what are the new features for the airpods in iOS 26 and which airpods are compatible with these features

In iOS 26, several new features have been introduced for AirPods, specifically for those equipped with the H2 chip. Here are the key features:

1. Remote Camera Capture: Users can now use AirPods to remotely capture photos by clicking on the AirPods stem. This feature is available for AirPods with the H2 chip and can be configured in the settings under the Remote Camera Capture section. This allows users to take photos without needing to interact directly with their phones. You can see this feature in action in the session Enhancing your camera experience with capture controls.

2. High-Quality Audio Recording: iOS 26 introduces a new high-quality, high sample rate Bluetooth option for apps that feature audio capture. This is designed specifically for content creators, providing a balance between voice and background sounds, similar to a LAV microphone. This feature is supported in both AV audio session and AVCapture session, and it is available for AirPods with the H2 chip. More details can be found in the session Enhance your app’s audio recording capabilities.

These features are compatible with AirPods that have the H2 chip, enhancing both the camera and audio recording experiences for users.