Apple today seeded developer beta 4 of iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5. The release arrives one week after developer beta 3 and keeps the cycle on track for a public release in May.
iOS and iPadOS 26.5 beta 4 carries build number 23F5069b, up from 23F5059e in beta 3. Registered developers can download the update by going to Settings, General, Software Update on enrolled devices.
What Is in iOS 26.5
Beta 4 does not introduce new headline features. The 26.5 cycle has been focused on a handful of meaningful additions rather than a broad feature push, with Apple holding its bigger moves for iOS 27, which will be unveiled at WWDC on June 8.
The key features continuing to be refined include Suggested Places in Apple Maps, which surfaces nearby recommendations based on trends and recent searches. Apple is also continuing to test end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android, a feature that was included in the iOS 26.4 beta before being pulled ahead of release. The EU-specific proximity pairing and Live Activities for third-party wearables is also still in testing.
watchOS 26.5 beta 4 adds a new Pride watch face, consistent with Apple’s annual tradition ahead of Pride Month in June.
Public Beta Expected Soon
A public beta 3 corresponding to today’s developer beta 4 is expected to follow within a day or two via the Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com. The second public beta shipped the day after developer beta 3.
iOS 26.5 is expected to be the last significant update before WWDC. Apple will use the June 8 keynote to unveil iOS 27, macOS 27, and the Siri overhaul that has been delayed out of the 26.x cycle entirely.