Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Beta Firmware With Support for iOS 18 Features

Apple today released a third beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, including both the Lightning and USB-C versions. The updated firmware has a build number of 7A5266c, up from 7A5244b, and it is available to developers at the current time. This is the third firmware update that Apple has released since announcing new ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 features in June.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware
There are multiple features that are coming to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 as part of iOS 18, and these features are included in the firmware update.

With head gestures, users can control Siri on the ‌AirPods Pro‌ with a shake or a nod of the head. If you get a phone call, for example, you can shake your head no if you don't want to answer it, or nod to accept the call. ‌Siri‌ interactions can be used for responding to incoming messages, calls, and notifications.

Apple is adding Voice Isolation to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ to cut down on loud background sounds to make you easier to hear, and there is a new Personalized Spatial Audio feature specific to gaming. Game developers will be able to incorporate spatial audio into their games for a more immersive audio experience.

The new firmware requires a device running ‌iOS 18‌ to install, and it won't be available to the public until this fall.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Launch Is Just One Month Out – Here's Everything We Know

Saturday August 10, 2024 5:00 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series in the fall, and a possible September 10 announcement date has been floated this year, which means we are just one month away from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design...
macbook pro bb cyber

Apple's M3 MacBook Pro Gets Up to $1,000 Off In Major New Sales, Starting at $1,299 [Updated]

Sunday August 11, 2024 1:54 pm PDT by
Apple's M3 MacBook Pro is seeing multiple high value discounts on Best Buy and Amazon today, with up to $1,000 off select models. This includes a new all-time low price on the entry-level M3 512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,299.00, down from $1,599.00, and a massive $1,000 discount on the high-end 16-inch model exclusively for Best Buy members. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best...
iPhone 16 Pro Right Side Feature

The iPhone 16 is Getting a New Button: Here's What It Can Do

Tuesday August 13, 2024 4:01 pm PDT by
Multiple rumors have suggested that the iPhone 16 models are going to have an all-new button that's designed to make it easier to capture photos when the devices are held in landscape mode. Apple calls the button the Capture Button internally, and it is going to be one of the most advanced buttons that's been introduced to date with support for multiple gestures and the ability to respond to ...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18.1 Beta 2 and iOS 18 Beta 6

Monday August 12, 2024 2:32 pm PDT by
Apple is beta testing iOS 18 and the first update to iOS 18 concurrently, and we got the second betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 today alongside the sixth betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15. Many of the changes in iOS 18.1 are focused on bringing the .1 betas in line with the standard betas, which recently received updates to Photos and Safari, while...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Thursday August 8, 2024 4:40 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different – already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2

Next Year's Slim iPhone 17 Could Be an 'iPhone Air'

Monday August 12, 2024 8:43 am PDT by
Apple's rumored iPhone 17 "Slim" could be positioned as an iPhone "Air" to boost sales, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained how the "fourth" model in the iPhone lineup since 2020 (the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 15 Plus) has largely been a commercial failure. In the case of the Plus model,...

Top Rated Comments

dubvulture Avatar
2 days ago at 05:52 pm

For anyone that has any of these new betas, how's the noise cancellation? Apple did something amazing with the noise cancellation a couple of firmware updates ago (six months ago or so) and the ANC has been incredible since then. I want the voice isolation in these betas but I'm afraid the ANC won't be as effective as it has been ... Has anyone noticed any changes in ANC?
Just got the update. Noise cancellation is excellent. I would say even better than the previous beta.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mavis Avatar
2 days ago at 04:31 am

Just got the update. Noise cancellation is excellent. I would say even better than the previous beta.
Thanks for the feedback. I was able to use my AirPods Pro 2 outdoors a bit and I would agree - the ANC still seems to be stellar. Far superior to my Sony WF-1000XM5s, in any case. It amazes me how almost every review site claimed the Sonys have superior ANC when the AirPods Pro 2 are vastly superior, in my experience (especially in the 20Hz-200Hz range).
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iceknyght Avatar
1 day ago at 02:24 pm

If I wear it too long, silicone causes me to get a skin rash. For that reason, I cannot wear earbuds with silicone ear tips. Can you imagine getting a rash INSIDE your ear canal?

Plus, they either fall out (too loose) or they hurt (too tight). Nobody makes the size I need.
On Amazon, I found some memory foam tips that work well for me. You squeeze the foam and insert them and they expand to fill your ears better, without feeling uncomfortable (they also come in different sizes). The noise cancelling is "slightly" worse, but it's worth it for me and still sound great (and still block out the noise on airplanes, which is my main reason for wearing them).
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
drumcat Avatar
1 day ago at 06:14 pm
I love the APM, but I wish they fit better.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MLVC Avatar
2 days ago at 01:16 am
Updating AirPods must be the most frustrating thing ever. Just give me an Update button Apple!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jbachandouris Avatar
2 days ago at 07:29 am
Found it
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)