Apple iOS 185 RC1: Subtle Tweaks, Fresh Features, and Strategic Enhancements Unveiled

Apple has begun rolling out the iOS 18.5 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) — a near-final version of the next iOS update ahead of its full public release. While this update isn’t packed with headline-grabbing features, it introduces several strategic enhancements, user experience refinements, and long-overdue bug fixes that hint at Apple’s continued push for seamless ecosystem integration and user personalization.

This build is the first time Apple has published official release notes during the RC phase for iOS 18.5, giving developers and users a more transparent view into what’s changing before the final rollout. With minor but meaningful updates, Apple appears to be preparing for broader changes expected in iOS 19 while solidifying the performance and reliability of the current OS.

iOS 18.5 RC1: Key Features & Enhancements

Apple’s iOS 18.5 RC1 may appear low-key on the surface, but its updates aim to improve usability and security in subtle ways. Here’s a summarized breakdown of what’s included in this release:

Pride 2025 Wallpaper: Apple continues its tradition of celebrating diversity and inclusion with a newly designed Pride Harmony wallpaper, available for both iPhone and iPad.

Apple Mail Enhancements: Slight but important tweaks to email categories and profile picture displays in the Mail app enhance user experience and organization.

Screen Time Improvements: Parents now get notified when their child’s Screen Time passcode is used. This adds a new layer of transparency and parental control.

“Buy with iPhone” in Apple TV App: Apple is extending native Apple Pay capabilities, allowing users to buy content directly within the Apple TV app on third-party devices — a small but notable shift toward making the iPhone even more central to entertainment purchases.

Apple Vision Pro Fix: An issue that caused the Vision Pro app to display a black screen has been resolved, stabilizing performance for Apple’s AR/VR ecosystem.

Satellite Feature Support for iPhone 13: Carrier-provided satellite connectivity now becomes available to all models of the iPhone 13, enhancing emergency communication capabilities.

What Undercode Say:

Apple’s incremental update strategy continues with iOS 18.5 RC1 — and although this release doesn’t make bold leaps, it showcases Apple’s strength in refining and