS 26.5, following the recent introduction of the developer beta. The new operating system features “Suggested Places” in Apple Maps, which displays trending locations based on users’ proximity or search histories.
The addition of “Suggested Places” enhances the Maps app by allowing users to easily discover nearby establishments. Users can access this feature by tapping the search bar in the app. Additionally, the iOS 26.5 beta will deliver notifications regarding advertisements within Apple Maps.
In March, Apple announced plans to extend its advertising strategy beyond the App Store and Apple News, aiming to introduce ads that will appear at the top of search results and within the Suggested Places section. These advertisements will be tailored to users based on their geographic location and search activity.
Apple has assured that any ads presented will be clearly labeled and will not compromise user privacy. The company stated that users’ current locations and the ads they engage with will not be linked to their Apple Accounts. Furthermore, personal data will remain on the users’ devices and will not be collected by Apple.
iOS 26.5 beta also includes a testing phase for end-to-end encryption for RCS messages. However, Apple has yet to confirm if this feature will be included in the final release of the operating system.
Users interested in accessing Apple’s public beta releases can sign up at the Apple Beta Software Program website using their Apple credentials.
