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Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

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Apple today introduced new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, with an 8A5279d version number. The firmware is only available to developers at the current time, and a device running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 is required to install the update.

airpods pro 2 green
The new firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe.

The AirPods Pro 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.

With the latest updates, Apple added a firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

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Top Rated Comments

K
kaan.cl
15 months ago
I wonder when they decided to name it iOS 26, since for the AirPods Pro beta firmware it says: „Turn on pre-release beta updates to test new AirPods features in iOS 19.0.“



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Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
GMShadow
15 months ago
I wonder when the decision to rebrand the OSes was made. This is on an iPad running 26.

Perhaps it was just being held close internally.

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Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fiftofar Avatar
fiftofar
15 months ago
Might be worth reporting issues updating or the menu option not showing with the feedback app just in case.
Make sure you’re on developer beta option and not appleseed.


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Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Superhai Avatar
Superhai
15 months ago

Wait, version "8A5279d"?

Why not AirPodsOS 26?
I guess they do not feel the need to name it as an OS. These numbers are used for all their system software, eg. macOS 26 beta 1 is called 25A5279m. Notice that it starts with 25, I believe this is a tidbit from the Darwin OS the OS that all the "Apple OS's" are based upon, and uses the major version number from the year it is released. Darwin OS version number would be the version number like internal Windows version, and iOS 26, macOS 26 etc. will all be on Darwin OS 25. So now they will be a version "behind". The 8 in AirPods Pro signals that it is the 8 major version of the firmware for the AirPods Pro 2.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ZeChild Avatar
ZeChild
15 months ago
Think there’s a few bugs still to iron out, my AirPod Pro 2 Lightning show the “AirPods Beta Updates” option in settings on my iPad Pro M4, but on my iPhone 15 Pro Max it doesn’t show up at all.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Craiger Avatar
Craiger
15 months ago

Sorry, I should have added "on iOS26". I have updated my post.

It's in the AirPods settings. At least it shows on my AirPods Pro 2 USB-C on an iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS26.
Toggle is not shown on my AirPods Pro Max Lightning, must only show when a beta firmware is available or only on certain AirPods.
I have 26 running on a 15 pro max also. Only difference is that I have the older AirPods Pro 2, not usb c. Weird. Keep seeing that dialogue in screenshots and I can’t get it to show up.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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