![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778711178_427_0x0.jpg\")
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Apple iPhone 17<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Update May 13: this post, first published on Monday, May 11, has been updated with additional detail about encrypted messaging, the key upgrade in the release and features specific to users in the EU.<\/p>\n
The latest iPhone update is now available, following weeks of beta releases, and a last-minute, unexpected second release candidate (details here<\/a>). That second RC could have meant a later general release, but no, here it is, right on schedule. Here\u2019s all you need to know about the new features and compatibility.<\/p>\n ForbesHere\u2019s Why There\u2019s No iPhone 18 This Year, New Report ClaimsBy David Phelan<\/a>Which iPhones Can Run iOS 26.5?<\/p>\n This update is like all the others in the iOS 26 cycle, this one is for all iPhones from 2019 onwards. That means the iPhone 11 series and later. The second-generation and third-generation iPhone SE handsets are included. All members of the iPhone 17 series, including the latest release, iPhone 17e, plus iPhone Air, are also supported.<\/p>\n How To Download And Install iOS 26.5<\/p>\n To update to the new software, go to the Settings app on the iPhone and select General, followed by Software Update. Here you\u2019ll find Download and Install, and it\u2019ll be downloaded promptly. It\u2019s a medium update, 1.61GB on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. It downloaded and installed in around 25 minutes.<\/p>\n Note that the size of the update will depend on how long ago you updated before. If your iPhone currently runs iOS 26.3, say, or even iOS 18, your download will be much bigger \u2014 and take longer. Coming from iOS 26.0.1 on my iPhone Air, the download was over 13GB, for instance.<\/p>\n iOS 26.5 \u2014 What\u2019s In The Release<\/p>\n Let me break it to you gently: new Siri isn\u2019t here. That\u2019s no surprise as it wasn\u2019t in any of the betas and an increasing number of analysts have said that the new, more personalized Siri would be held until iOS 27 is announced on June 8 at WWDC. But some people were still hopeful. Sorry. <\/p>\n End-To-End Encrypted RCS Messaging<\/p>\n What is here, though, is a major change to messaging. After months of testing, end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging is still available. It\u2019s still in beta even in this release, and it\u2019s worth remembering that it won\u2019t arrive for everyone immediately \u2014 it requires the participation of your carrier, for a start. <\/p>\n When it\u2019s there, it will mean that messages sent between iPhones and Android phones will finally be encrypted. Messages between iPhones, the blue bubbles, already are. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s an indication of how big a deal this is: Apple has released a Newsroom post to talk about it, something it rarely does for iOS releases. Here\u2019s the link<\/a>, and note that because it\u2019s what Apple describes as a \u201cQuick Read,\u201d you may need to scroll down the page to find it. The release was dated May 11.<\/p>\n Anyway, here\u2019s what\u2019s key to the post. \u201cApple and Google have led a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS), making the cross-platform messaging format that replaces traditional SMS more secure and private,\u201d Apple said.<\/p>\n