Second AirPods Pro Firmware Beta Adds Conversation Boost

Apple in July began providing developers with access to a beta version of the AirPods Pro firmware to test new features ahead of their release. Last Friday, Apple released a second version of the AirPods Pro firmware (4A362b), but it went under the radar until today when it was shared on Reddit.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware
According to Apple's developer website, the second AirPods Pro firmware update adds support for Conversation Boost, a feature that was missing from the first beta.

Conversation Boost is an iOS 15 feature that uses the beamforming microphones in the AirPods Pro to boost the volume level of conversations, which is ideal for those with mild to moderate hearing challenges.

The initial AirPods Pro firmware beta added support for FaceTime Spatial Audio and Ambient Noise Reduction, two other AirPods Pro features that are coming in the iOS 15 update.

Only registered developers are able to install the AirPods Pro firmware, and the installation process is rather complicated and requires Xcode. We have a walkthrough on installing the profile for the beta, but as with all over-the-air firmware updates, it takes some time for new software to be seeded to users.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 9:48 am PST by
Apple released the first iOS 26.2 beta last week. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date....
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
homepod mini thumb feature

New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?

Wednesday November 12, 2025 11:42 am PST by
While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen. Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet,...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Announces Launch of U.S. Passport Feature in iPhone's Wallet App

Wednesday November 12, 2025 9:15 am PST by
Apple today announced that iPhone users can now create a Digital ID in the Apple Wallet app based on information from their U.S. passport. To create and present a Digital ID based on a U.S. passport, you need: An iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.1 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 26.1 or later Face ID or Touch ID and Bluetooth turned on An Apple Account ...
Tesla Charging

Tesla Working to Add Apple CarPlay Support to Vehicles

Thursday November 13, 2025 8:31 am PST by
Tesla is working to add support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Tesla vehicles rely on its own infotainment software system, which integrates vehicle functions, navigation, music, web browsing, and more. The automaker has been an outlier in foregoing support for Apple CarPlay, which has otherwise become an industry standard feature, allowing users to...
m1 chip slide

Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison

Monday November 10, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2

Wednesday November 12, 2025 3:29 pm PST by
Apple today provided developers with the second beta of iOS 26.2, which adds a few new features worth knowing about. Measure App Apple's Measure app now features a Liquid Glass design for the level, with two Liquid Glass bubbles instead of white circles. Games App There's now an option to sort games in the Games app Library by size, in addition to Name and Recent. CarPlay The...
apple intelligence erroneous support list

Apple Intelligence Apparently Too Smart for M1 Macs After Listing Error

Wednesday November 12, 2025 2:49 am PST by
Update: It took a day, but Apple has now corrected its Apple Intelligence device compatibility list to show support for the earliest Apple silicon Macs. The original article follows. Apple's website is causing some confusion among Mac owners, and for good reason – its device compatibility listing for Apple Intelligence appears to have dropped support for M1 Macs. The U.S. version...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...

Top Rated Comments

Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
56 months ago
I can barely hear my family talk* let alone the TV, so this will come in handy

*this actually comes in handy sometimes and provides excellent excuses
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mousse Avatar
56 months ago
If it works with TV dialogues as well, then I'm interested. No more turn up the volume to hear what the actors are saying only to be deafen by the F/X sound. I got tired of having to volume up volume down, so I just turn the volume down to where the F/X isn't unbearable and read the captioning.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmgregory1 Avatar
56 months ago

I'm an old fart and know my hearing is not what it once was. I've also developed some tinnitus. I'm fine with normal conversations or watching TV in reasonably quiet environments. I notice it most in environments where there are a lot of competing sounds, like sitting with a group of folks in a noisy restaurant. I'll be very interested to try see how well this works.
I’m right there with you on the challenged hearing, tinnitus and old fart status. I’m not sure that I’ll remember to bring my APP’s with me when my wife and I go out the next time, but I’ll give it a shot to see if it helps. Of course more people will be talking about why you’re wearing APP’s while you’re socializing.

I chalk up my hearing loss, along with my several broken molars, to my college days of living with a rock band and opening up too many bottles of beer with my teeth. We used the band’s loud speakers as part of our stereo, which seemed like a good idea back then. We even were scientific about how loud it was, measuring the fact that we could hear the stereo 2 miles from the apartment when the windows were open. We were such idiots…

So all you kids (16-25 year olds) on here, don’t do these stupid things, because you will grow old and have hearing problems and teeth problems if you are dumb enough to open beer bottles with them.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
augustrushrox Avatar
56 months ago
The update process for AirPods has somehow always been just so randomly activated and incongruous with most other updateable Apple products. Even the Developer update process for AirPods is way more tedious than it needs to be. Apple really should just add a way to update AirPods from within the iOS Settings app.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gluckett Avatar
56 months ago

The update process for AirPods has somehow always been just so randomly activated and incongruous with most other updateable Apple products. Even the Developer update process for AirPods is way more tedious than it needs to be. Apple really should just add a way to update AirPods from within the iOS Settings app.
While it's not as simple as just telling it to update the firmware, Apple support finally gave me a set of steps that has worked every time for me so far.

- Listen to music or other audio for at least 30 seconds
- Put them back in the case and close the lid
- Connect the case to the charger
- Wait 30 minutes - do not open the case during this time, otherwise it starts all over again
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4jasontv Avatar
56 months ago

Too bad Apple insists on only making them bright white. More subtle options would be way better. But of course Apple mostly cares about its brand, not always user needs.
I don’t understand this thinking. They are iconic headphones not hearing aids. The fact that they invested time and money to include these features suggests they do care about user needs. Not just user needs but niche user needs.

Besides, these are more invisible than traditional hearing aids because most people would see them and think they are just headphones.

I’m not against other colors, but I can’t see Apple ever releasing another beige product. That said, they make vinyl wraps for AirPods that look good. I’m sure someone makes skin color wraps.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)