Next week Apple will unveil their new software updates for the fall. Not only do the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro get new options, the AirPods will also be provided with new functions.
According to a report In the hands of 9to5mac We can expect a lot of interesting features. For example, the AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 may get new head gestures, camera control functions, sleep detection and more.
New AirPods functions 2025
During the WWDC, Apple iOS 26, iPados 26 and MacOS 26 will reveal. These software updates not only bring new possibilities to the iPhone, iPad and Mac, but also to the AirPods. According to a report, the AirPods Pro 2nd generation and the AirPods 4th generation get new functions, below we list them for you.
Camera control functions with AirPods
One of the expected new functions is that you can operate the camera of your iPhone or iPad with your AirPods. After you have opened the camera app, the input of the AirPods is then recognized by the app. By simply squeezing (ticking) in the steel of the AirPods, you can take a photo so that you can take hands -free photos. The camera will then count down and then take the photo. This offers a practical solution for taking group photos or selfies and is reminiscent of earlier possibilities with wired earpods.
Sleep detection and automatic break
Apple is said to work on a sleep detection function for AirPods that automatically stops playing audio as soon as the user falls asleep. This would make a manual sleeping timer superfluous, which increases the ease of use for people who like to listen to music or podcasts before bedtime. It is not yet clear whether this function works independently or cooperates with the Apple Watch, which already supports sleep detection.
New head gestures
Since last year you can operate the AirPods Pro 2nd generation and 4th generation AirPods with head gestures. By simply shaking yes or no you can accept a telephone conversation, have a message read or respond to reports.
The upcoming update can enable users to adjust the volume or to terminate conversations with the help of new main movements. That is especially useful in a busy or quiet environment in which you would rather not talk out loud. This can also be useful during exercise, you don’t have to touch the AirPods or speak out loud.
Microphone mode of studio quality
Apple is working on a new microphone mode of studio quality for AirPods, which can be especially interesting for content makers. With the help of Machine Learning, this function would reduce background noises and ensure a brighter audio recordings. The function can be compared with the Audio-Mix options for iPhone 16. Thanks to this improvement, AirPods will become a more attractive choice for makers looking for high-quality and portable audio solutions.
Live translate
AirPods Pro 2nd generation may have the opportunity to translate live during a conversation. When a Dutch -speaking person with AirPods talks to someone who speaks Spanish, the iPhone detects the audio, translates the conversation and passes it on to the person who wears AirPods. The person who speaks Dutch can then respond and have his answer translated into Spanish and have it expressed aloud by the iPhone using the translation app.
Connecting AirPods with shared iPads
Apple recognizes the growing use of iPads in educational institutions and wants to simplify the process of connecting AirPods with shared iPads. This improvement would facilitate smoother transitions for students who use shared devices.