It’s become common for AirPods to get new features with each major version of iOS. That’s true with iOS 26, especially for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. But it seems iOS 26 also introduces a rarity: an update to how the AirPods charging case works.
AirPods charging case ‘now more clearly indicates charging status,’ per iOS 26 popup
One of iOS 26’s new AirPods-related features involves the battery. There are new charging notifications that let you know when you should charge, and when your AirPods are fully charged. These are similar to existing Dynamic Island battery indicators, but in proper notification form.
But it turns out, there’s also a change coming for the AirPods charging case itself.
Minimal Nerd posted the following image today on X:
The screenshot depicts a new popup seen in iOS 26 beta 5.
It notes three different indicator light colors used for charging status.
- Green: Charged
- Yellow: Charging
- Orange: Charge Case
The differences between yellow and orange are especially subtle, making it unclear whether users will be able to distinguish them. Currently, Apple’s support document only notes green and amber as the indicator colors.
It’s always possible there’s another change being made, but the text on the screenshot implies it’s this new color system. It reads:
The AirPods charging case now more clearly indicates charging status and AirPods will remind you when it’s time to charge.
Juli Clover at MacRumors adds that code in iOS 26 includes this same wording regarding the charging case more clearly indicating status.
Have you noticed anything different with the AirPods charging case in iOS 26? Let us know in the comments.
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