The upcoming iOS 26 adds new features to Apple's AirPods like Pause Audio for Sleep, Camera Remote, Keeping Audio in Headphones, and Improved Call Quality.
To access these new AirPods features early, users can install the iOS 26 beta and update their AirPods firmware to benefit from the enhancements.
Installing the iOS 26 beta on an iPhone or iPad and enabling beta firmware updates for AirPods are the steps required to access the new features ahead of the official release.
These steps enable users to get a preview of the upcoming AirPods features, although being beta, there might be inconsistencies in their functionality.