4 Hidden iOS 26.5 Features You’ll Use Every Day
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Not every iOS update is meant to bring you a bunch of new updates and features that will blow your mind; there are some minor updates that only bring a handful of features that are always nice to have, even if they don’t dominate headlines.
iOS 26.5 is somewhere in between. While this was a pretty minor software update, it did bring some cool new features that can help you keep your conversations private and even manage your finances a little better.
And even though iOS 26.5 has been available for a while, you might not have tried these features yet. After all, they’re kind of hidden if you don’t know where to look. But that’s what we’re here for. Here are four iOS 26.5 features you need to start using.
Pairing Your Mac Accessories Is Easier Than Ever
You might argue that pairing a Magic Keyboard or a Magic Mouse to your iPhone is already pretty quick and easy — and you’d be right. However, Apple added a new way of pairing these accessories that’s even more seamless.
Traditionally, pairing a Magic Keyboard or Magic Mouse requires going to your Bluetooth settings, searching for the device, and then punching in a six-digit code (for a keyboard). However, with iOS 26.5 you can simply plug them into your iPhone using a USB-C cable. In addition to using them over a wired connection, which has long been possible, they’ll now automatically pair up via Bluetooth. Once you unplug the cable, they’ll remain paired wirelessly for future use.
You may be wondering why Apple added this feature, and the truth is, we don’t know either. It’s been the norm on the Mac for years, so maybe Apple just figured it should make everything consistent. Either way, it’s a nice touch that can help people who aren’t exactly tech-savvy.
RCS Texting Is More Secure Now
Ever since Apple brought RCS messaging to iOS 18, you no longer need to use WhatsApp or other third-party apps to talk to your Android friends. Instead, you can send high-quality images and videos and even create group chats across smartphone platforms.
However, iOS 26.5 is bringing another useful feature. Now, RCS messages can be end-to-end encrypted, guaranteeing that no one can get hold of your private conversations without your consent.
Of course, just like RCS as a whole, you might still not have this feature, as it depends on your carrier and whether the person you’re communicating with also supports the latest RCS standard. Still, it’s nice to know this feature is coming to everyone, even if it takes a while.
Proximity Pairing Is Available for Third-Party Earbuds (With a Catch)
One of the coolest things about the Apple ecosystem is how everything seems to work like magic. You can simply put your AirPods near your iPhone, and they’ll automatically start pairing up. They’ll even name themselves after your Apple account’s name.
Well, now third-party earbuds are getting that same magical treatment — with a big asterisk. This feature is region-locked, which is one of the worst things Apple has started doing in recent years. Only those living in the EU will have access to this feature. That’s because Apple is implementing this change solely to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Still, we can hope the company eventually decides to expand it to the rest of the world.
If you’re one of those lucky people, all you’ll need to do after iOS 26.5 is bring your earbuds and your iPhone closer together. Of course, your earbuds will need to support this feature in order to work. After your iPhone finds them, you’ll be able to connect them with a single tap.
You Can Split Your Annual Subscription
This is a really cool new thing that we’ll surely see more of in the future. As you probably already know, most subscription services offer monthly and yearly plans, with the latter usually being cheaper than the former.
The only downside is that you have to pay for the complete subscription up front. So instead of paying something like $9.99 per month, you can pay $99.99 right now and have access to the service for a whole year. You’ll pay less, and the companies get their money early. It’s a win-win situation.
The problem is that not everybody has $100 to spare on a subscription, but luckily, Apple thought of that. Starting with iOS 26.5, subscription services can now let you pay for the yearly plan on a monthly basis. You’ll get a discount, as you’re still committing to pay for a whole year, but you won’t have to spend so much money upfront.
It’s almost like subscribing to the regular, monthly plan, but it should be cheaper. The only downside is that you’ll be forced to pay for the whole year, even if you stop using the app six months from now. The “commitment,” as Apple puts it, will exist until the payments are completed. Think of it as an installment plan.
Additionally, while this feature is already available, Apple is only providing the tools; it’s up to individual developers to choose to use it. Since the benefit of the yearly plan is that companies get their money in advance, they might choose to skip this feature and continue charging normally. However, developers aren’t required to price the yearly and monthly-with-12-month commitment plans the same, so they can still offer a deeper discount to encourage people to pay up front.
Hopefully, more developers will start adjusting to this change, as it’s a nice way to get the benefits of a yearly plan even if you’re on a budget.
There’s Still More to Come
As of right now, iOS 27 is already a thing, which means there are a bunch of other features that will come later in the year. However, that doesn’t mean we’re done with iOS 26 just yet. Apple is still releasing new software updates with some new features to make use of, and iOS 26.6 is already in beta.
Granted, the new features will probably start to dwindle, as the company is focusing on the bigger update, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get anything new until iOS 27 drops. We’ll just have to wait and see what it is.
