6 AirPods Changes Coming in iOS 26

iOS 26 will bring new features to AirPods, including the ability to use them as a camera remote for the Camera app or third-party iOS camera apps. To take a photo or start a video recording, users can press and hold the AirPods stem, and a second press and hold will stop the recording. The AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 will support studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, songs, and more, with background sounds filtered out thanks to Voice Isolation. The H2 chip in these AirPods models will also bring more natural vocal texture and clarity to iPhone calls, FaceTime calls, and other CallKit-enabled apps. With iOS 26, users will be able to install beta updates on AirPods more easily through a new update interface. The update will also introduce a feature that pauses audio when the user falls asleep, saving battery life and preserving the user's spot in an audiobook or podcast. This feature will also work with Beats earbuds. Another new feature in iOS 26 is the "Keep Audio in Headphones" option, which prevents audio from switching to car speakers or Bluetooth speakers when listening to music through AirPods. This option can be turned on in Settings > General > AirPlay and Continuity. Overall, iOS 26 will bring several new features and improvements to AirPods, including studio-quality audio recording, improved call quality, and more.