Useful feature: Airpods and beats plugs lie down

Anyone who likes to make a nap with their Apple or Beats plugs will quickly learn to appreciate a new function planned for iOS 26: In the future, the devices can recognize when the carrier has fallen asleep and then switch off automatically. The function, for which there were already rumors in advance, should work for both Airpods and current beats models. That has Leak expert Steve Moser discovered.

Sleep recognized, podcast paused

It is currently still unclear which beats models the feature support-the studio buds and the Powerbeats Pro 2 are conceivable. Apple has also not yet expressed itself for the Airpods-it remains unclear which generations will receive the function and whether the AirPods Max may also be included. Technically, the headphones’ acceleration sensor is used to determine whether the user moves.

Apple had publicly announced the function at the WWDC 2025 developer conference for the first time, but did not mention Beats products. There will be a switch called “Pause Media when Falling Asleep”. This then ensures that the music, the podcast or the audio book automatically pauses. It is unclear whether the plugs will wake up again automatically and continue playing when the user rises.

Function is automatically activated, new firmware needs

iOS 26 seems to activate the function automatically, as beta testers report. However, a firmware update for airpods and beats is also necessary for use. In iOS 26 and Co., Apple will create the option for the first time to handle firmware updates for its audio devices, so you no longer have to wait.

Apple has not yet announced another new AirPods function: According to the plan, a live translation function for the plugs is rumored. A connected iPhone recognizes the language of the communication partner and then translates it directly. This is done bidirectionally: Users receive the result in the plugs, the translation of their own words is output via the iPhone speaker. When the function appears is still unclear. Apple apparently wanted to avoid shifting when the group announces too many new features.