Rumour: Beats will get 'Pause media while falling asleep' feature with the release of iOS 26

iOS 26 will add an auto-pause feature to Beats and AirPods. Source: Beats by Dre

Beats - like AirPods - could get a "Pause media when falling asleep" feature as part of the iOS 26 update this autumn. The headphones will automatically pause playback when they sense the user is falling asleep. This eliminates the need to manually press a button or set a timer.

Here's What We Know

Apple is testing a new feature in iOS 26 - it's called roughly Pause Media When Falling Asleep and is designed for AirPods and Beats. When enabled in the settings, the device automatically detects that the user is falling asleep and pauses music, podcasts or audiobooks. By doing so, it will be an "alternative to a sleep timer" that automatically puts the headphones in silent mode.

This blurs the line between AirPods and Beats - there will be a single menu in settings where you can activate this feature for all eligible iOS 26 devices.

Why it matters

• Smart sleep timer: media is paused just as you fall asleep so you don't scare off sleep, but you won't miss a story either
• Comprehensive UX improvement: one click instead of two, perfect for headphones and those who fall asleep to music.
• Beats + AirPods = one standard: Beats now officially gets one of the most important features of AirPods too

Source: MacRumors