The arrival of iOS 26 brings updates beyond the iPhone, as the AirPods are now becoming more versatile, smarter, and more practical in our daily use. Six features that allow us to make better use of our earbuds, whether for recording, listening to music, or making calls. Let’s take a look at all the new features.
AirPods as a remote control and for studio-quality audio recording
Our AirPods can now work as a remote control for our iPhone’s camera. After activating the Camera Control option in Settings > AirPods, we just need to open the Camera app on the iPhone and press and hold the stem of our AirPods to take a photo or start recording a video. Another long press stops the recording.
If we have a pair of AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2, we can use studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, songs, and videos. We don’t have to do anything special—just start recording and notice the significant improvement in sound quality. If we choose to use the Voice Isolation feature, the audio will focus on our voice and reduce background noise, even in louder environments.
Improvements for calls, sleep mode, playback control and charging feedback
The H2 chip in the latest AirPods models now allows phone calls, FaceTime, and apps like Zoom to sound more natural and clearer. The vocal texture is richer and the overall clarity makes conversations much more comfortable. As before, this improvement extends to iPhone, iPad, and Mac without requiring us to do anything.
The “Pause content when falling asleep” option, available in Settings > AirPods, allows us greater control over playback. Once activated, if we fall asleep listening to music, an audiobook, or a podcast, the system will detect sleep and automatically pause the playback.
If we use our AirPods in the car, iOS 26 now offers the option to “Keep audio in AirPods”, which prevents music from automatically switching to the car speakers or other nearby Bluetooth devices.
Apple has also improved how the AirPods handle charging. The case now displays a clearer status indicator: a green light when fully charged, a blinking orange light while charging, and a darker orange when the battery is low. Additionally, our iPhone will now remind us to charge the AirPods before they run out of battery and notify us when charging is complete.
With these six new features, the AirPods continue to evolve in functionality. From recording content with professional sound to controlling the camera with a single gesture, and enjoying uninterrupted music without worrying about battery levels, Apple ensures our earbuds can do more—and so can we.
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