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

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Apple today provided developers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers at the current time, and a device running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. The firmware has a build number of 8A5343a, up from 8A5324b.

airpods-pro-2-green.jpg

The firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe.

The AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.

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 the beta testing.

Article Link: Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/19/airpods-beta-firmware-8a5343a/
MacRumors said:
The AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos.
Click to expand...
How much salt should I take this with? I find this claim on par with a phone camera taking medium format quality photos. I guess if you interview in a rigidly controlled environment.
 
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It is beyond baffling that the enabling beta options for the AirPods doesn’t show up anywhere on my phone. I’m on OS26 for every single other Apple device but them. So annoying.
 
Séamus Boyle said:
It is beyond baffling that the enabling beta options for the AirPods doesn’t show up anywhere on my phone. I’m on OS26 for every single other Apple device but them. So annoying.
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You need to have the AirPods connected to your phone. And then you can access all of this either under Bluetooth settings or a new AirPods pane that pops up in Preferences. Then, right at the bottom of the whole AirPods screen, you'll find the beta options.
 
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goonie4life9 said:
I wonder when Apple will start doing public betas for AirPods.
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"All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com."

www.apple.com

AirPods now more versatile with studio-quality audio recording and camera remote

Apple today previewed software updates for AirPods that improve how users communicate and add new ways to capture content.
www.apple.com
 
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iPhone 25e here, w A2698 APP2, on iOS 26 PB4 in central Europe.

Just found the AP beta s/w switch and turned it on. I was on 7 something, after update now APP’s and case are on 8A342b.
 
"Pause Audio for Sleep"

TIL I'm not the only one! BRB showing my girlfriend this is normal 🤣
 
Hello there. I know you can't slip away from main topic but any idea when new firmwares will be realeased for other products? Like... pbp2?
 
" The AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording."

This is what you wrote for the past 4 updates? Do you think this is new? Or has Gurman started to predict the past now?
 
robfoll said:
You need to have the AirPods connected to your phone. And then you can access all of this either under Bluetooth settings or a new AirPods pane that pops up in Preferences. Then, right at the bottom of the whole AirPods screen, you'll find the beta options.
Click to expand...
Yes I know. Ive been doing betas on Apple devices for years. I know my way around all this stuff. It’s bizarre that no matter what I’ve done, it doesn’t show up for me. It did the day the option was first available, I enabled it. Never to be seen again and they never updated. I’ve reset my phone to new, my AirPods to new, etc. very odd.
 
Séamus Boyle said:
Yes I know. Ive been doing betas on Apple devices for years. I know my way around all this stuff. It’s bizarre that no matter what I’ve done, it doesn’t show up for me. It did the day the option was first available, I enabled it. Never to be seen again and they never updated. I’ve reset my phone to new, my AirPods to new, etc. very odd.
Click to expand...

I noticed it showed up on screen when connected to my iPhone in two different places but not at the same time. It may show up in the connected notification bubble at the bottom or in the settings app under AirPods. I saw both.
 
At Apple, we believe that progress is not measured in miles, but in decimals.
And today… with the release of the new beta firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4… we have once again redefined what it means to listen.

This is not just an update. It is a rebirth of sound.
A microscopic reengineering of ones and zeros… transforming every note, every voice, every silence… into an experience so immersive, it feels less like firmware… and more like destiny.

We spent years rethinking… the invisible.
Tuning algorithms at the atomic level. Sculpting waveforms with the precision of a watchmaker.
The result? A firmware so advanced, it makes yesterday’s firmware feel… primitive.

The first time I experienced it… I closed my eyes.
And when I opened them, I realized… I was crying.

This is not just AirPods. This is AirPods… evolved.
With every update, we aren’t simply improving. We are… innovating. Again.
 
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calcu007 said:
It is in public beta, download the ios 26 beta, so it can download the beta for the airpods.
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Hmmm, that's not what the story says: "The firmware is only available to developers at the current time," Could you share the release from Apple that states it is available to public beta testers? That would be helpful.

aloyouis said:
"All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com."

www.apple.com

AirPods now more versatile with studio-quality audio recording and camera remote

Apple today previewed software updates for AirPods that improve how users communicate and add new ways to capture content.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...
Yes, I still wonder when they will actually do it, because that press release was in June and it is now August.
 
This update was the quickest one to ever install. Usually its try with case open. Try with case closed. Repeat. This time it did the update almost immediately and I did almost nothing except check.

Longing for the day when watch updates will be allowed via cellular. I pay for the data Apple, not you.
 
Séamus Boyle said:
Yes I know. Ive been doing betas on Apple devices for years. I know my way around all this stuff. It’s bizarre that no matter what I’ve done, it doesn’t show up for me. It did the day the option was first available, I enabled it. Never to be seen again and they never updated. I’ve reset my phone to new, my AirPods to new, etc. very odd.
Click to expand...
Annoyingly, I can't get the update either. Mine is stuck on 8A324b.
 
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