New AirPods Pro Firmware Enables Conversation Boost, Here's How to Turn It On

[MacRumors]

Apple on Tuesday released firmware version 4A400 for the second-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. On the AirPods Pro, the update enables a new Conversation Boost feature that Apple previewed at WWDC earlier this year.

Apple says Conversation Boost is designed to help people with mild hearing challenges stay more connected in conversations. The feature uses the AirPods Pro's beam-forming microphones to boost the volume of a person talking in front of you, making it easier to listen to a face-to-face conversation, and there is also an option to reduce ambient noise.

How to Turn On Conversation Boost

To turn on Conversation Boost, the AirPods Pro must be updated to firmware version 4A400. AirPods Pro firmware updates are installed over the air, but there is no manual way to force an update. In general, AirPods Pro connected to an iPhone or iPad should automatically update to the latest firmware version after a fairly short period of time. It may help to keep the AirPods Pro in their charging case and connected to a power source.

You can check your ‌‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌‌ firmware by following these steps:

• Connect your ‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌ to your iOS device.
• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on General.
• Tap on About.
• Tap ‌‌‌‌‌on AirPods‌‌‌‌‌.
• Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."

Once the AirPods Pro are updated, Conversation Boost can be turned on by following these steps on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 15 or iPadOS 15:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on Accessibility.
• Tap on Audio/Visual.
• Tap on Headphone Accommodations.
• Scroll down and tap on Transparency Mode.
• Toggle on Conversation Boost.

The new firmware also adds Find My network integration for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.

Article Link: New AirPods Pro Firmware Enables Conversation Boost, Here's How to Turn It On

 

[maxfromdenmark]

Cool! But I’m still trying to upgrade firmware and nothing happens.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

That’s a really cool feature.

 

[Gherkin]

There was that article yesterday about banks being worried about Apple as they took over music players, GPS devices and cameras. Now hearing aid manufacturers are on notice!

I wonder what the price comparison between a hearing aid and AirPods is?

 

[ccraig13]

Looks like a futuristic pulse weapon

 

[jz0309]

cool, will have to check that out

 

[gaximus]

I still find it rude to talk with people with headphones in ears. But this is pretty cool.

 

[Sciomar]

This is what I am in for, great option for people who can't get hearing aids.

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

So is it like Transparency Mode but with extra volume boost from the microphones?

It would be nice if they could detect someone speaking close to you when you have Noise Cancellation on, and allow the voice to breakthrough. That would be super neat. Optional of course so it doesn't happen in certain environments.

 

[adammusic]

Apple please make a good simple easy hearing aid already. My dad can’t hear a thing

 

[I@beck]

This is really a feature that could help people to improve their hearing sense. Good work, Apple!!!!

 

[mattopotamus]

This isn't really related, but boosting conversation made me think about headphones that translate. Is that still something google/apple are working on, so you can just wear headphones and they will automatically translate the language someone speaks?

 

[mattster16]

There was that article yesterday about banks being worried about Apple as they took over music players, GPS devices and cameras. Now hearing aid manufacturers are on notice!

I wonder what the price comparison between a hearing aid and AirPods is?

Hearing aids are extremely expensive and not covered by most insurance (including Medicare). They are prohibitively expensive for many people.

 

[Kylo83]

Why is it so hidden, most people wouldn’t even tho it’s there

 

[hellosil]

Apple please make a good simple easy hearing aid already. My dad can’t hear a thing

Apple probably won't make one, but there are Made for iPhone hearing aid devices with special features in iOS.

There's an article about using Made for iPhone hearing devices:

Use Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support

Use Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids to listen and talk on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro.

support.apple.com

And a list of compatible hearing devices:

List of Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support

These Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids are compatible with iPhone and iPad. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are also compatible with Mac.

support.apple.com

Hope that helps 💚

 

[Mw0103]

There was that article yesterday about banks being worried about Apple as they took over music players, GPS devices and cameras. Now hearing aid manufacturers are on notice!

I wonder what the price comparison between a hearing aid and AirPods is?

Hearing aids are approximately $6,000. This feature is nice in a pinch, but no substitute for true hearing aids.
Hearing aids have to last all day on battery and are programmed to boost the specific frequencies needed for the wearer’s hearing loss, among other things.

 

[cjkastoun]

Would love to get some first-hand feedback on this. My Dad is hard of hearing and I am wondering if this would help.
He has a "generic" hearing aid that's ok (i.e not prescription-based), but I am wondering if these would be a good replacement (even if part-time)

 

[igrover]

There was that article yesterday about banks being worried about Apple as they took over music players, GPS devices and cameras. Now hearing aid manufacturers are on notice!

I wonder what the price comparison between a hearing aid and AirPods is?

Well my Oticon hearing aids cost @ $6,000 for the pair. While certainly overpriced they supposedly do more than just act as a sound amplifier.

 

[cjkastoun]

Well my Oticon hearing aids cost @ $6,000 for the pair. While certainly overpriced they supposedly do more than just act as a sound amplifier.

I hear you. $6,000 hearing aids not an option for my father (for a zillion reasons), so looking for something "good enough" to allow him to communicate a bit and not be totally isolated.

I am hoping the AirPods' amplification works on human voice frequencies and not indiscriminately....

 

[rgomez]

I wonder how is this going to work, being that people can barely understand me when I try to talk (either send a voice message, or a telephone call) with the AirPods on the street. If the microphones can't handle the voice of the person wearing them... can we expect them to work for "outside" persons talking to you?

Haven't been able to try this anyway, or see if the microphone works better with this firmware, as they haven't updated yet...

 

[WaterOz]

I just turned it on and it really boosts all noise around you. I'm sure there's probably an optimal way to adjust all the settings on that page; hopefully someone figures it out and shares it. How it sounds right now is not something I'd want turned on all the time, but maybe if there was a way to create a shortcut for it so it can be turned on quickly when needed, it would be worth using.

 

[msackey]

It’s odd that on my iPhone 12 Pro with updated iOS 15, I can find the Conversation Boost feature. But on my iPad Pro 11 inch also with the latest updated iPadOS 15, Conversation Boost doesn‘t show up in spite of Airpods Pro being connected to the iPad.

(I’m also now noticing that iCloud tabs are no longer showing up, which however is a separate issue, I’d guess.)

Update: Ok, looks like now the Conversation Boost is showing up on the iPad. Maybe it took it a while to “sync” settings, if that is what is supposed to happen between devices. But iCloud tabs still aren’t available and the Reading List on Safari isn’t syncing — separate issue from this AirPods Pro though, I know.

 

[iBug2]

Hearing aids are approximately $6,000. This feature is nice in a pinch, but no substitute for true hearing aids.
Hearing aids have to last all day on battery and are programmed to boost the specific frequencies needed for the wearer’s hearing loss, among other things.

That is actually quite easy to do these days using headphone accomodations and using a specific curve to boost. All those 6500$ hearing aids will go down the drain soon when you can get a similar result from a 200$ Apple gadget. You want all day battery life? Buy 2 Airpods.

 

[kemayo]

The best bargain around on real hearing aids, per my spouse's research when they learned they needed them, is Costco. You can get their hearing aids for ~$1,400, which is fantastically cheaper than most options. If you do need them, they're way better than AirPods Pro -- the batteries last all day, they have complicated hearing profiles that're tuned to your specific hearing loss by a doctor, and they're much more comfortable for long term wear.

That said, AirPods Pro are $250. If you don't strictly need a hearing aid, this sort of feature on the AirPods is probably good-enough for many people with marginal hearing loss. (You can also somewhat apply said hearing profile to AirPods, but I haven't researched how that compares...)

 

[_Spinn_]

Cool feature. It will definitely be helpful for some people.