AirPods have a new feature in iOS 26 (that you really need to turn on)

With iOS 26, the AirPods have received several new features. But you really need to enable one of these new features.

AirPods have a new feature in iOS 26 (that you really need to turn on)

In addition to all kinds of new gadgets for your iPhone, the latest iOS 26 update also brings a few nice features to the Apple AirPods. One of the new features for your AirPods is an automatic pause function for when you fall asleep with your earphones in.

Very useful, of course, because waking up halfway through while listening to a podcast or audiobook is not convenient. Remarkably, this function is turned off by default. You therefore have to manually enable this new function on your AirPods. You do this in the following way.

Apple itself does not explain how exactly the AirPods can detect that you are falling asleep. The feature likely uses different sensors in your AirPods to interpret prolonged inactivity.

Unfortunately, the new feature is not available on all AirPods. You must have the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 4 for this. Older AirPods models (and the AirPods Max) lack this option.

Apple’s latest earphones: the AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 have a heart rate monitor that allows you to monitor your heart rate during exercise, even without an Apple Watch. But the earphones have many more improvements.

The active noise cancellation has become a lot better. According to Apple, they are even up to two times better compared to the AirPods Pro 2. This means that the AirPods Pro 3 no longer have trouble with busy spaces, because they block out disturbing background noise much better.

Furthermore, the AirPods Pro 3 are better dust, sweat and water resistant and the fit has been improved. Fortunately, the fact that the AirPods Pro 3 have many new functions is not reflected in the price, because Apple has even reduced the starting price of the AirPods Pro this year. For the best prices, check our AirPods Pro 3 price comparator.