The process is all too well known: The next beta phase usually follows the release of major system updates. That release has just taken place, because iOS 26.5, macOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, watchOS 26.5, visionOS 26.5 and tvOS 26.5 are now available as the first developer build. The updates are eagerly awaited, because since 26.4 had not yet featured the new generation of Siri, 26.5 was considered the likely version of the premiere. As is well known, Apple and Google agreed to cooperate to put Siri on a Gemini basis – after Apple had not yet been successful with its own approaches. If Apple follows the normal schedule, it should take around six to eight weeks until May 26th is ready for the market. What’s new in System 26.5
There are still individual improvements announced for System 26 that Apple has not yet implemented. This includes end-to-end encryption of RCS messages – testing began in the beta of 26.4, but Apple stated that it needed more time until the final version. In addition, as mentioned, the Siri changeover is still pending. Apple is reportedly pursuing the plan to first integrate Gemini and then present a completely new implementation with iOS 27. There have even been reports of a standalone Siri app in recent reports.
We will update this message as soon as concrete innovations are known – and it is clear whether Siri 2 is on board.
Update:
It looks like iOS 26.5 is a bug fix update with changes under the hood, but without any visible new functions and without Siri 2. Of course, it would be conceivable to only see a first version of the fundamentally revised Siri version in Beta 2.
The current betas
Finally, as always, the well-known list of currently available beta versions. As is usual with a first beta, the letter at the end is still a long way from “a”, which Apple always uses to indicate that you are pretty much at the beginning. This is what it currently looks like in the developer area – a public beta is not yet available, this is usually available from the second or third developer build at the latest.
| system | Build number | Published |
| macOS 26.5 Beta 1 | 25F5042g | March 30, 2026 |
| iOS 26.5 Beta 1 | 23F5043g | March 30, 2026 |
| iPadOS 26.5 Beta 1 | 23F5043g | March 30, 2026 |
| watchOS 26.5 Beta 1 | 23T5541h | March 30, 2026 |
| tvOS 26.5 Beta 1 | 23L5443g | March 30, 2026 |
| visionOS 26.5 Beta 1 | 23O5441g | March 30, 2026 |
