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iOS 17 AirPods Features: Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness and More

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iOS 17 doesn't just add new features to the iPhone - it also brings new functionality to the AirPods. Most of what's new is for the AirPods Pro 2, but there are a few additions that are for all AirPods.

airpods-memorial-day.jpg

Adaptive Audio

Adaptive Audio, or Adaptive Noise Control, is an AirPods Pro 2 feature that combines Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency into one all-in-one mode that's designed to adjust the volume of what's playing based on what's around you and your interactions throughout the day.

Noise control shifts to drown out environmental sounds that you don't want to hear like the noise of an airplane, while making sure that you don't miss anything you might want to hear like someone speaking.

With AirPods Pro 2 that have updated firmware, activating Adaptive Audio can be done by connecting the AirPods, opening Control Center, long pressing on the volume, and selecting the "Adaptive" option that joins Transparency and Noise Cancellation.

Conversation Awareness

Conversation Awareness is part of Adaptive Audio. It is able to detect when someone is speaking, lowering the volume of the media and cutting down on background noise. This feature also enhances the voices in front of you so you can hear what's going on.

Personalized Volume

Also part of Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume adjusts the sound of what's playing based on personal preferences and the sounds around you. The iPhone is able to learn more about the volume that you prefer over time, tweaking as necessary to match your desired sound level.

Mute and Unmute

If you press the stem of the AirPods Pro or third-generation AirPods, you can mute and unmute yourself while you're on a call. This also works on AirPods Max if you press the Digital Crown.

Automatic Device Switching

The AirPods Pro 2 can automatically switch between Apple devices much quicker in iOS 17.

Dark Mode

In a small but notable change, when you connect AirPods to an iPhone with Dark Mode enabled, the connection popup will also be in Dark Mode.

Usage Notes

Note that a firmware update is required to use these features, and in the case of Adaptive Audio, it is only available for the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware that enables this functionality was released in September 2023.

Read More

More information on the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Article Link: iOS 17 AirPods Features: Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-17-airpods/
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MacRumors said:
Automatic Device Switching

The AirPods Pro 2 can automatically switch between Apple devices much quicker in iOS 17
Click to expand...
Don’t care if it’s faster just want it to work correctly in the first place.

Or even better, to not have to shut this off on each and every device individually and rather tell a set it as a property of the headphones to always connect to the last connected device.
Or even better, let this be a property of the headphones themselves that they'll connect to the last connected device by default always instead of having to connect them to each phone, tablet, and computer and then tell that device to not connect to the Airpods automatically.
 
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My guess is that the quicker switch between devices will happen with the new 5.3 Bluetooth devices, such as the AirPods Pro 2, the latest macs, the iPhone 14, and the M2 iPad Pro. That would make sense.

I stopped using this feature with my AirPods, Solo Pro, 2014 Mac mini and iPhone 8 because the switch between devices was pretty slow and clunky. So I really hope it works flawlessly now on the newer devices.
 
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MrMaxwell said:
Mute and unmute - amazing this took so long!

(Hang on just a moment while we do small talk as I'm walking over to the other side of the planet to get my phone and press the mute button)
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Better late than never. 😂🤣

Wish Apple would take the initiative sometimes rather than being late to the game, but at least they see what does and doesn’t work before launching, unlike competitors which launch without saying a thousand no’s for every yes first.
 
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The feature I wish for absolutely the most is sidetone. (Better description here than I can write: https://headsetadvisor.com/blogs/headset/what-is-sidetone)

Sidetone is a small amount of your own voice that's piped into your ear speaker as you speak. This sound confirms that your microphone is operating properly, and allows you to adjust your speaking volume to a proper level (not too loud, and not too quiet).
Click to expand...

You get sidetone when you talk on your iPhone by itself using the onboard speaker and mic. On AirPods Pro and Max it would enable users to keep ANC on without it sounding like you've got a pillow over your ears.

edit 9/21: Adaptive Audio has sidetone, so I got my wish. It's a great mode for doing phone calls now because it kills at least some of the background noise as necessary, but also pipes in your own voice.
 
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umbilical said:
just curious, if almost everybody charge wireless, why people claim for a USB-C? actually why even those have cable connector, why not remove any port? (serious question).
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Unlike what people here tell you. Wireless charging has a lot of power losses, heats up the battery which is bad and is slower than cable. This is probably the gen who think wireless is magic but truth is it still is inferior to wired. Especially with devices that require data transfers.
 
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umbilical said:
just curious, if almost everybody charge wireless, why people claim for a USB-C? actually why even those have cable connector, why not remove any port? (serious question).
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This! I get it. Everyone wants the fastest speed for everything, but it's usually horrible for the device's life span (Batteries/SSDs/etc). I can't remember the last time I used lightning cable, and I won't be using a USB-C one either.
 
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umbilical said:
just curious, if almost everybody charge wireless, why people claim for a USB-C? actually why even those have cable connector, why not remove any port? (serious question).
Click to expand...
I travel around a bit for work and being able to charge everything I take with me off a single cable would be really useful. Not game changing, but just nice to not have to remember multiple cables.
 
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What I would love are two added functions:
1. App-specific settings for AirPod controls (you’ll see why in a sec)
2. Volume up and down based on which AirPod stem you activate

This is really specific, but I doubt I’m alone. I’d like this for audiobooks while going to sleep.

Each night, I lay in bed and listen to an audiobook. Sometimes, the volume is too low or high, and I’d love to be able to make those fine adjustments without looking for my phone in the dark.

That’s only for when using my audiobook app. When listening to music apps, I’d like the standard functions (hence #1).

A very specific dream, yes, but a do-able one.
 
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