Apple Releases Public Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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

Apple today provided public beta testers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers and public beta testers 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 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 ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌, 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. This is the first time that Apple has provided beta firmware to public beta testers.

Popular Stories

macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

Apple Says macOS 27 Won't Be Compatible With These Macs

Wednesday June 3, 2026 8:29 am PDT by
During WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. macOS 27 will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. Apple will unveil macOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote this Monday, June 8, and the...
MacBook Neo on Yellow Feature

MacBook Neo is So Popular That Apple Reportedly Doubled Production

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:24 am PDT by
On an earnings call in late April, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said that customer response to the MacBook Neo was "off the charts," and the popularity of the laptop has reportedly led the company to significantly boost production. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said he believes that MacBook Neo shipments to Apple were doubled from an initial target of 5 million units to 10...
iphone 18 pro blue%402x

iPhone 18 Pro: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, and Dark Gray Chassis Leaked [Update]

Thursday June 4, 2026 5:18 am PDT by
Update: Since publication, new information has come to light suggesting the images have been AI-manipulated and are not in fact iPhone 18 Pro chassis parts. The original article follows. The color options Apple is reportedly planning for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max have appeared online today in the form of images of chassis parts of unknown authenticity....

Top Rated Comments

11 months ago
I have 8A308b for both Version and Case Version.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
My Airpods Pro 2 (Lightning) still won't show the beta option on my phone. It shows on my mac, but it doesn't update the airpods no matter what method I try. I've been dealing with this since the first beta, and yes I have forgotten/reset the airpods and started over more than once. It doesn't help.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
It’s really great to see the update process for these things still includes a substantial amount of hopes and prayers - so much more preferable than a ****ing update button in settings :rolleyes:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jbachandouris Avatar
11 months ago
Version number?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Tisdale 🎗 Avatar
11 months ago

Try the force mode, enable developer mode with U3tools and from the options enable beta firmwares for accessories
What are you on about? Why on earth would you need a dubious third party tool to enable developer mode?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jbachandouris Avatar
11 months ago
iOS 26 beta makes it 'easier' to activate beta mode on AirPods but there's still no way to push the update and basically you plug it in and wait for who knows how long.

Interesting that the new version number still has yet to be posted. 8a308b is my present version.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)