AirPods: These new features are coming with iOS 26
Apple is once again expanding the range of functions of its earbuds: improved call audio quality, a "studio microphone" and remote camera control are coming.
AirPods Pro 2 with lanyard: Launched in 2022, but Apple is still adding new features.
(Image: Apple)
Apple is known for providing older hardware with fresh updates over several years. This means that new functions are gradually added to the devices. The most recent example is a fresh firmware for AirPods, which the company plans to offer as part of iOS 26 in the fall: it contains a whole bundle of new features for new and existing buyers of AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 (with and without ANC).
Improved sound and improved recording
The sound for calls, FaceTime communication and apps such as Zoom, which use Apple's CallKit API, should be "clearer and with more natural voice textures". There is also improved microphone recording, which promises "studio-quality audio recordings" for interviews, podcasts, music or video dubbing, for example. It remains to be seen how good they are, as the company apparently uses special AI algorithms. Both new functions support iPhone, iPad and Mac with the latest operating system, i.e. iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 (all from the fall).
Another new feature is a pause function when sleeping: if the AirPods detect that the user is no longer listening, the earbuds pause automatically. The camera can also be triggered remotely: with AirPods in your ear, you can trigger photos or videos with a gesture on the earbuds (press and hold). This should also work for third-party apps. Recordings can also be synchronized with music, for example for dance videos on TikTok. There is now an audio transfer for CarPlay: if you are listening to music outside with AirPods, the system will automatically switch to CarPlay when you get in the car if you wish. Finally, you can also keep audio in the AirPods, even if the iPhone is connected to other devices such as speakers or CarPlay.
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Finally trigger an update manually
Finally, Apple will fulfill a long-cherished wish of AirPods users who always want to have the latest firmware quickly: Updates can be triggered manually for the first time, reports Macrumors. Currently, there are only various voodoo-like ways to force the update.
The new AirPods firmware will be released together with iOS 26 in the fall. Developers can already test a beta, whereby the devices with which the AirPods communicate must also be at a current beta level. Only developers are currently being provided with this, with a public beta appearing in July.
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