After years of speculation, Apple is officially bringing advertising to Apple Maps. The feature, discovered in iOS 26.5 Beta 4 code, will roll out to iPhone and iPad users in the United States and Canada starting summer 2026.

How it works: When users search for restaurants, stores, or other locations, sponsored results will appear at the top of the search list. These ads will be clearly labeled with an "Ad" badge, similar to how App Store search ads appear today. Businesses can bid on keywords – the highest bidder gets priority placement.

Suggested Places: Alongside ads, Apple is introducing a "Suggested Places" feature. When you tap the search bar, the system will automatically show two location recommendations based on:

• Popular destinations near your current location
• Your recent search history
• Other algorithmic factors

Importantly, Apple says these recommendation slots may also host promoted content in the future.

Privacy stance: Apple is positioning Maps ads differently from competitors. The company states that user location data, ad views, and interactions will not be linked to your Apple Account or shared with third parties. Users will see a one-time explanation screen the first time they open Maps after updating.

No opt-out: Unlike personalized ads in other Apple apps, there is currently no option to disable Maps ads. They will be shown to all users in supported regions.

After a brief appearance in iOS 26.4 betas (and subsequent removal), RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging is back in iOS 26.5 – and this time it includes end-to-end encryption.

What this means: When messaging Android users who also have RCS-enabled devices, iPhone users will finally get features Android users have enjoyed for years:

• High-quality photo and video sharing
• Read receipts and typing indicators
• Group chat improvements
• End-to-end encrypted conversations (when supported by both carriers)

Currently labeled as "testing" in beta builds, conversations will show an "Encrypted" indicator when protection is active. Not all carriers support the feature yet, so availability may vary.

Unlike the previous beta where Apple warned the feature might not ship, iOS 26.5 appears poised to deliver RCS to all users – marking a major improvement in cross-platform messaging.

iOS 26.5 introduces a clever new pricing model for App Store subscriptions: "monthly billing with a 12-month commitment".

How it works: Users get the discounted price of an annual subscription – but pay in 12 monthly installments instead of one lump sum. This bridges the gap between:

• Monthly plans: Flexible but often more expensive long-term
• Annual plans: Discounted but require upfront payment

For users: Lower upfront cost while still securing annual pricing. Perfect for budget-conscious subscribers who want the best deal without a large one-time payment.

For developers: New StoreKit APIs allow developers to display these subscription options clearly and track user commitment periods. This could increase annual subscription adoption by lowering the purchase barrier.

When affected devices run out of battery and automatically power off, plugging them into a USB-C charger produces no response:

• [X] Screen remains completely black
• [X] No low-battery charging indicator
• [X] Hardware reset (volume up to volume down to hold power) does nothing
• [X] Connected Macs cannot detect the device via Finder

The issue appears to be intermittent – not every user experiences it every time, but reports are widespread enough to confirm it's a real problem. Some users have encountered it once; others report multiple occurrences.

What causes it? According to analysis, iPhone 17 series use new power management hardware and charging protocols. When the battery voltage drops too low during deep discharge, the USB-C wake-up circuit can lock up, preventing the PD (Power Delivery) charging protocol from initializing.