iOS 18 brings new features to AirPods and completely changes what you can do with Apple’s headphones

The next update of Apple’s operating system, iOS 18, not only brings a long list of improvements for your iPhone, but also revolutionizes the use of AirPods with new functionalities to take full advantage of the latest advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning. This fall, when iOS 18 is officially available, your AirPods Pro will offer five changes that will transform the interaction with Apple’s headphones.

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1. Head gestures for hands-free control

With the arrival of iOS 18, the AirPods Pro will learn to do something entirely unique: head gesture control. This feature will allow you to interact with your devices in a completely new and very discreet way. For example, answering or rejecting an incoming call will be as simple as nodding or shaking your head.

Say goodbye to the need to use hands or voice, which is especially useful in situations where speaking is not convenient or when your hands are busy. In addition to calls, these head gestures will integrate extended Siri capabilities, making it easier to manage notifications and messages without the need for verbal or tactile interaction.

2. Voice isolation for even clearer calls

The voice isolation feature that will be implemented in AirPods Pro with iOS 18 will offer even clearer conversations, regardless of the environment. When making a call, the microphones of the AirPods Pro are capable of overriding a wide range of ambient sounds, from nearby conversations to wind noise.

Voice isolation technology uses advanced machine learning algorithms to identify and suppress these unwanted sounds, ensuring that only your voice stands out and is transmitted clearly. This represents a significant improvement when you have to take a call in the middle of a café or in a noisy environment. It’s something that will be especially useful in the context of video calls and virtual meetings, where audio clarity is more important than ever.

3. More granular adaptive audio control

In line with the noise cancellation we just saw, the adaptive audio feature of the AirPods Pro will be more customizable with the iOS 18 update. With what is called Adaptive Audio Control, you can adjust the level of allowed noise based on environmental changes.

You will be able to adjust the levels with greater precision, allowing you to select how much ambient noise you want to block or allow. This is a granularity that undoubtedly improves the listening experience, and that will also allow you to be aware of your surroundings to the extent that you desire. You may want to reduce noise cancellation while walking down the street to be more attentive to traffic, for example, and then increase it while working in a noisy café to better concentrate.

4. Custom spatial audio for games

Custom spatial audio for gaming allows sound to dynamically move in response to the orientation of your head while playing. This is particularly interesting in games where the direction of sound can provide a competitive advantage or simply make the experience more immersive.

In addition to improving immersion, Apple has optimized latency, ensuring that there are no noticeable delays between what you see on the screen and what you hear. It’s a detail that may seem minor, but is vital for fast-paced games that rely on precise synchronization. The AirPods Pro will also improve voice quality during game interactions, offering 16-bit audio quality at 48 kHz, which has a big impact on team communications.

5. Improved headphone mode

Finally, in regards to the field of accessibility, the hearing aid mode is the last of the novelties. Although AirPods already offered a conversation boost feature designed to improve speech clarity for people, the new hearing aid mode goes a step further, adapting AirPods Pro to function as complete hearing assistance devices.

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While we wait for AirPods with a camera, iOS 18 is ready to significantly expand the capabilities of the AirPods Pro. From head gestures to improved noise cancellation, Apple’s headphones will now be much more capable.