Second AirPods Pro Firmware Beta Adds Conversation Boost

by

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

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump. ...
Read Full Article • 66 comments
Finder Siri Feature

Apple's New Siri Will Be Powered By Google Gemini

Wednesday November 5, 2025 11:57 am PST by
The smarter, more capable version of Siri that Apple is developing will be powered by Google Gemini, reports Bloomberg. Apple will pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model that was developed by Google. For context, parameters are a measure of how a model understands and responds to queries. More parameters generally means more...
Read Full Article • 367 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
Read Full Article
Liquid Glass General Feature

Apple Shares Liquid Glass Design Gallery

Thursday November 6, 2025 2:45 pm PST by
Apple is promoting the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, showing off the ways that third-party developers are embracing the aesthetic in their apps. On its developer website, Apple is featuring a visual gallery that demonstrates how "teams of all sizes" are creating Liquid Glass experiences. The gallery features examples of Liquid Glass in apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple...
Read Full Article • 104 comments
airtag purple

Apple's Website Lists AirTag 4-Pack at Shockingly Low Price [Updated]

Friday November 7, 2025 6:40 am PST by
Apple's online store in the U.S. is suddenly offering a pack of four AirTags for just $29, which is the same price as a single AirTag. This is likely a pricing error, and it is unclear if orders will be fulfilled. Apple has not discounted the AirTag four-pack in any other countries that we checked. Delivery estimates are already pushing into late November to early December, suggesting...
Read Full Article • 91 comments
apple watch se 3 always on

Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:37 am PST by
Apple in iOS 26.2 will disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the European Union to comply with the bloc's regulations, suggests a new report. Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for...
Read Full Article • 208 comments
ikea smart home devices

IKEA Debuts 21 HomeKit-Compatible Smart Bulbs, Sensors, and Controls

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:08 pm PST by
IKEA today announced the upcoming launch of 21 new Matter-compatible smart home products that will be able to interface with HomeKit and the Apple Home app. There are sensors, lights, and control options, all of which will be reasonably priced. Some of the products are new, while some are updates to existing lines that IKEA previously offered. There are a series of new smart bulbs that are...
Read Full Article • 73 comments
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple's 2026 Smart Home Revamp: All the Rumors

Wednesday November 5, 2025 3:54 pm PST by
It's been over a decade since Apple's HomeKit smart home platform launched, and it is overdue for an update. HomeKit and the Home app can no longer keep up with AI-powered solutions from other companies like Google and Amazon, but that's set to change with a smart home revamp that Apple has planned for 2026. Home Hub Apple is working on a home hub or "command center" that will serve as a...
Read Full Article • 56 comments

Top Rated Comments

Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
Apple Knowledge Navigator
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
Mousse
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
jmgregory1
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
augustrushrox
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
gluckett
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
4jasontv
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)
Read All Comments