Apple's upcoming iOS 18 software update is packed with features for supported iPhones, but it also promises to enhance your AirPods Pro experience with a suite of sophisticated new capabilities derived from machine learning advancements and AI enhancements.
The following five features for AirPods Pro are expected to arrive later this year when iOS 18 is released to the general public in the fall.
1. Head Gestures
Apple is set to introduce new head gestures, allowing users to control their AirPods Pro hands-free without speaking. These gestures will enable you to nod your head up and down or shake it left to right to answer or decline a call. Siri interactions will also be expanded, allowing users to manage calls, messages, and notifications seamlessly, all without speaking a word.
2. Voice Isolation
Apple is bringing its iPhone calling feature, Voice Isolation, to the AirPods Pro in iOS 18. This feature aims to make your voice clearer to the person you're speaking to, even in noisy environments. The microphones on AirPods Pro will utilize machine learning to distinguish and block ambient noise, ensuring that your voice comes through clearly.
3. Personalized Spatial Audio for Gaming
Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking will soon be available for gaming across AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. This feature, already loved by users for music and video, will now enhance the gaming experience. Gamers using AirPods Pro will benefit from Apple’s best-ever wireless audio latency for mobile gaming and improved voice quality, including 16-bit, 48kHz audio for clear communication with teammates. Game developers can also incorporate spatial audio into their games for a more immersive experience.
4. Granular Adaptive Audio Control
The second-generation AirPods Pro currently feature Adaptive Audio, which adjusts sound and active noise cancellation based on your environment. With iOS 18, users will gain more control over this feature through a new "Customize Adaptive Audio" menu, allowing them to fine-tune the settings for more or less noise, depending on their preference.
5. Hearing Aid Mode
According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iOS 18 will introduce a "hearing aid mode" for AirPods Pro. While AirPods Pro already offer a Conversation Boost feature to enhance the volume and clarity of people directly in front of the wearer, the new mode will further position the earbuds as a hearing aid device, expanding their utility for users with hearing difficulties.
These upcoming features in iOS 18 highlight Apple’s commitment to enhancing the functionality and versatility of the AirPods Pro. From improved communication capabilities with head gestures and voice isolation to enhanced gaming audio and personalized controls, these updates promise to significantly improve the user experience.
News Source: MacRumors.com
