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6+ AirPods Changes Coming in iOS 26
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That’s what I want to know also. I’ll speculate,
1 if it’s linked to an Apple Watch it could tell via heartbeat,
2. Sound of your breathing perhaps.
3. Detect snoring (probably not).
4. Listen to parter ask, “honey are you sleeping” “…….” Equals sleep (problematic 😏)
Good point. I wonder if noise cancellation with no music could actually reduce fatigue and or allow better awareness of say a siren?
I sleep on my side and wear an AirPod in my top ear. Pillow blocks sound of my right ear, AirPod blocks my left ear.
Usually at some point in the night I’ll wake up and put it on my night stand.
writer: "I came up with 5"
editor: "but you gotta come up with 6"
writer: "why?"
editor: "because we have this cool graphic that looks like a 6"
editor: "but you gotta come up with 6"
writer: "why?"
editor: "because we have this cool graphic that looks like a 6"
Heartbeat is easily detected in the ear canal. Possibly there is a percentage of people who can actually HEAR their own heartbeat under certain conditions, and without augmentation. I know I can hear mine when under stress.
See above.
Many states in the US have restrictions saying that you can't make or receive a call while driving without using a hands-free device. I don't think you can do that and THEN also restrict the hands-free device. That would likely be rejected the first time it gets to a US District court or a higher court.
Yes. But the blood vessels in the ear canals have thinner walls and can possibly be heard by a close microphone. Why not? After all, some of us can hear our own heartbeats.
Sure, why not to all of that? The iPods all have very good microphones in them.
Haha, bonus points for thinking of this one!
It sounds like marketing BS to me.
'Studio Quality' isn't a thing, especially 'studio quality on-the-go'. A crap microphone in a bad setup, with a person talking off-mic is still 'studio quality'. The only thing that a studio would offer in terms of quality, is sound proofing (to remove sounds outside the room) and sound treatments, to reduce echo and room noise.
The automatic noise reduction during recording is also giving 'professional quality' photos from an iPhone vibes. Turns out, they still look like over-processed iphone photos, with no depth of field, floating green blobs around point light sources (useless at night, especially video), and shadows that somehow manage to be grainy and mushy at the same time.
I don't think anyone will have an issue with improved audio quality. But if they call it 'studio quality' now when it's clearly not, then what will the next improvement in audio quality be called?
The change is dramatically better. There’s already A/B examples out there. It’s surprising that they didn’t just keep this for AirPods Pro 3.
iOS needs a "Keep Audio on my iPhone" option too. When I'm driving my wife's car she'll be scrolling through Facebook or other apps while the radio is playing but if she comes across a video playing CarPlay will blast it through the speakers - so annoying! Other than turning off bluetooth and wifi on her phone (which is a pain to have to remember to do), this option would be really helpful!
Okay MacRumors i see you getting creative with that AirPod positioned like a 6
iOS 26 adds new functionality to the AirPods, which will be available this fall when Apple releases iOS 26 and new AirPods firmware to the public.
Camera Remote
The AirPods can be used as a camera remote for the Camera app or third-party iOS camera apps. Just connect your AirPods to your iPhone, open the Camera app, and then press and hold on the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording.
When you're finished, a second press and hold gesture will stop the recording. If you have an Apple Watch, you can already control your iPhone remotely from your wrist, but the AirPods have the potential to be even quicker since it's a physical gesture rather than a series of steps that include opening an Apple Watch app.
Studio-Quality Recording
The AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 support recording 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, with background sounds filtered out thanks to Voice Isolation.
You can record higher-quality audio when making videos or using your devices to do things like record a podcast.
Improved Audio Quality
The H2 chip in the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 brings more natural vocal texture and clarity to iPhone calls, FaceTime calls, and all CallKit-enabled apps like Zoom.
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.
Beta Updates
With iOS 26, Apple is adding an option to more easily install beta updates on AirPods. There's a new update interface when you connect your AirPods to your iPhone and tap into them in the Settings app.
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 if you toggle on the new "Pause Media When Falling Asleep" option.
You'll find it in the AirPods settings after connecting your AirPods to your iPhone, but you'll need the new AirPods firmware and iOS 26. In addition to saving your spot in an audiobook or podcast, it will also preserve battery by turning your AirPods off so they're not running all night.
This feature also works with Beats earbuds.
Keep Audio in Headphones
iOS 26 addresses an irritating issue that happens with CarPlay and AirPods. There's a new "Keep Audio in Headphones" option that prevents audio from switching to car speakers or Bluetooth speakers when you're listening to music through the AirPods.
With the option on, your music will continue playing in your AirPods when you get in the car. You can turn it on in iOS 26 by going to Settings > General > AirPlay and Continuity.
Read More
We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.
Article Link: 6 AirPods Changes Coming in iOS 26
And I hope that android devices do this as well. How many conversations are interrupted with the 2025 equivalent of “can you hear me now?” when somebody on the phone gets into their car.
This is why I don’t use wireless CarPlay, even though my wife’s car supports it. There’s no confusion as to whose phone is hooked up. The driver’s phone gets plugged in to CarPlay for navigation and music, and the passenger’s phone never interferes with that.
My wife's car has wireless carplay (hense the issue) and wireless charging so is more convenient for her. I don't connect my phone via bluetooth to her car as she gets annoyed when mine take s presidence over hers - if I drive it without my wife in, I plug my phone in for carplay to kick in so I can use the phone hands free.
I wish the “keep audio” feature extended to the browser. It is SO annoying to be listening to Apple Music while surfing the web in safari and have almost every site “take over” the audio with a clip. I am constantly having to go back and hit play again on the music. Unless someone has a solution I am missing it is very frustrating.
Would be great if the AirPods would at least have good microphone quality. It's my 3rd pair now with AirPods Pro 2 and there are always issues with FaceTime calls or calls, that people can't always hear me or the sound quality is really bad. Will be my last pair of AirPods. All 3 I've had, were bad quality.