AirPods get five new features in iOS 26, but three require an H2 chip

The days of buying headphones and getting a static feature set are long gone. Since the launch of AirPods Pro 2 in particular, Apple has consistently upgraded AirPods products with new features via firmware. In iOS 26, there are five more new features coming—but more than half are exclusive to AirPods with an H2 chip.

iOS 26 continues trend of adding new AirPods features

When it comes to AirPods updates, Apple has gotten in the rhythm of big annual feature drops.

For example, iOS 18 added nonverbal Siri interactions, Voice Isolation, and improved Personalized Spatial Audio. In iOS 17, AirPods got Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume.

So what’s new for this year?

There are five AirPods upgrades coming in iOS 26:

• Automatic pausing when you fall asleep
• Studio-quality audio recording
• Camera remote
• Automatic switching for CarPlay
• Enhanced voice quality on calls

Each of these additions will be included as free updates through new iOS 26-related firmware.

But several of them are only coming to certain AirPods models

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 will exclusively get three new features

Out of the five new iOS 26 features, three of them will be exclusive to the H2 chip:

1. Studio-quality audio recording
2. Camera remote
3. Enhanced voice quality

Currently, Apple’s H2 chip is only available in two models: AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4.

That means AirPods Max (even the new USB-C version), AirPods 3 and older, and first-gen AirPods Pro won’t get these forthcoming features.

Here’s Apple’s press release confirming this:

Apple today previewed studio-quality audio recording and camera remote features for AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and AirPods Pro 2, delivering new ways to capture content and improving how users communicate. Updates to audio recording enable creators to record studio-quality vocals on the go, and start or stop video recordings from a distance with a simple press of the AirPods stem. Building on the benefits of Voice Isolation, AirPods users will also enjoy even clearer calls with enhanced voice quality.

For more info on the features coming in iOS 26, check out our previous coverage here.

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Which new AirPods features are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.

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