Over the last two years, AirPods have gotten significantly better thanks to new software updates from Apple. Here’s a rundown of new features you should try that were introduced as part of iOS 18 and iOS 26.
New AirPods features: Head Gestures
Available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4
Starting with iOS 18, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 users can interact with Siri and incoming notifications by nodding their heads up or down.
Accept a call or reply to notifications and messages: Nod your head up and down.
Decline a call or dismiss notifications and messages: Shake your head side to side.
To use head gestures to interact with Siri, you’ll also need to make sure Announce Calls and Announce Notifications are enabled. Open the Settings app and choose “Notifications” and make sure the “Announce Notifications” setting is turned on.
Once the “Announce Notifications” setting is enabled, here’s how to manage Head Gestures:
With your AirPods connected to your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap your AirPods at the top. Scroll down and tap “Head Gestures” Toggle on the feature and choose which gesture is linked to “Accept, Reply” and “Decline, Dismiss.”
Voice Isolation
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