Apple has officially rolled out the Release Candidate (RC) builds of iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, and macOS Sequoia 15.5 to developers and public beta testers. These RC versions are likely the final builds Apple will ship to all users next week—unless last-minute bugs force changes.
What is a Release Candidate?
In case you’re unfamiliar, a Release Candidate (RC) is the final version of software that Apple tests before it becomes the public release. If no critical issues are discovered, this build gets pushed to all users as-is.
Think of it as Apple’s final check before pressing the “go live” button.
iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5: Minor but Useful Changes
While this isn’t a feature-packed release, there are several small but meaningful improvements:
- New Pride Harmony Wallpaper: Apple adds a vibrant new wallpaper to celebrate Pride Month, continuing its yearly tradition.
- Parental Alerts in Screen Time: Parents will now receive alerts if their child bypasses the Screen Time passcode—a small change with big implications for digital safety.
- “Buy with iPhone” in Apple TV App: Now you can use your iPhone to make purchases directly from the Apple TV app on third-party devices like smart TVs.
- Mail App Improvements: The redesigned Mail app previously annoyed users by forcing contact photos on screen. You can now toggle them off with a single tap, instead of diving into Settings.
- AppleCare Section in Settings: Apple has redesigned the AppleCare coverage section with a clearer banner and logo for easier access.
- Bug Fixes and Performance Tweaks: One major fix addresses an issue where the Apple Vision Pro app could display a black screen.
- Satellite Support for iPhone 13: Apple has enabled carrier-supported satellite services for iPhone 13 users—expanding a feature previously limited to newer models.
These changes focus on polish and usability rather than splashy new features—but they do enhance the user experience in subtle but important ways.
macOS Sequoia 15.5: Focused on Stability
The macOS 15.5 RC build follows a similar playbook. No new visual features or tools have been added. Instead, Apple has focused on performance optimizations and behind-the-scenes bug fixes.
Developers have been testing this version since March, and this RC signals that Apple is preparing to wrap up macOS Sequoia and shift attention to macOS 16, which will be unveiled at WWDC 2025.
Other RC Builds Released
Alongside iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, Apple also rolled out RC builds for:
- watchOS 11.5 – includes a new Pride watch face
- tvOS 18.5
- visionOS 2.5
- HomePod 18.5
All of these updates are expected to launch publicly in mid-May. Like their iOS/macOS counterparts, they are minor and primarily focus on polish and reliability.
A Quiet Update Before the Big Reveal
If you were holding out for new features tied to Apple Intelligence or on-device Siri enhancements, this update might feel a bit underwhelming. Apple appears to be saving its major AI and UI upgrades for iOS 19 and macOS 16, which are expected to debut at WWDC in June.
While this update won’t make headlines, it does deliver a handful of quality-of-life tweaks—especially for parents, Mail users, and those with older iPhones. And for Apple, it clears the runway for what’s shaping up to be a massive summer of announcements.
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