Apple offers three classes of AirPods to cater to different use cases and budgets: regular, Pro, and Max. But despite their size, price, and surname, the AirPods Max actually pack fewer features than the AirPods Pro 2. All too often underrated, the Pro models are packed with cool features you probably don’t know about.
With every annual OS release, Apple continues to introduce new perks, many of which are exclusive to the latest Pro model, and iOS 26 (currently in public beta and set to officially launch next month) is no exception. If you recently bought a pair of AirPods Pro 2, you’ve got to check out and set up these seven advanced features.
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Remote shooting
One of the most notable AirPods Pro 2 features bundled with this year’s software updates is the new camera remote. Like the Apple Watch’s shortcut, this enables you to take photos and start or end video recording sessions on your iPhone by simply interacting with your AirPods. Similar to the noise control and Siri button remapping options, you can opt for a short or long stem squeeze to trigger the action.
This feature requires both your iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 to be running the latest software betas. Since there’s no easy way to downgrade AirPods to the previous firmware (making updating a one-way ticket for most users) or revive a bricked pair (if something goes wrong), we advise you to wait for the stable release coming this fall. But if you insist, you could enable the beta firmware toggle in AirPods settings and wait for the process to occur automatically while charging them.
Once updated, open Settings on your iPhone and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Camera Remote, and choose between Press Once and Press and Hold. Now, whenever you’re in the Camera app (and within Bluetooth range), you can press the AirPods Pro 2’s stems to shoot remotely.
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
Dedicated microphone
Another iOS 26 addition lets you rely on your AirPods Pro 2 as a studio-quality microphone when recording audio or video. If you’ve installed the latest betas, or are reading this later and waited for the stable releases, you can change the audio input source in compatible apps via the iPhone’s Control Center.
I recorded short talking-head videos using both the built-in iPhone 16 Pro Max mics and the AirPods; the latter’s quality was noticeably clearer. If you casually upload YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels and don’t want to invest in dedicated gear, you’ll appreciate the convenience of this feature.
Snooze detection
iOS 26 also caters to those who listen to music or podcasts privately when they go to bed. After updating the software on your iPhone and AirPods Pro 2, the system can optionally pause your media when it detects that you’ve fallen asleep. The feature presumably functions by monitoring your body’s movement using the AirPods Pro 2’s motion-detecting accelerometer.
To enable it, head to Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name], then enable the Pause Media When Falling Asleep toggle.
If you haven’t got iOS 26 yet, you can still set a timer that stops media playback based on a preset number of hours or minutes to achieve a similar result.
Nod controls
So far we’ve focused on this fall’s iOS 26 update, which at time of writing is only available as a beta. But the AirPods Pro 2 also offer some neat perks for those running the stable iOS 18 release.
If your hands are often occupied, you’ll want to set up the dependable Head Gestures feature. Launch Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Head Gestures, then enable the feature and customize it as needed.
By default, you can move your head up and down to accept a call or reply to certain announced notifications. Meanwhile, a side-to-side head movement will decline calls and dismiss alerts.
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
Adaptive Audio tweaks
The AirPods Pro 2 offer an Adaptive Audio mode that sits somewhere between the extremes of Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). With this mode, you can minimize loud external noises while letting other sounds through, helping you stay aware of your surroundings without becoming too distracted.
If you’re unhappy with the default experience, however, you can customize Adaptive Audio’s intensity. In Settings go to [your AirPods’ name] > Adaptive Audio, where you’ll find a slider. Drag to the right or left to allow more or less noise to pass through.
Personalized Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio (aka Dolby Atmos) is an increasingly popular perk available on Apple Music, TV+, and other entertainment platforms. Supported by the AirPods Pro 2, the audio format increases immersion by adjusting the output based on your physical head movements. What many users don’t know, however, is that you can calibrate the Spatial Audio output to match your head’s structure.
Open Settings and go to [your AirPods’ name] > Personalized Spatial Audio, then follow the on-screen instructions, which include scanning your face and ears using a Face ID-enabled iPhone. Fortunately, the Personalized Spatial Audio profile syncs to all of your iCloud devices, sparing you from having to set it up multiple times.
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
Assistance with hearing loss
Last but not least, the AirPods Pro 2 offer a test to detect potential hearing loss. To initiate it, head to the AirPods settings and tap on Take a Hearing Test. Follow the highlighted procedure, which requires you to wear your AirPods and wait for audible signals.
If hearing loss is detected, you can enable the Hearing Assistance feature, boosting media volume and doubling as a hearing aid. You can also toggle Loud Sound Reduction to protect your hearing regardless of the results of the test.
Mahmoud Itani / Foundry
