Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 1 and AirPods Max

[lanomds1]

My AirPods Max sounds great, ANC is working properly as well After this update,

 

[OneDunya]

I hope it improves the Bluetooth connection with the AirPods Pro on my iPhone 14 Pro. It keeps dropping my connection and stuttering and latency are an issue as well.

 

[ignatius345]

My AirPods Max sounds great, ANC is working properly as well After this update,

It's notoriously hard to compare (unless you had two pairs of the same headphones running different firmware) -- but subjectively I think the ANC on my AirPods Max is stronger now. I also like the less harsh Siri tone.

 

[mjs916]

Updating these 1st gen Pro's is a real pain. They just won't update? Any way to install an update other than plugging into a charger and hoping??

Well, see you skipped straight to hoping after plugging in.

The correct order is: wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin’!

(Bad joke referencing an old song for anyone that doesn’t get it… I’ll see myself out)

FWIW I charged mine to 100% but the case to around 80. Plugged in, flipped the case open, went to settings, general, about , my AirPods and just sat there. Took a team meeting on my PC and when it was over I checked and they were updated.

 

[mjs916]

I kept listening to music, they updated..

My wife just told me that hers were up to date already and she listened to a sleep aid app most of the night, then put back in the case and closed it. It was never connected to a charger yet it updated. 🤷🏾‍♂️

 

[doublemycoresplz]

My APP2 are exactly the same post update than they were before with regard to ANC. It's definitely not worse at all. I think it is kind of funny that people with the same device have so many different "experiences" after such an update.

Btw, in case you follow other audio communities / forums or even reddit with regard to audio, you have the exact same reactions there after each update. "My XM4 have way worse ANC than before" yadda yadda yadda.

There can be many reasons for a perceived reduction (and improvement too btw) for something like ANC performance that it is way too easy to say "it's the update's fault". It can be a bad seal, a bad fit, even just a regular bad day for your own ears etc. Even a defect is possible as well as clogged speaker/microphone grills... The list is endless, really.

Ultimately, it cannot be just the update's fault if many people say that nothing has changed for them, some even say it got better for them and some say it got worse. So, yeah.

There are also many reasons for a perceived placebo where it sounds like ANC wasn't reduced in this firmware update. However, it was. See my post on the empirical analysis used to determine the ANC reduction.

 

[doublemycoresplz]

In my case the firmware update results in poor ANC performance for my APP2. I can clearly hear the metro train now when I’m working in the office. ANC is really the only feature I need and use! This was not the case with the old firmware. Already complained in the Apple Store Berlin and online. Apple Store Berlin offered to change my AirPods.

It's unfortunate to see ANC reduced so much in this firmware update, but if we keep leaving feedback we can bring it to the attention of more people at Apple.

 

[PauloSera]

In my case the firmware update results in poor ANC performance for my APP2. I can clearly hear the metro train now when I’m working in the office. ANC is really the only feature I need and use! This was not the case with the old firmware. Already complained in the Apple Store Berlin and online. Apple Store Berlin offered to change my AirPods.

I just now noticed what I think is the same thing.

 

[doublemycoresplz]

I’m on the 4 train now in NYC. I have my air pod pros 1st gen updated and I can’t hear anything but my music. Not the train or anyone around me and I have my volume 4-5 down from max. Don’t see what everyone else is seeing about the ANC. If anything, I think it might be better than it was yesterday.

If you couldn't hear anything before the update, and can't hear anything after the update, your analysis is invalid. To test for partial ANC reduction you need to test with sounds you can hear while ANC is enabled.

The consensus is that this new firmware update significantly diminished active noise cancellation (ANC) for Airpods Pro 2 (APP2). This is likely a response to the evolving Jabra v. Apple lawsuit regarding allegedly stolen ANC technology.

 

[doublemycoresplz]

Reposting this for anyone just jumping in the chat:

Updated my 2nd Gen AirPods Pro yesterday and the ANC has been clearly ruined. I compared to my 1st gen and they removed same amount of noise. Super frustrating.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you’re having the same ANC issue go report it here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods/

It takes 2 minutes and Apple actually reads those, unlike this thread lol

 

[pinkkie]

the ANC has been clearly ruined. I compared to my 1st gen and they removed same amount of noise

can't wait till you post the results of the measurements you made

 

[RottenAddict]

What will be nerfed this time?
Really Apple - where is switch to prevent update of headphones and accessories?

We need right to repair and downgrade SW / prevent updates

Especially since we are now all software beta testers since the proliferation of “agile” software development.

It’s sad we all largely accepted a closed software system and as a result lost control of our hardware. Not even considering traditional right to repair.

How will Apple continue to grow when there is no more room left for optimization and cost cutting? AR or Advertising? I think the latter, despite the rumors, I don’t believe AR will takeover the market until you can fit the tech inside a pair of glasses.

 

[Jakbe12]

APP1 here. New fw makes it much more crisper sound. Slightley better ANC. First time I have notice a positive update for APP1 since launch day.

 

[randomnut]

Wow I wondered why I thought my ANC was broken today. I had to keep checking it was enabled as it is so much worse, like it’s barely even on.

This is on original AirPods Pro. Wow they have completely broken ANC in this update. This is ridiculous, they just trying to force us to upgrade to APP2? Absolutely no way when they push out an update that deliberately nerfs a perfectly working feature like this.

Extremely disappointed, in this firmware APP1 perform like a $20 set of earphones.

 

[aevan]

Still early, but I feel the connection is better with my AirPods Max. I used to have more BT interference. Also, it feels like ANC is slightly better, but just like with those reporting that it's worse, it's probably a placebo. Either way, so far - nothing broken, things fixed or maybe fixed.

 

[doublemycoresplz]

Wow I wondered why I thought my ANC was broken today. I had to keep checking it was enabled as it is so much worse, like it’s barely even on.

This is on original AirPods Pro. Wow they have completely broken ANC in this update. This is ridiculous, they just trying to force us to upgrade to APP2? Absolutely no way when they push out an update that deliberately nerfs a perfectly working feature like this.

Extremely disappointed, in this firmware APP1 perform like a $20 set of earphones.

The active noise cancellation (ANC) was also reduced on the Airpods Pro 2 with this firmware update. It's likely the ANC reduction is Apple's response to the Jabra v. Apple lawsuit in which it's alleged that Apple is infringing on Jabra's ANC technology.

I would report the ANC reduction here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods/

^It takes less than 2 mins and together we can force Apple to restore the active noise cancellation that it just nerfed with this update.

 

[Tagbert]

If you couldn't hear anything before the update, and can't hear anything after the update, your analysis is invalid. To test for partial ANC reduction you need to test with sounds you can hear while ANC is enabled.

The consensus is that this new firmware update significantly diminished active noise cancellation (ANC) for Airpods Pro 2 (APP2). This is likely a response to the evolving Jabra v. Apple lawsuit regarding allegedly stolen ANC technology.

Consensus!?

that seems like a reach.

 

[tenlow]

There are also many reasons for a perceived placebo where it sounds like ANC wasn't reduced in this firmware update. However, it was. See my post on the empirical analysis used to determine the ANC reduction.

It seems we have different definitions of „empirical analysis“

Show me measurements and graphs (just like rtings did with the Airpods Max e.g). which undoubtedly prove that the „significant reduction“ has taken place with this firmware update.

As long as there‘s no real evidence on that besides (some) people talking about their very own experiences on the internet, there’s no point in talking about empirical facts. Not enough for me sorry. It might be for you, though. Fine with me.

Besides that, rest assured that many more peope, including myself here, would (fairy easily) be able to tell the difference to before the update, especially if it was that significant Mine block out the same amount of noise, sorry. That’s not trying to defend Apple or anything like it. If they were to reduce ANC performance (again), they should be called out for it. I’m just certain that this hasn’t happened with this update.

But I‘m all up for empirical data showing me that I’m wrong

 

[Fatboy71]

I haven't used my APM for the past 2 weeks. When I took it out today to update it, it had 91% of charge. It has 4E71 FW.

A similar thing happened to me when I was on holiday for 1 week. It had lost 10 percent over the period of 7 days. Which is the same amount my AirPods Max lose over a 24 hour period, really strange!

 

[Lioness~]

Last time I did nothing, they upgraded all of themselves.
Why even care. They are supposed to upgrade in the background all by themselves.
So I don’t bother anymore.

 

[doublemycoresplz]

Show me measurements and graphs (just like rtings did with the Airpods Max e.g). which undoubtedly prove that the „significant reduction“ has taken place with this firmware update.

...

Besides that, rest assured that many more peope, including myself here, would (fairy easily) be able to tell the difference to before the update, especially if it was that significant ...

First, as stated before, see my previous post for empirical analysis showing that this firmware update for Airpods Pro 2 significantly decreased the active noise cancellation.

Second, many people can tell the difference. In fact, there's dozens of people complaining in this thread about this firmware update reducing the active noise cancellation capabilities of their Airpods Pro 2.

We value your anecdotal opinion, but it's clear this firmware update reduced active noise cancellation.

 

[Kissmo1980]

I remember when I bought App 1 - the ANC was super strong. I was was walking on a very noisy street and couldn’t hear anything.
Then FW updates came….
After the first 3 it became so bad, I was so disappointed….

And thus - I did not care for APP2 anymore.
In the pursuit of longer battery life, they kill the strength.
Even though the earbuds end up dead in 2-3 years anyway….

 

[tenlow]

First, as stated before, see my previous post for empirical analysis showing that this firmware update for Airpods Pro 2 significantly decreased the active noise cancellation.

Second, many people can tell the difference. In fact, there's dozens of people complaining in this thread about this firmware update reducing the active noise cancellation capabilities of their Airpods Pro 2.

Case closed.

I haven't seen any empirical evidence. Talk again when you have some. Case closed

 

[doublemycoresplz]

I haven't seen any empirical evidence. Talk again when you have some. Case closed

I pointed you to the empirical analysis demonstrating the ANC is significantly reduced in this firmware update. Thanks for trolling.

 

[doublemycoresplz]

I remember when I bought App 1 - the ANC was super strong. I was was walking on a very noisy street and couldn’t hear anything.
Then FW updates came….
After the first 3 it became so bad, I was so disappointed….

And thus - I did not care for APP2 anymore.
In the pursuit of longer battery life, they kill the strength.
Even though the earbuds end up dead in 2-3 years anyway….

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you’re having the same ANC issue go report it here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods/

It takes less than two minutes.