Apple’s iOS 26.5 rolls out next week with three additions. End‑to‑end encryption now secures RCS chats between iPhone and Android on supported carriers, tightening cross‑platform privacy. Maps gains a “Suggested Places” pane that curates local recommendations and will begin serving ads in the U.S. and Canada later this year. A Pride Luminance wallpaper, shimmering with color shifts, joins the new watch face and Sport Loop.

Apple discontinued the 256 GB Mac mini worldwide, raising the base model to $799 in the U.S. with an M4 chip, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage. The shift follows broader SKU cuts as memory shortages strain supply for AI‑focused desktops. CEO Tim Cook called demand for the entry‑level MacBook Neo “off the charts,” sparking talk of a second chip run and possible price or color tweaks.

Fresh M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models debuted in March with faster silicon but the same 2021 chassis. Analysts suggest waiting for a late‑2026 redesign that adds tech and performance, dubbed the “MacBook Ultra.” Leakers say the iPhone 18 Pro will keep the anodized aluminum finish despite durability complaints, and iPhone 18 will share parts with the lower‑cost iPhone 18e, narrowing the lineups.