The iOS 26.5 release candidate adds Brazil to supported regions alongside Japan and the EU, though outside-App Store installs still do not work.
The move follows a 2025 settlement with Brazil's CADE requiring alternative app distribution and third-party payments, ending a long-running antitrust fight over App Store restrictions.
The case began after MercadoLibre's 2022 complaint. Apple says the changes meet regulatory demands but could increase privacy and security risks for Brazilian users.
Will Brazil's victory against Apple's App Store trigger a global collapse of the tech giant's lucrative 'walled garden' business model?
After forcing open app payments, will Brazilian regulators succeed in making Apple open its NFC chip for the popular PIX payment system?
As Apple's ecosystem opens, can it protect users from scams, or is this the end of the iPhone's promise of superior security?