Apple releases iOS 26.5 RC

Apple has released iOS 26.5 Release Candidate, which will likely reach production in days and introduces new features including Apple Maps advertising, USB Bluetooth pairing for Magic accessories, and EU-specific compliance changes. IT organizations should prepare for organization-wide device updates and anticipate the major iOS 27 release cycle beginning in June, which will require security assessments and deployment planning. These updates have implications for Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies, app compatibility testing, and user communication strategies around new monetization features like in-app advertising.