This yr’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) keynote had a unique cadence than we’ve seen over the previous few years, particularly in these since Apple switched to thoroughly pre-recorded digital occasions for WWDC 2020. The software-focused keynote not solely lacked any {hardware} bulletins however even stayed away from issues that weren’t central to its six foremost working techniques.
Which means we didn’t get a separate presentation highlighting new options in Apple’s equipment and secondary merchandise. The HomePod wasn’t talked about in any respect, the Apple TV was solely offered within the contest of tvOS 26, and Apple had barely something to say about its AirPods — the product identify was talked about solely 3 times in your entire 92-minute presentation.
That’s a stark distinction to the previous few years, when Apple devoted a complete portion of its keynote to Residence and Audio merchandise, spending a while speaking particularly about what new options could be coming to its earbuds.
As a substitute, Apple’s AirPods acquired solely a passing point out in the course of the iPadOS 26 portion of the presentation, when Apple shared how new audio and video workflows would make the most of enhancements in recording high quality and supply new digicam controls.
Nevertheless, Apple additionally hinted at two different upcoming options. Whereas it has but to elaborate on how these will work, we will infer a bit from latest pre-game rumors and the way they’re working now within the first iOS 26 beta. Right here’s what we’re anticipating to see Apple add to its AirPods in iOS 26.
Excessive-High quality Audio Recording
As we talked about, Apple promised “studio-quality vocal” recording instantly with AirPods, due to “improved tonal steadiness and timbre to authentically characterize the feel of your voice.”
There was no point out of AI right here, though Apple is undoubtedly counting on some machine studying algorithms to make this occur. Final month’s report recommended the function has grown out of the iPhone 16 Professional Audio Combine, which makes use of machine studying to assist separate background noise from speech.
Apple prevented making direct comparisons, however some have recommended these high quality enhancements will put them on the identical degree as skilled lavalier microphones. That sounds believable, however we’ll have to attend and see how this performs out in observe.
Though Apple solely confirmed this off alongside iPadOS 26, it’s additionally coming to the iPhone in iOS 26. The catch? You’ll want a pair of AirPods or AirPods Professional with an H2 chip to make the most of it. That encompasses Apple’s present AirPods Professional and AirPods 4 fashions however leaves out even the latest AirPod Max, as these nonetheless use the older H1 chip.
Digicam Distant
Apple additionally touched on how we’ll be capable to use the AirPods stems as a digicam distant to start out and cease video recording, bringing a function that’s lengthy been obtainable on Apple’s wired EarPods to its wi-fi earbuds.
Apple mentioned this will likely be executed with a press-and-hold gesture and require an H2-equipped pair of AirPods. Nevertheless, it seems to be customizable, letting you select a single press or a press-and-hold.
These gestures will solely be obtainable when the Digicam app is already open; in that state, they are going to override their typical capabilities. In different phrases, if you happen to configure the Digicam Distant to make use of a press-and-hold gesture, you received’t be capable to entry Siri or toggle noise management when the Digicam app is open. Ditto for utilizing a single press with media controls.
Because the function is at present applied within the first iOS 26 beta, the gestures will instantly begin and cease video recording when the Digicam app is in video mode; nevertheless, you’ll get an automated three-second countdown timer when utilizing it to set off a photograph, which ought to provide you with sufficient time to take your hand away out of your ear earlier than the shutter goes off.
Pause Media When Falling Asleep
With iOS 26, now you can set your AirPods to robotically pause no matter is taking part in as you drift off to sleep.
This feature is an easy toggle in your AirPods choices within the iPhone Settings app, however Apple hasn’t elaborated on exactly the way it works. There’s no indication that an Apple Watch is required to set off sleep detection, so it possible depends on the accelerometers and different sensors within the AirPods themselves.
I haven’t been in a position to get this to work but, but it surely’s additionally the primary developer beta, so it might not be absolutely applied but. Or perhaps I simply sleep bizarre.
Computerized Switching with CarPlay
On Apple’s listing of further iOS 26 options was “AirPods Computerized Switching with CarPlay.” Apple hasn’t elaborated on this, however there’s a brand new choice within the iOS 26 Settings app beneath Normal > AirPlay & Continuity to “Preserve Audio in Headphones.”
When that is toggled off, which is the default, any audio taking part in via your AirPods (or another Bluetooth headphones) will change over to CarPlay while you get within the automotive. Turning it on will stop that from occurring, maintaining the audio taking part in in your AirPods fairly than via your automotive stereo.
In response to Apple’s description, the identical will apply to different playback units, corresponding to audio system, though it’s unclear if that refers to each AirPlay and Bluetooth audio system.
The handoff works properly in observe, but it surely seems to be unidirectional proper now. Audio seamlessly transfers from my AirPods to my automotive each time with out stopping, but it surely pauses when returning to my AirPods, requiring me to start out playback manually.
Simplified Beta Updates
Apple has additionally made it a lot simpler for folk working the iOS 26 betas to put in the corresponding beta firmware on the AirPods.
AirPods have at all times had a thoughts of their very own in relation to putting in software program updates. Whereas that hasn’t modified, you’ll not have to leap via the convoluted hoops of hooking up your iPhone to Xcode to place it into “Developer Mode” to be able to entry the pre-release AirPods firmware.
As a substitute, there’s now an “AirPods Beta Updates” part on the backside of the primary AirPods settings. Right here, you’ll discover a toggle for enabling AirPods Beta Updates and producing on-device AirPod Analytics Information in case you have to report an issue to Apple.
Considerably amusingly, this was one place the place I discovered a leftover reference to iOS 19 from earlier than Apple determined to go together with the brand new “26” numbering to unify its working techniques. The primary time I opened the settings display screen for my AirPods Professional, I used to be greeted with a banner that advised me I might “Activate pre-release beta updates to check new AirPods options in iOS 19.0.”
What Else May Be Coming?
Within the days main as much as the WWDC keynote, we additionally heard rumors that Apple would add further head gestures to regulate options like dialog consciousness and faster pairing with shared units. These reviews got here from the identical supply that turned out to be spot-on about many of the different options we noticed this week, so a few of these could also be coming later within the beta cycle.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had additionally predicted a “Star Trek-like” Common Translator for the AirPods. We’ve seen no signal of this but, however Apple has gotten fairly shut with its Dwell Translate options in iOS 26. It’s potential Gurman (or his sources) mistook the stay translation on telephone calls, which would definitely work with AirPods, for an in-person conversational function. Nevertheless, we can also’t rule out the chance that Apple remains to be engaged on this concept. Whether or not it will likely be prepared for iOS 26 is one other query.