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All the New AirPods Features Coming in iOS 26

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Apple's upcoming iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe updates add several new features for the AirPods, which will be available through an AirPods firmware update.

airpods-pink.jpeg

Studio Quality Recording

The AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 can be used to record studio-quality audio for interviews, podcasts, songs, videos, and more. Apple says that the feature can be used to record high-quality vocals while on the go.

You can record higher-quality audio when making videos or using your devices to do things like record a podcast.
Improved Audio Quality

The studio-quality recording feature brings more natural vocal texture and clarity to iPhone calls, FaceTime calls, and all CallKit-enabled apps like Zoom.

Both studio-quality audio recording and improved call quality are available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and support the Camera app, Voice Memos, Messages dictation, third-party camera apps, and video conferencing apps.
Camera Remote

The AirPods can be used as a camera remote with the Camera app and third-party camera apps on iPhone or iPad. Just press and hold on the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording.

When the recording is finished, a press and hold gesture will stop the recording. Apple says that users who like to capture themselves singing and dancing for social networks like TikTok will be able to easily perform in sync with a soundtrack while simultaneously recording video.
Update Interface

With the latest software updates, Apple is finally adding a way to manually update the firmware on your AirPods. When your AirPods are connected, you can go to the Settings app to get to a new software update interface.
Pause Audio for Sleep

If you're listening to music, a podcast, or a book while you're in bed and you're wearing AirPods, the AirPods will pause your audio when you fall asleep.
Automatic Switching with CarPlay

When you're listening to audio on your AirPods and get in the car, the music you're listening to will shift to CarPlay.
Keep Audio in Headphones

When you use AirPods, you can opt to keep audio in your headphones when other playback devices like cars and speakers connect to the iPhone.
Release Info

The new features are available to developers today with a beta firmware update for the AirPods, and will see a public launch this fall.

Article Link: All the New AirPods Features Coming in iOS 26
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/airpods-features-ios-26/
have does the audio improve when speaking I thought it was the mics that were not that good, how does a software update make the audio better? update is nice tho
 
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Kylo83 said:
have does the audio improve when speaking I thought it was the mics that were not that good, how does a software update make the audio better? update is nice tho
Click to expand...
I think it has always been a matter of battery life and Bluetooth bandwidth considerations affecting the quality. Sometimes, you can even hear the switch when the bandwidth changes as the mic turns on or off. As described here, it sounds like they use the entire bandwidth for just mic recording, so I guess they turn off the audio back channel, meaning you can't listen to anything while recording in this mode. But I could be wrong.
 
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I’m confused by the automatic switching to CarPlay “feature” being labeled as a new thing, because that’s how it works currently. I constantly get into my car while listing to something on my AirPods and then as soon as I start my car and it connects to CarPlay it starts playing in my car instead and then I remove my AirPods. Am I missing something here that’s being added or why this is labeled as new?
 
MacMikePro said:
I’m confused by the automatic switching to CarPlay “feature” being labeled as a new thing, because that’s how it works currently. I constantly get into my car while listing to something on my AirPods and then as soon as I start my car and it connects to CarPlay it starts playing in my car instead and then I remove my AirPods. Am I missing something here that’s being added or why this is labeled as new?
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Now you can choose in settings if you want the music/call to be connected to CarPlay automatically or not. It is annoying sometimes when I am talking to someone over AirPods, and I unlock my car to take out something, call gets transferred over to CarPlay.
I have complained about this few years ago to Apple. As they don’t really listen to the customers, someone came up with this problem.
 
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Etc_ said:
I think it has always been a matter of battery life and Bluetooth bandwidth considerations affecting the quality. Sometimes, you can even hear the switch when the bandwidth changes as the mic turns on or off. As described here, it sounds like they use the entire bandwidth for just mic recording, so I guess they turn off the audio back channel, meaning you can't listen to anything while recording in this mode. But I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
So would using AirPods Pro 2 for phone calls have better mics so people would hear me clearer
 
Kylo83 said:
have does the audio improve when speaking I thought it was the mics that were not that good, how does a software update make the audio better? update is nice tho
Click to expand...
Its been degraded several times with firmware updates, just like the ANC on the Max. Now they revert it back to the original quality so you think they upgraded. Its how they stall, until they are able to innovate or willing to...

It makes zero sense to improve quality after three years.
 
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If you check the AirPods settings, it will show 'iOS 19' instead of 'iOS 26,' which makes it seem like the naming changes happened more recently than they actually did.
 
555gallardo said:
Based on the examples mentioned within the article, I find it very irresponsible to use AirPods while driving. Let’s hope the feature is used only by passengers, not drivers.
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I can hear exactly as well with my AirPods in as I can with them out. That's the whole point of Transparency/Adaptive mode.
 
555gallardo said:
Based on the examples mentioned within the article, I find it very irresponsible to use AirPods while driving. Let’s hope the feature is used only by passengers, not drivers.
Click to expand...

I'm one of the people who wear my buds when I drive. And I did have them in when I ran over your cat BUT the buds had nothing to do with that. That was intentional, which is why I backed up and pulled forward two or three times. Make sure it was done right.
 
Kylo83 said:
have does the audio improve when speaking I thought it was the mics that were not that good, how does a software update make the audio better? update is nice tho
Click to expand...
Bluetooth headphones compress microphone quality when calling to decrease latency and make bandwidth for audio output. AirPods microphones have always been good. If not then we wouldn’t have good quality transparency and noise cancellation mode. People always mistake that bluetooth headphones always have shtty mics.
 
I'll take the update for audio quality, but I'd be amazed if the sound from the microphones improve on the Pro 2's. Mine are so muffled it's awful. Continue to clean them, they've been repaired by Apple as well to no avail.
 
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