Apple presents three courses of AirPods to cater to completely different use circumstances and budgets: common, Professional, and Max. However regardless of their measurement, value, 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 find out 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 present in public beta and set to formally launch subsequent month) isn’t any exception. In the event you not too long ago purchased a pair of AirPods Professional 2, you’ve received to take a look at and arrange these seven superior options.
Distant capturing
Probably the most notable AirPods Professional 2 options bundled with this yr’s software program updates is the brand new digicam distant. Just like the Apple Watch’s shortcut, this lets you take photographs and begin or finish video recording periods in your iPhone by merely interacting together with your AirPods. Just like the noise management and Siri button remapping choices, you’ll be able to go for a brief or lengthy stem squeeze to set off the motion.
This characteristic requires each your iPhone and AirPods Professional 2 to be working the most recent software program betas. Since there’s no simple technique 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 fallacious), we advise you to attend for the secure launch coming this fall. However when you insist, you would allow the beta firmware toggle in AirPods settings and look ahead to the method to happen routinely 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’ll be able to press the AirPods Professional 2’s stems to shoot remotely.
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Devoted microphone
One other iOS 26 addition allows you to depend on your AirPods Professional 2 as a studio-quality microphone when recording audio or video. In the event you’ve put in the most recent betas, or are studying this later and waited for the secure releases, you’ll be able to change the audio enter supply in suitable apps through the iPhone’s Management Middle.
I recorded quick talking-head movies utilizing each the built-in iPhone 16 Professional Max mics and the AirPods; the latter’s high quality was noticeably clearer. In the event you casually add YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels and don’t need to put money into devoted gear, you’ll respect the comfort of this characteristic.
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 characteristic 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.
In the event you haven’t received iOS 26 but, you’ll be able to nonetheless set a timer that stops media playback based mostly on a preset variety of hours or minutes to realize an analogous outcome.
Nod controls
To date we’ve targeted on this fall’s iOS 26 replace, which at time of writing is barely obtainable as a beta. However the AirPods Professional 2 additionally supply some neat perks for these working the secure iOS 18 launch.
In case your fingers are sometimes occupied, you’ll need to arrange the reliable Head Gestures characteristic. Launch Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Head Gestures, then allow the characteristic and customise it as wanted.
By default, you’ll be able to 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 supply an Adaptive Audio mode that sits someplace between the extremes of Transparency and Energetic Noise Cancellation (ANC). With this mode, you’ll be able to decrease loud exterior noises whereas letting different sounds by, serving to you keep conscious of your environment with out changing into too distracted.
In the event you’re sad with the default expertise, nonetheless, you’ll be able to customise Adaptive Audio’s depth. In Settings go to [your AirPods’ name] > Adaptive Audio, the place you’ll discover a slider. Drag to the appropriate or left to permit roughly noise to cross by.
Customized Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio (aka Dolby Atmos) is an more and more standard perk obtainable on Apple Music, TV+, and different leisure platforms. Supported by the AirPods Professional 2, the audio format will increase immersion by adjusting the output based mostly in your bodily head actions. What many customers don’t know, nonetheless, is that you would be able to 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 embody scanning your face and ears utilizing a Face ID-enabled iPhone. Happily, the Customized Spatial Audio profile syncs to your entire iCloud units, sparing you from having to set it up a number of instances.
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Help with listening to loss
Final however not least, the AirPods Professional 2 supply a check to detect potential listening to loss. To provoke it, head to the AirPods settings and faucet on Take a Listening to Take a look at. Comply with the highlighted process, which requires you to put on your AirPods and look ahead to audible alerts.
If listening to loss is detected, you’ll be able to allow the Listening to Help characteristic, boosting media quantity and doubling as a listening to help. It’s also possible to toggle Loud Sound Discount to guard your listening to whatever the outcomes of the check.
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
