Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware

[sdm1985]

Updated a couple days ago, I haven’t even connected it to power or charged it for a few days. I was flying yesterday and the noise was still coming through on ANC.

 

[AlessandroV]

My AirPods Pro 2 USB-C case firmware keeps downgrading and upgrading on its own after updating to 6B34 (did it on release day). When this happens, AirPods microphone stops working properly, for example: during a call people hear me very low, they literally don’t understand what I’m saying or don’t hear me at all. To fix this, I have to put both AirPods in the case, close it and bring them out again, doing this the case firmware returns to v. 61.3.0 and the AirPods microphone starts working again as it should.

Is it a known issue or someone is experiencing this?
Can I do something to fix this?

 

[AJTC]

I think this firmware update makes music sound muffled. It could do with more treble I think. Vocals don’t sound clear at all.

 

[Vrharley]

This airpod pro gen 2 update is suppose to fix adding replacement airpod to hour case if you loose one and try adding a replacement. You could not on last firmware version. As in my instance i lost one and one and the new one would not pair and gave me case mismatch error so they gave me a brand new usb c airpod pro gen 2 set. my old ones were lighting cable.

 

[pistafox]

I'm 100% noise cancelling is dramatically worse since the firmware update about 3 updates ago, since then we're getting monthly updates.

You're 110% correct. Noise cancelling has taken a few hits via firmware throughout the year. The unofficial/rumored/speculative explanation is that there's been some legal haggling between Apple and Jabra over patents. Apple's response has been to, technically speaking, nerf the Pro's ANC via firmware updates. I've been hoping Apple throws money at the situation to make it go away but, since Jabra's tech is used by the DOD, it's probably "complicated" in ways unlike most Apple patent disputes.

 

[pistafox]

Still:

• "Bug fixes and other improvements" are vague and do not qualify as actual "release notes". And,
• no manual update method

Major lack of transparency for sure. It's been confirmed that several AirPod Pro firmware updates have intentionally decreased functionality of, specifically, ANC (due to ongoing patent disputes). The increasingly vague release notes and history of making the product objectively worse via updates is not a good look. I bought these for their, arguably, best in class ANC and the upgraded transparency mode which has, actually, been pretty frickin' great for cycling. The ANC has gotten worse, and most updates require tweaking of the obscure "EQ settings" to restore music quality. I've felt less like the owner of this product than a subscriber to an app service with sus developer motives.

Oh, and I finally got the damn things to update after brute forcing it for a while through Sonoma. iOS on two phones and iPadOS failed to install both this and the previous update.

 

[Grayburn]

You're 110% correct. Noise cancelling has taken a few hits via firmware throughout the year. The unofficial/rumored/speculative explanation is that there's been some legal haggling between Apple and Jabra over patents. Apple's response has been to, technically speaking, nerf the Pro's ANC via firmware updates. I've been hoping Apple throws money at the situation to make it go away but, since Jabra's tech is used by the DOD, it's probably "complicated" in ways unlike most Apple patent disputes.

A few hits 😄

It got ruined on the original Pro's, which were amazing on the first firmware, and its gradually gotten worse with every 'update' since.