Apple has officially confirmed that the iOS 26.5 update will bring a significant improvement to the Messages application, which primarily relates to the security of RCS communication. The new version of the system introduces “end-to-end” encryption for RCS messages, which further increases the level of privacy in communication between iPhone and Android devices.
The RCS standard already represents the most advanced way of communication between iPhone and Android phones, as it enables functions such as message receipt confirmations, typing indicators and sending multimedia content in high quality. However, a key element has been missing until now – full encryption of messages.
RCS message communication becomes more secure in iOS 26.5
With iOS 26.5, Apple introduces end-to-end encryption of RCS message communication within the Messages app, meaning that the content of the communication can only be seen by the sender and recipient. This feature will be available with certain operators and will be implemented gradually, as the infrastructure is ready.
It is important to note that this option is still marked as beta, although it will be part of the final version of the system. Apple has already tested this functionality in the earlier beta releases of iOS 26.4 and iOS 26.5, but it has only now been confirmed that it will remain in the official release.
By introducing encryption, RCS communication is even closer to the security model of the iMessage service, which has been the standard for years when it comes to privacy within the Apple ecosystem. This is especially important for users who frequently communicate with Android devices, where until now there was a clear gap in the security of messages.
Apple has not yet announced the list of carriers that will support this feature, but it is expected to be available before or shortly after the official launch of iOS 26.5 version.
This move represents an important step towards the standardization of security in mobile communication, because for the first time it allows communication between different platforms to receive a level of protection that was previously reserved only for closed systems, reports 9to5Mac.