iOS 26.5 beta 1 paves the way for advertisements in Apple Maps.
While the latest beta doesn't bring many new features, it introduces Suggested Places in Apple Maps and hints at a few upcoming changes.
Apple is already progressing towards its next incremental update. Just a week after launching iOS 26.4 on the stable channel, the company has issued the first developer beta of iOS 26.5, providing an early glimpse of what's next.
What’s new in iOS 26.5 beta 1?
The newest beta does not present any significant user-facing features. Instead, it primarily addresses bug fixes while paving the way for a few noteworthy changes. Earlier this month, Apple announced its intentions to integrate ads into Apple Maps, along with a new “Suggested Places” feature.
Apple
Though ads aren't yet active, 9to5Mac reports that iOS 26.5 beta 1 has already incorporated Suggested Places, which offers recommendations based on nearby trends, recent searches, and more. While it may seem like a minor addition, it suggests a potential evolution in how discovery might function within Maps in the future.
Are there any other noteworthy changes?
Apple’s release notes also indicate forthcoming modifications to the App Store. The update is expected to provide new purchasing options for developers, including a model that allows users to be charged monthly while committing to a 12-month subscription. This could offer developers greater flexibility in pricing long-term subscriptions.
If you were anticipating more significant changes, iOS 26.5 beta 1 isn't quite there. This build does not show any visible alterations to Siri, despite some recent reports suggesting otherwise. For the moment, the update appears to be a preparatory release. It introduces initial elements of future changes but doesn't offer anything particularly groundbreaking at this time.
Apple will likely refine these features in the upcoming weeks as more beta versions are released. We can expect iOS 26.5 to roll out once testing is complete, potentially with more apparent changes included.
Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years of experience in covering consumer technology. His work has been…
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