Apple AirPods (Pro) expected to get exciting new features with iOS 26, including remote camera control

Apple is expected to announce the biggest operating system updates of the year at WWDC on June 9, including iOS 26 for the iPhone, watchOS 26 for the Apple Watch and macOS 26 for the Mac. In addition to comprehensive design updates and an AI feature designed to extend the iPhone's battery life, Apple is reportedly also planning numerous new features for the fourth-generation AirPods and the AirPods Pro 2.

First and foremost, Apple is said to be introducing a new head gesture that allows the music volume to be increased again after it has been reduced by Apple's "Conversation Awareness" feature when the AirPods detect a conversation taking place. Secondly, the AirPods are expected to automatically recognize when the user falls asleep to pause playback. However, 9to5Mac suggests that this feature may only work if the user is also wearing an Apple Watch that already supports sleep tracking.

Another new supposed feature is the ability to trigger the iPhone camera by pressing the button on the stem of the AirPods Pro while the camera app is open. It is not entirely clear whether this feature will work, i.e., when the AirPods are held in the hand or worn in the ears. Moreover, Apple is reportedly developing a Studio mode that will improve the quality of the microphones, while iPadOS 26 is expected to simplify the connecting of multiple AirPods to the same iPad, which should be particularly useful in classrooms.