Over the past two years, AirPods have seen substantial enhancements thanks to new software upgrades from Apple. Here’s a summary of fresh features launched with iOS 18 and iOS 26 that you ought to test out.
## New AirPods Features: Head Gestures
*Available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4*
Beginning with iOS 18, users of AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 can engage with Siri and incoming alerts by nodding their heads upward or downward.
– Accept a call or respond to notifications and messages: Nod your head up and down.
– Decline a call or clear notifications and messages: Shake your head side to side.
To utilize head gestures, make sure Announce Calls and Announce Notifications are activated in the Settings app under “Notifications.” To configure Head Gestures:
1. With your AirPods connected to your iPhone, launch the Settings app and select your AirPods at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap “Head Gestures.”
3. Turn on the feature and specify which gesture corresponds to “Accept, Reply” and “Decline, Dismiss.”
## Voice Isolation
*Available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4*
Voice Isolation helps to guarantee that the caller’s voice is distinct in noisy or windy conditions. Supported by machine learning and the H2 chip, this feature focuses on and elevates voice clarity while eliminating considerable background sound.
To activate Voice Isolation on your AirPods:
1. While on a call, swipe down from the top of your display to reach Control Center.
2. Tap the “Controls” button at the top of the interface.
3. Tap “Voice Isolation.”
## Gaming Improvements
*Available on AirPods 3, AirPods 4, all AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max*
iOS 18 brought Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking to gaming. To ensure this feature functions, go to your AirPods settings in the Settings app and scroll down to “Personalized Spatial Audio.” If it’s not set up yet, a process including a Face ID-style scan of your ears will guide you through.
iOS 18 also enhanced voice clarity for gaming, delivering 16-bit, 48kHz audio for communicating with teammates.
## Custom Adaptive Audio
*Available on all AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation*
iOS 18 offered more precision to the Adaptive Audio feature, blending Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode based on your surroundings. You can adjust Adaptive Audio to let in more or less noise.
To personalize Adaptive Audio:
1. With your AirPods connected to your iPhone, open the Settings app and select your AirPods at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap “Adaptive Audio.”
3. Shift the slider left for “Less Noise” or right for “More Noise.”
## Hearing Health
*Available on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3*
Apple unveiled new hearing health functionalities, enabling users to conduct a hearing test with their AirPods Pro. If you experience mild to moderate hearing loss, you can utilize AirPods Pro as a hearing aid.
Apple notes that the user’s personalized hearing profile is automatically integrated into music, movies, games, and phone calls across devices without needing to modify settings.
## Live Translation
*Available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation*
Live Translation permits you to translate face-to-face discussions in real-time. For instance, if you communicate in English and interact with someone who speaks Spanish, you can activate Live Translation to hear their words in English.
Methods to activate Live Translation:
– Open the Translate app on your iPhone.
– Press and hold the stem on both AirPods at once.
– Say, “Siri, start Live Translation.”
## Sleep Detection
*Available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4*
iOS 26 introduced sleep detection, which automatically halts your audio when your AirPods sense that you’ve drifted off. To enable this function:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your AirPods at the top.
3. Toggle on: “Pause Media When Falling Asleep.”
## Camera Remote
*Available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4*
With iOS 26, you can utilize your AirPods to capture photos with your iPhone. To configure this:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your AirPods at the top.
3. Scroll down and tap “Camera Remote.”
4. Select between Off, Press Once, or Press and Hold.
## “Keep Audio with Headphones”
iOS 26 introduces a new “Keep Audio with Headphones” setting to stop your AirPods audio from automatically switching.
