Apple Releases New Firmware for Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro

[MacRumors]

Apple today released new firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro. The Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro now feature firmware version 5B66, up from the prior 5B55 firmware that came out in November 2022.

Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the firmware brings.

There's no standard way to upgrade the ‌Beats‌‌ software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. Putting the Beats‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting them to a power source, and then pairing them‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

If we find notable changes after the firmware update is installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes rather than outward-facing changes.

Article Link: Apple Releases New Firmware for Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro

 

[supergt]

Let me guess: Bug fixes and other improvements

 

[baconlover4]

@MacRumors, any rumors on when/if a new version of the powerbeats pro is in the works? It has been a few years since these have been updated and seem like a candidate product for select AirPods or AirPod pro features to trickle in to.

I love my Powerbeats pro and would consider upgrading them if they got new features. I can’t do AirPods unfortunately because they wouldn’t stay fit in my ear.

 

[TechRemarker]

@MacRumors, any rumors on when/if a new version of the powerbeats pro is in the works? It has been a few years since these have been updated and seem like a candidate product for select AirPods or AirPod pro features to trickle in to.

I love my Powerbeats pro and would consider upgrading them if they got new features. I can’t do AirPods unfortunately because they wouldn’t stay fit in my ear.

Every year I hope for new ones as hate that they still are not usb-c, and that poor case design that results in so often them not charging unless you bend them a certain way when there so the contacts hit properly when the case is closed. Updated chips and some sort of noise cancellation as I've tried every other in ear apple airpod / beats products and all fall out and LOVE music so much so the Powerbeats Pro are my only options. Have tried over ears but they get very uncomfortable and heavy and no option for just one side on.

Alas, the other ones are all so popular and for the vast majority stay in peoples ears, so think Apple is waiting as long as possible to upgrade, presumably once they are forced by the EU to have USB-C.

 

[CaptMarvel]

@MacRumors, any rumors on when/if a new version of the powerbeats pro is in the works? It has been a few years since these have been updated and seem like a candidate product for select AirPods or AirPod pro features to trickle in to.

I love my Powerbeats pro and would consider upgrading them if they got new features. I can’t do AirPods unfortunately because they wouldn’t stay fit in my ear.

Do you have the Beats Fit Pro or are hesitant to try them due to your admiration for the Powerbeats Pro?

The wingtip is a game changer for keeping the Beats Fit Pro in your ears if that is your number one concern.

The only time I use my Powerbeats Pro now is if I accidentally forget my Beats Fits Pro or if I’m on a rain run and it’s a constant steady/heavy rain.

 

[devinher]

Do you have the Beats Fit Pro or are hesitant to try them due to your admiration for the Powerbeats Pro?

The wingtip is a game changer for keeping the Beats Fit Pro in your ears if that is your number one concern.

The only time I use my Powerbeats Pro now is if I accidentally forget my Beats Fits Pro or if I’m on a rain run and it’s a constant steady/heavy rain.

I absolutely love my Beats Fit Pros for exactly that reason. It's a game changer when you never have to worry about them falling out - even when exercising.

Can't say there are any new features I really need. The case sure feels cheap compared to my old AirPods Pro's case but that's not something I'd upgrade for.

 

[headlessmike]

Do you have the Beats Fit Pro or are hesitant to try them due to your admiration for the Powerbeats Pro?

The wingtip is a game changer for keeping the Beats Fit Pro in your ears if that is your number one concern.

The only time I use my Powerbeats Pro now is if I accidentally forget my Beats Fits Pro or if I’m on a rain run and it’s a constant steady/heavy rain.

I love my Beats Fit Pros but my ears are so big that the wings don’t reach the part of my ears that they’re supposed to hook into. So, I with they were longer. They still stay in place though, luckily.

Wonder if the new firmware will help me run faster?

 

[MrMojo1]

The update did Not fix the ANC which isn't good as the APP2's ANC is much, much better, even after new foam tips instead of the OEM silicone tips which are terrible.

 

[CostaMoses]

Same as most others here. Love everything about the beats fit pro's except for the case. Airpods and aipods pro dont stay in my ears, but these fit perfectly.

 

[ToomeyND]

I do love the fits pro, but I refuse to recommend them to others. I had nothing but trouble getting anything that could be considered help (including an inability to quote how much to fix) a known issue with the wings "breaking" to the point where they don't fall off, but the tip itself tears and no longer holds to the ear. I ended up using a relatively heavy-duty super glue to put it back together.

They technically work, and they fit well, but the support was atrocious. They wanted me to mail them in and then would provide an estimate for the cost to update. How on earth Apple doesn't know what it would cost to fix something that has hundreds of posts across forums tells me they don't want to help.

 

[Dave lamar]

I’ve not yet update my PowerBeats pro firmware, so I’m wondering if there are any changes or no features

 

[jforsander]

I do love the fits pro, but I refuse to recommend them to others. I had nothing but trouble getting anything that could be considered help (including an inability to quote how much to fix) a known issue with the wings "breaking" to the point where they don't fall off, but the tip itself tears and no longer holds to the ear. I ended up using a relatively heavy-duty super glue to put it back together.

They technically work, and they fit well, but the support was atrocious. They wanted me to mail them in and then would provide an estimate for the cost to update. How on earth Apple doesn't know what it would cost to fix something that has hundreds of posts across forums tells me they don't want to help.

This is why you get AppleCare+. Then you can request Express Replacement and avoid all this nonsense.

 

[baconlover4]

Do you have the Beats Fit Pro or are hesitant to try them due to your admiration for the Powerbeats Pro?

The wingtip is a game changer for keeping the Beats Fit Pro in your ears if that is your number one concern.

The only time I use my Powerbeats Pro now is if I accidentally forget my Beats Fits Pro or if I’m on a rain run and it’s a constant steady/heavy rain.

I haven’t ever considered them, I’ve had other generations of Powerbeats and like them.

I was actually really surprised by how much the AirPods Pro fell out of my ear. Couldn’t hardly walk or talk and they would fall out.

 

[TRIXXY DIXXY]

I’d love for my Beats Fit Pro’s ‘find my’ to work like the AirPods Pro. At the moment I need to have an AirTag attached to my case in order to reliably track them.

 

[duervo]

There's no standard way to upgrade the ‌Beats‌‌ software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. Putting the Beats‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting them to a power source, and then pairing them‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

Not entirely correct. You can update the firmware by using the Beats App for Android.

When an update is released, a semi-transparent “Update” button appears on top of the product photo of the affected Beats in the app.

You can also view Release Notes for the update. Release Notes for this update simply says, “Feature Enhancements.”

 

[LyndoW76]

@MacRumors, any rumors on when/if a new version of the powerbeats pro is in the works? It has been a few years since these have been updated and seem like a candidate product for select AirPods or AirPod pro features to trickle in to.

I love my Powerbeats pro and would consider upgrading them if they got new features. I can’t do AirPods unfortunately because they wouldn’t stay fit in my ear.

I waited and waited and waited for a new version of the Powerbeats Pro to come out as I absolutely love them for both the sound and also the fact they stay on the ear no matter what I was doing. I did have 2 small issues, I wear glasses and sometimes the over the ear extension annoyed a bit (usually if wearing sunglasses with a thicker arm) and the charging case was massive and was not great in trouser pockets. Despite some rumours a year or 2 ago nothing appeared and finally the left ear bud stopped working properly and wouldn't last more than an hour. So I thought I'd try the Beats Fit pro and wow, they are excellent. The sound is a noticeable improvement and the ANC is great. The fit is brilliant and I've yet to manage to make them fall out, the wingtips really do keep them in place and I usually hate the normal in the ear buds as I never get them to fit properly. Battery is excellent but even better the case is so much smaller they fit in pockets without feeling or looking ridiculous. And the crown on top of it all is the USBc connection. I should have made the move earlier, I wouldn't go back to the Powerbeats now even if they did bring out a new version I think, I prefer not having the over ear loop now and the benefit of the smaller case is hard to ignore. One thing that did bother me with the Beats Fit Pro initially was the lack of volume control like the buttons on the Powerbeats Pro, but you can change what happens when you long press the "b" button and make it a volume control.

 

[C_Topher]

I have the Beats Fit Pro for over a year now and both ”wingtips“ have torn away from the bodies of the earbuds. this seems to be a common problem with Apple charging $90/earbud to fix. I have tried superglue and it worked for a while but tore again. Real bummer. Sound great but cannot recommend.

 

[ToomeyND]

I have the Beats Fit Pro for over a year now and both ”wingtips“ have torn away from the bodies of the earbuds. this seems to be a common problem with Apple charging $90/earbud to fix. I have tried superglue and it worked for a while but tore again. Real bummer. Sound great but cannot recommend.

My post above. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-pro-and-powerbeats-pro.2388467/post-32139102

Completely agreed with you. My glue is still holding for now. We'll see. As much as I enjoy them while they are still functional, I'll be looking elsewhere next time.

 

[Quackington]

How does one know when the FireWire has been updated, since it’s OTA?

 

[whatgift]

I’d love for my Beats Fit Pro’s ‘find my’ to work like the AirPods Pro. At the moment I need to have an AirTag attached to my case in order to reliably track them.

I found this out the hard way last week when I came home from a bike ride wearing one of my BFP earbuds, and I lost the case (with the other earbud inside) somewhere along the way. FindMy only found the earbud I had with me, and I had to retrace my steps the old-fashioned way to find the case (which I was lucky to do in this case).

 

[xidedix]

Official description of recent update https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213752

After updating Beats Fit Pro to 5B66 I'm getting:
- occasional disconnections from my mbp and/or iPhone
- rattle cracky noises a couple of times a day
- occasional short audio interruptions during playback

Beats Fit Pro:
+ sound is pretty good
+ spatial audio works well
- wingtips are almost ok but not as good as my old Bose SoundSport tips
- ANC is crap, it cannot cancel human voices at all, filters maybe 10% of white noises only
- cannot recommend