Amid ongoing uncertainty around when AirPods Pro 3 might finally arrive, one thing is very clear: AirPods Pro 2 just keep getting better. Here’s how the trend of AirPods Pro 2 improvements will continue in iOS 26.
New iOS 26 features coming to AirPods Pro 2
I’m as eager as anyone else for Apple to debut AirPods Pro 3. But if I’m honest, they’ll have a hard time living up to the value I’ve gotten out of their predecessor.
I bought AirPods Pro 2 back in 2022 when they first launched. At the time, upgraded active noise cancellation (ANC) was the biggest draw for me.
But some of my overall favorite AirPods Pro 2 features have arrived post-launch.
Every year, Apple has given AirPods Pro 2 users a handful of new features via firmware updates.
- iOS 17 brought Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume, and more
- iOS 18 added Voice Isolation, Siri Interactions, Hearing Protection, Hearing Aid, and more
In iOS 26, AirPods Pro 2 will gain six new features:
- Battery charging notifications
- Automatic pausing when you fall asleep
- Studio-quality audio recording
- Camera remote
- Automatic switching for CarPlay
- Enhanced voice quality on calls
You can try the new capabilities out now via the public beta.
Pattern of new AirPods features via firmware shows no signs of slowing
We’re all used to getting new iPhone features via software updates. The same goes for the Mac, iPad, and Apple’s other platforms.
But this pattern of adding so many new features to AirPods still surprises me to this day.
Apple no doubt could have sold more AirPods by revving the hardware slightly each year and making new features exclusive to the latest model. We could be on AirPods Pro 5 or 6 by this time if that had happened.
Instead, Apple has set a new precedent and standard for AirPods firmware upgrades.
When AirPods Pro 3 finally do arrive, they’ll no doubt only include a fraction of the new features that will eventually be added via updates.
The new H3 chip could easily prove the most important feature over time, just like AirPods Pro 2’s H2 has been.
But for now, Apple is preparing to ship yet another new wave of AirPods Pro 2 features. And when it does, the three-year-old wireless earbuds will again prove one of Apple’s best value products.
Which of iOS 26’s new AirPods Pro 2 features are you most interested in? Let us know in the comments.
Best AirPods Pro deals and accessories
- AirPods Pro 2 (now only $169, down from $249)
- Memory foam AirPods Pro eartips for a more comfortable fit
- Magnetic strap neckband for preventing lost AirPods
- AirFly Pro 2 for connecting AirPods to standard headphone jacks
- Belemay leather case for AirPods Pro
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