Apple rolled out the fourth developer and public betas for iOS 26.5 yesterday, April 27. This rapid testing cycle keeps the software perfectly on track for a widespread public release to all iPhone users this May.

What to Expect in iOS 26.5

While late-cycle point releases often focus on maintenance, iOS 26.5 brings a few welcome quality-of-life improvements. Testers have already noted new organizational categories within the Wallet app and subtle layout tweaks in the Control Center.

The update also heavily targets under-the-hood stability. Most notably, the beta addresses a persistent background battery drain issue that has frustrated users on older iPhone models.

Rapid Beta Rollout

Apple quickly followed up yesterday's developer release by opening access to public testers just a few hours later. Moving so fast between developer and public testing channels is a strong sign that the code is incredibly stable.

With May just days away, this latest build suggests the software is essentially finished. Anyone who hasn't jumped into the beta program can expect the final, polished update to hit their devices in the coming weeks.