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Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4

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Apple today released new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 8B5034f.

AirPods-Pro-Beta-Firmware-2.jpg

Apple is not testing any iOS updates right now, so it is unclear what's in the AirPods firmware beta.

With iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates beta testing.

Developers can use the beta option to turn on beta downloads.

Article Link: Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/12/apple-airpods-beta-firmware-8b5034f/
  • Wow
Reactions: Z-4195
Love it! Hopefully this will prevent pesky Android users from eavesdropping on us while listening to music on the bus/train/subway/tram/plane/car/ferry/taxi/metro/coach/boat/rideshare/hoverboard/skateboard/e-scooter/ship/yacht.

I love a good chardonnay on a yacht in the south of France.
 
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Reactions: Letrix, Mighuel, ixrated and 6 others
Isentropic said:
Here I am enjoying my firmware-free wired headphones connected to my 160 GB iPod Classic. Still works reliably after many years with no need for “updates”.
Click to expand...

Apple still manufactures and sells wired earpods in 3.5mm, Lightning, and USB-C versions!
 
Isentropic said:
Here I am enjoying my firmware-free wired headphones connected to my 160 GB iPod Classic. Still works reliably after many years with no need for “updates”.
Click to expand...
Yes, and two Campbell's soup can with a taut wire doesn't require firmware updates either, but it doesn't mean it is a superior experience.
 
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Reactions: jhwalker
Anyone know what to do if my AirPods Pro 2 STILL don't have the more direct beta firmware updates toggle in the AirPods settings that should have appeared since the 26.0 betas? I still have to enable developer mode and turn them on through there, which update after a very long while and very frequently require me to re-enable it repeatedly.
 
Likely enabling hearing aid support in Canada. Apple just cleared the regulatory hurdles after years of working on it.
 
d4cloo said:
How do you put music on it? You use an old machine with macOS/iTunes?
Click to expand...
Every single Mac sold today at your local Apple Store can sync any iPod back to the 3rd gen released in 2003.

All iPods back to the first one in 2001 can be synced with Sequoia below to Catalina in Finder. Tahoe drops FireWire support so it's just USB-syncable iPods (2003 3rd Gen and later).

The music comes from the Music App, Podcasts from Podcasts, etc, etc. The Music app still has basically all of the music related functionality that iTunes had including ripping CDs or buying music from the very much still alive iTunes Store.

If one has an Intel Mac, one could also use Bootcamp and use iTunes 12.13.9.1, released just three months ago.
 
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qacjared said:
Every single Mac sold today at your local Apple Store can sync any iPod back to the 3rd gen released in 2003.

All iPods back to the first one in 2001 can be synced with Sequoia below to Catalina in Finder. Tahoe drops FireWire support so it's just USB-syncable iPods (2003 3rd Gen and later).

The music comes from the Music App, Podcasts from Podcasts, etc, etc. The Music app still has basically all of the music related functionality that iTunes had including ripping CDs or buying music from the very much still alive iTunes Store.

If one has an Intel Mac, one could also use Bootcamp and use iTunes 12.13.9.1, released just three months ago.
Click to expand...

That’s kinda awesome! I had no idea. Thanks.
 
I finally figured it out! I added my music to the Apple Music app instead of iTunes, then used the Apple Devices app to sync everything to my iPhone.
 
What should the version number be in the settings app of this new firmware? Should it literally be "8B5034f"? Because the latest stable firmware is "8B34" but my AirPods Pro 3 have "8B34f" which is different from both the stable version and this new beta version.
 
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