AirPods: Better charging display in the case via firmware update
Apple is planning new functions for AirPods charging cases in connection with iOS 26. Users should be able to read the status more easily.
Features of the AirPods 2 when they were released: They can now do more – and soon even more.
(Image: Apple)
Are my AirPods charging or not? Although the charging cases for the Apple plugs have an integrated LED to indicate this, it is not really clear. As users of the current developer beta 5 of iOS 26 report, Apple is now changing the functionality. Instead of two colors, there will now be three – two of which can only be differentiated in nuances.
Status can also be read when the case is closed
A splash screen for information purposes appears after installing iOS 26 Developer Beta 5 at – and new firmware for the AirPods also appears to be necessary. In the future, AirPods will indicate that they are fully charged with a green LED (as usual). A bright orange means that the plugs are charging themselves. If the orange is darker, however, this means that the charging case itself no longer has enough juice and should be supplied with power via induction or USB-C cable. The regular charging process does not change: the AirPods are first charged by the internal battery, which in turn must be supplied with power from outside.
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Until now, the charging case has normally shown the charge status of the AirPods when the case is opened: a green LED means “fully charged”, while an orange LED means that the case's battery is less than fully charged. It initially remained unclear whether this would continue to be the case. The splash screen shows a closed charging case. The new function is intended to “clearly display” the charging status, Apple writes further. The AirPods 4 (which are optionally available with ANC) are said to run for up to 30 hours with the battery case. One charge without ANC is enough for 5 hours of music, one with up to 4 hours.
Useful new charging notification
Apple had already implemented a new charging notification in an earlier beta of iOS 26. Once activated in the Battery section, the operating system then reports that it is “Time to charge your AirPods”. This means you no longer have to manually switch to the battery overview, which is available as a widget or in the menu bar on the Mac. A charge status display is currently only shown briefly when the iPhone is unlocked, which is easily overlooked and, in the worst case, leaves you without a battery when you leave the house.
The manufacturer seems to be proceeding quite intelligently, as beta testers have reported: Notifications come, for example, when you put your iPhone on the charger in the evening. This allows you to supply both devices with power at the same time. But notifications are also sent during the day as soon as the AirPods fall below a certain battery level.
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