Maximizing Your Sound Experience: Exploring the Latest AirPods Features

New Features for AirPods with iOS 18

Head Gestures

• Availability: AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
• Functionality: Nod your head up or down to accept a call, reply to notifications, or messages. Shake your head side to side to decline calls or dismiss notifications.
• Setup: Enable 'Announce Notifications' in the Settings app under 'Notifications.' Then, manage Head Gestures from the AirPods settings.

Voice Isolation

• Availability: AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
• Functionality: Enhances voice quality by isolating your voice and removing background noise during calls.
• Setup: Access Control Center, tap 'Controls,' and select 'Voice Isolation.'

Gaming Improvements

• Availability: AirPods 3, AirPods 4, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max
• Functionality: Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for a more immersive gaming experience. Improved voice quality (16-bit, 48kHz audio) and reduced latency for AirPods Pro 2.
• Setup: Enable 'Personalized Spatial Audio' in the AirPods settings.

Custom Adaptive Audio

• Availability: AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
• Functionality: Customize the balance between noise cancellation and transparency mode to control the level of ambient sound.
• Setup: Adjust the slider in 'Adaptive Audio' settings to allow for 'Less Noise' or 'More Noise.'

Hearing Health

• Availability: AirPods Pro 2
• Functionality: Take a hearing test and use AirPods Pro as a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss. Personalized hearing profiles are automatically applied to audio content across devices.
• Setup: Follow the in-app instructions to take the hearing test and set up the hearing aid feature.