iPhone’s next big update will finally secure Android RCS chats

Apple will enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for cross-platform RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices in iOS 26.5, addressing a critical security gap that has existed since 2023 when RCS support was first introduced. This move aligns Apple's messaging security posture with competitors and responds to enterprise and consumer expectations for encrypted communications, though carrier-dependent rollout will create a phased adoption timeline. IT organizations should prepare for managed device policies that account for carrier-dependent encryption capabilities and plan for the eventual convergence of iOS and Android messaging security standards.