Apple has released iOS 26.5 without any sign of the improved Apple Intelligence that users have been anticipating. The absence of Siri upgrades means Apple has now left its virtual assistant in a broken state for over a year. Meanwhile, Google is highlighting new AI features for Android that seem familiar to iPhone users, suggesting the search giant is positioning itself ahead of Apple's expected intelligence upgrades.

iOS 27 is expected to arrive at WWDC 2026 with the long-awaited Siri improvements, though Apple has been tight-lipped about specific features. Google appears to be rushing out Gemini-based AI features for Android, seemingly for bragging rights. The timing suggests a competitive battle brewing between the tech giants as they vie for AI supremacy in mobile operating systems.

iOS 26.5 does bring a beta of RCS messaging, though it hasn't resolved text interoperability issues between iPhone and Android users. Apple has also added subscription savings to the App Store. With the Trump T1 Android phone reportedly shipping soon and Google pushing new features, the mobile OS competition shows no signs of slowing down, leaving consumers with more options but also more compatibility challenges.