As part of its announcement yesterday at WWDC 2024, iOS 18 is set to bring significant upgrades to the AirPods experience. The new updates will span gaming, interactions with Siri, and voice calls.
Hands-free Siri Interactions
Users will be able to interact with Siri announcements completely hands-free with a set of natural gestures where it can be awkward to speak. While wearing AirPods, users can nod their head yes or gently shake it no to react to Siri announcements. This includes accepting or declining incoming calls, interacting with messages, managing notifications, and more. Siri Interactions are enabled by the H2 chip in select AirPods models, leveraging advanced machine-learning algorithms to detect and understand the head movement of users.
AirPods Voice Isolation
Voice Isolation from the iPhone, Mac, and iPad is set to make its way to AirPods thanks to iOS 18. The H2 chip in the AirPods Pro and machine-learning algorithms in the paired iPhone, iPad, or Mac enable Voice Isolation, eliminating unwanted background noise like wind while simultaneously enhancing voice quality.
Personalized Spatial Audio for Gaming
Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking will now be available for gaming on select AirPods models, providing the same immersive audio experience when listening to music or watching movies and shows for games. Additionally, AirPods Pro now offer the lowest wireless audio latency Apple has ever achieved for mobile gaming.
Gamers using AirPods Pro can also enjoy improved voice quality, including 16-bit, 48kHz audio, for clear communication with teammates and other players. To support games with advanced sound design, a developer API is now available, making it easier to implement the most immersive listening experiences.
Developers can now test these features by downloading the AirPods developer beta, with a public launch scheduled later this fall as a free update. Siri Interactions, Voice Isolation, and improved voice quality are compatible with the 2nd generation AirPods Pro. Personalized Spatial Audio for gaming will be available on 3rd generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
