Snappy Synopsis
Potential advancements in Apple's AirPods lineup: anticipated unveiling next week.
It seems Apple's gearing up to roll out some cool updates for AirPods users, unveiling them at WWDC on June 9th.
Our beloved tech giant's developer conference, WWDC, kicks off on Monday, and we can finally peek at the upcoming versions of Apple's operating systems, like iOS 26.
Looks like this iOS upgrade will bring some noteworthy improvements to AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.
While the updates won't drop for everyone right away, developers will get first dibs. But don't worry, we common folks will have a chance to test drive iOS 26 once the public beta arrives, likely in the end of summer, followed by the official release around the iPhone 17 launch in September.
Looks like it'll be a blast for AirPods owners.
AirPods Magic Awaiting in iOS 26
According to 9to5Mac, we can expect at least some of these updates during Monday's keynote:
- Head Shenanigans: Expanded head gesture support for both AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. Right now, users can nod or shake their head to take calls or brush off notifications. In iOS 26, new head gestures will let users effortlessly end Conversation Awareness volume adjustments, making it a breeze to return to the original noise control settings.[2][1]
- Snap With Your Pods: Taking a photo using your AirPods as a shutter button could be a thing again. So, get ready to take shots simply by giving your AirPod stem a squeeze, in the same vein as the volume controls on the traditional EarBuds.[2][1]
- Snooze Mode: Apple is developing sleep detection to let AirPods auto-pause playback when you snooze. It's unclear if this will function independently or rely on Apple Watch sleep data, but the aim is to create a more user-friendly experience for folks who consume content while drifting off.[2][1]
- Live Language Translation: AirPods connected to an iPhone running iOS 26 will support real-time language translation powered by Apple's AI. This lets AirPods translate between languages on the fly, like Spanish to English, enhancing their usefulness in multilingual conversations. The specific AirPods models this feature will support still needs confirmation, but the functionality will primarily rely on the paired iPhone for processing, with possible added perks on AirPods Pro 3.[5][1]
So, mark your calendars for June 9th, as we'll learn more then!
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- "With the upcoming iOS 26, smartphone users may enjoy using their AirPods as a shutter button for photography, a feature reminiscent of the volume controls on traditional EarBuds."
- "Apple is developing a sleep detection feature for AirPods in iOS 26, which will allow them to auto-pause playback when the user falls asleep, aiming to create a more user-friendly experience for multitasking listeners."
