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

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Apple today provided 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. The firmware has a build number of 8A5324b, up from 8A5308b.

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 beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates the beta testing.

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Top Rated Comments

robfoll Avatar
robfoll
11 months ago

My AP2 firmware is displayed as 8A324b, not 8A5324b. It doesn't have a "5" in it. Oddly, along with that update, the case's firmware version now shows as 8A0, though previously it matched the firmware version of the Airpods themselves.
Mine do not have the 5 either = 8A308b - Case 8A324b - Where does this Phantom 5 come from?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
uczcret Avatar
uczcret
11 months ago

My AP2 firmware is displayed as 8A324b, not 8A5324b. It doesn't have a "5" in it.
Ditto.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnsawyercjs Avatar
johnsawyercjs
11 months ago
My AP2 firmware is displayed as 8A324b, not 8A5324b. It doesn't have a "5" in it. Oddly, along with that update, the case's firmware version now shows as 8A0, though previously it matched the firmware version of the Airpods themselves.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
alexandr
11 months ago

Has anyone ever managed to find a solution for Airpods that never see or show the beta settings section? I have tried everything I've seen suggested, unpair repair over and over and over, no matter what I can't get the beta firmware settings to ever show up on my AirPods Pro 2.

Same here

The beta shows in settings. I turn it on everyday. I look back later. It’s off. Never been able to use it.
Mine's on. But betas won't install despite me leaving my AirPods (Pro2 & 4) next to them for hours.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stuipdboy1000 Avatar
Stuipdboy1000
11 months ago

Mine do not have the 5 either = 8A308b - Case 8A324b - Where does this Phantom 5 come from?
https://lowendmac.com/2025/how-to-read-and-interpret-apple-os-build-numbers/

"“5” is strongly correlated with or simply means it’s a beta build."
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
RyanLee
11 months ago

Updated to iOS26 Beta 5 (developer).
Still no "Airpods Beta Updates" option for my Airpods Pro 2 (Lightning)

macOS26 (both beta 4 & 5) has the option, but I don't get any new beta firmware update... (should be version 8a5324b)

Please advise.
Along with enabling beta updates, also enable the below setting for AirPods Analytics Data. After days of not getting the update, this fired it off rather quickly.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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