Apple provides three lessons of AirPods to cater to totally different use circumstances and budgets: common, Professional, and Max. However regardless of their dimension, worth, and surname, the AirPods Max truly pack fewer options than the AirPods Professional 2. All too usually underrated, the Professional fashions are full of cool options you in all probability don’t learn about.
With each annual OS launch, Apple continues to introduce new perks, lots of that are unique to the most recent Professional mannequin, and iOS 26 (at the moment in public beta and set to formally launch subsequent month) isn’t any exception. If you happen to just lately purchased a pair of AirPods Professional 2, you’ve received to take a look at and arrange these seven superior options.
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Distant capturing
One of the vital notable AirPods Professional 2 options bundled with this 12 months’s software program updates is the brand new digital camera distant. Just like the Apple Watch’s shortcut, this allows you to take images and begin or finish video recording classes in your iPhone by merely interacting together with your AirPods. Much like the noise management and Siri button remapping choices, you possibly can go for a brief or lengthy stem squeeze to set off the motion.
This function requires each your iPhone and AirPods Professional 2 to be operating the most recent software program betas. Since there’s no simple method to downgrade AirPods to the earlier firmware (making updating a one-way ticket for many customers) or revive a bricked pair (if one thing goes mistaken), we advise you to attend for the secure launch coming this fall. However in the event you insist, you may allow the beta firmware toggle in AirPods settings and watch for the method to happen mechanically whereas charging them.
As soon as up to date, open Settings in your iPhone and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Digicam Distant, and select between Press As soon as and Press and Maintain. Now, everytime you’re within the Digicam app (and inside Bluetooth vary), you possibly can press the AirPods Professional 2’s stems to shoot remotely.
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Devoted microphone
One other iOS 26 addition enables you to depend on your AirPods Professional 2 as a studio-quality microphone when recording audio or video. If you happen to’ve put in the most recent betas, or are studying this later and waited for the secure releases, you possibly can change the audio enter supply in appropriate apps by way of the iPhone’s Management Middle.
I recorded brief talking-head movies utilizing each the built-in iPhone 16 Professional Max mics and the AirPods; the latter’s high quality was noticeably clearer. If you happen to casually add YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels and don’t need to spend money on devoted gear, you’ll respect the comfort of this function.
Snooze detection
iOS 26 additionally caters to those that hearken to music or podcasts privately once they go to mattress. After updating the software program in your iPhone and AirPods Professional 2, the system can optionally pause your media when it detects that you just’ve fallen asleep. The function presumably capabilities by monitoring your physique’s motion utilizing the AirPods Professional 2’s motion-detecting accelerometer.
To allow it, head to Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name], then allow the Pause Media When Falling Asleep toggle.
If you happen to haven’t received iOS 26 but, you possibly can nonetheless set a timer that stops media playback primarily based on a preset variety of hours or minutes to attain the same outcome.
Nod controls
To date we’ve targeted on this fall’s iOS 26 replace, which at time of writing is simply out there as a beta. However the AirPods Professional 2 additionally provide some neat perks for these operating the secure iOS 18 launch.
In case your palms are sometimes occupied, you’ll need to arrange the reliable Head Gestures function. Launch Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Head Gestures, then allow the function and customise it as wanted.
By default, you possibly can transfer your head up and down to simply accept a name or reply to sure introduced notifications. In the meantime, a side-to-side head motion will decline calls and dismiss alerts.
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Adaptive Audio tweaks
The AirPods Professional 2 provide an Adaptive Audio mode that sits someplace between the extremes of Transparency and Lively Noise Cancellation (ANC). With this mode, you possibly can reduce loud exterior noises whereas letting different sounds by means of, serving to you keep conscious of your environment with out turning into too distracted.
If you happen to’re sad with the default expertise, nonetheless, you possibly can customise Adaptive Audio’s depth. In Settings go to [your AirPods’ name] > Adaptive Audio, the place you’ll discover a slider. Drag to the precise or left to permit kind of noise to move by means of.
Customized Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio (aka Dolby Atmos) is an more and more widespread perk out there on Apple Music, TV+, and different leisure platforms. Supported by the AirPods Professional 2, the audio format will increase immersion by adjusting the output primarily based in your bodily head actions. What many customers don’t know, nonetheless, is that you could calibrate the Spatial Audio output to match your head’s construction.
Open Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Customized Spatial Audio, then observe the on-screen directions, which embrace scanning your face and ears utilizing a Face ID-enabled iPhone. Happily, the Customized Spatial Audio profile syncs to all your iCloud gadgets, sparing you from having to set it up a number of occasions.
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Help with listening to loss
Final however not least, the AirPods Professional 2 provide a take a look at to detect potential listening to loss. To provoke it, head to the AirPods settings and faucet on Take a Listening to Check. Comply with the highlighted process, which requires you to put on your AirPods and watch for audible indicators.
If listening to loss is detected, you possibly can allow the Listening to Help function, boosting media quantity and doubling as a listening to support. You too can toggle Loud Sound Discount to guard your listening to whatever the outcomes of the take a look at.
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