iOS 26 could bring new AirPods features like sleep detection and camera trigger
iOS 26 is said to bring several new features for AirPods owners, including sleep detection with auto-pause, remote camera trigger and more.
9to5Mac outlined several new features that iOS 26 will reportedly bring to AirPods owners, including sleep detection, camera control options, new head gestures and more. The new features will be available to the general public when Apple releases matching AirPods firmware updates alongside iOS 26 this fall.
Some (or all) of the planned new features may require the Apple H2 chip, in which case some features could be restricted to the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. Also, Bloomberg recently reported that AirPods may get a live translate feature for real-time translation of in-person conversations from one language to another.
iOS 26: New rumored AirPods features
Sleep detection
AirPods don’t support sleep detection like the Apple Watch, but iOS 26 could add auto-pause when you’re sleeping. I’m one of the people who often fall asleep with their AirPods on, so this is going to be useful. It’s unclear how this feature will work, but the AirPods could use sleep data from your iPhone or Apple Watch to determine when you’ve fallen asleep, automatically pausing audio.
New head gestures
iOS 25 in 2024 brought two head gestures to the AirPods, letting you shake your head to decline a call or nod to accept it. The site reports that iOS 26 may bring additional AirPods head gestures. One of them would let you adjust the volume of the Conversation Awareness feature. Currently, you must press and hold on either AirPods stem or swipe up on the stem to end a Conversation Awareness volume.
Camera trigger
Camera trigger will let you snap an iPhone photo by pressing an AirPods. Apple already provides remote shutter functionality with the built-in Camera Remote app on the Apple Watch, which includes a timer feature. AirPods camera trigger will probably include a timer, like Camera Remote, so you don’t touch your ear on photos. Camera trigger is already supported on Apple’s wired EarPods.
Studio-quality microphone mode
iOS 26 should bring “studio quality” AirPods mic mode. This is reportedly similar to the existing Audio Mix feature on the iPhone, which uses computational audio to boost your sound recordings with options such as studio and cinematic.
Enhanced pairing
One of the planned AirPods enhancements would reportedly improve AirPods pairing with shared iPads in the classroom.
Live translation
The AirPods should also get a live translation feature as part of the iOS 26 update. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, your iPhone will capture the speech and play real-time translation through the AirPods. Conversely, the iPhone would play a translated response through the loudspeaker for the other person to hear. Google’s Pixel Buds have offered a similar feature since 2017. Apple has offered a standalone Translate app since 2020, so it already has the technological pieces required to create a live translation feature.
How to test AirPods beta features
Apple will release the first developer preview of iOS 26 with a matching AirPods firmware after the conclusion of its June 9 keynote. Anyone will be able to take these features for a spin when Apple releases the iOS 26 public beta in July.
You will need to opt into Apple’s Beta Software Program and enroll in the AirPods Beta Program in order to test prerelease software before mere mortals.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/06/05/ios-26-new-airpods-features-rumo-roundup/
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