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iOS 18 Adds More Control Over Adaptive Audio on AirPods Pro 2

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Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro have an Adaptive Audio feature that includes Adaptive Noise Control, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness, which are all features that adjust sound and Active Noise Cancellation in response to the environment around you.

airpods adaptive audio
Right now, Adaptive Audio is an all or nothing setting, but that's set to change in iOS 18. Apple added a "Customize Adaptive Audio" menu that lets you adjust the setting to allow for more or less noise.

When the AirPods Pro 2 with the latest beta firmware are connected to an iPhone running iOS 18, you can open up the AirPods section of the Settings app to see a new Adaptive Audio section.

Tapping into it presents a slider bar where you can adjust Adaptive Audio for Less Noise or More Noise, impacting the Adaptive Audio settings. The feature will mostly apply to Adaptive Noise Control, a feature that blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation. It is designed to tweak the level of noise control based on changing conditions in the environment, so being able to set it to allow for more noise or less noise will come in handy.

The setting will also impact Personalized Volume, an option that adjusts the volume of the AirPods Pro 2 based on your personal volume preferences and environmental conditions.

These settings will be widely available to AirPods Pro 2 owners when iOS 18 launches in the fall. The earbuds will also be able to be adjusted using iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

anthogag Avatar
anthogag
22 months ago
There should be a list of things you can tune-out when wearing AirPods Pro. "Siri, silence stupid loud vehicles and motorbikes", "Siri, silence the barking dog", "Siri, silence the leaf blower",...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepIn2U Avatar
DeepIn2U
22 months ago

There should be a list of things you can tune-out when wearing AirPods Pro. "Siri, silence stupid loud vehicles and motorbikes", "Siri, silence the barking dog", "Siri, silence the leaf blower",...
Why?

I think its phenomenal that variable and automatic ambient was enabled long before announcement, even in the AirPods Pro 1, that brakes, public transit buses and even electric car reverse sounds came through even when I had ANC enabled. Its literary saved my ass while cycling on public roads about 3 times back in fall of 2022.

This is literary a life saving feature ... but I agree having the end user disable it would be nice. choice.

Probably one of THE most underrated announcements at WWDC 2024 is the simple head-tracking gesture of "no" and "yes" to deny or answer calls. It'll be JUST as hilarious to randomly see people in public not having any conversation or stoick voices nodding yes or no lol. Almost as funny as when Ericsson launched the first Bluetooth headsets and walking behind someone using one and thinking they've gone mad talking to themselves before they became publicly more common.

I recall walking 7 blocks behind some dude in a suit having the worst argument with his GF/mistress and finally at a stop sign approach him saying 'man you ok?' and him pointing to this HUGE honker of a headset. Then on the long intercity bus ride seeing him asking what headset was that, and through brief convo let me pair it with my Ericsson T28W. I was hooked on Bluetooth ever since. I think as more gifted programmers use the headtracking API we'll see more intuitive features we'd have wondered what we would've done without them over time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anthogag Avatar
anthogag
22 months ago

Why?

I think its phenomenal that variable and automatic ambient was enabled long before announcement, even in the AirPods Pro 1, that brakes, public transit buses and even electric car reverse sounds came through even when I had ANC enabled. Its literary saved my ass while cycling on public roads about 3 times back in fall of 2022.

This is literary a life saving feature ... but I agree having the end user disable it would be nice. choice.

Probably one of THE most underrated announcements at WWDC 2024 is the simple head-tracking gesture of "no" and "yes" to deny or answer calls. It'll be JUST as hilarious to randomly see people in public not having any conversation or stoick voices nodding yes or no lol. Almost as funny as when Ericsson launched the first Bluetooth headsets and walking behind someone using one and thinking they've gone mad talking to themselves before they became publicly more common.

I recall walking 7 blocks behind some dude in a suit having the worst argument with his GF/mistress and finally at a stop sign approach him saying 'man you ok?' and him pointing to this HUGE honker of a headset. Then on the long intercity bus ride seeing him asking what headset was that, and through brief convo let me pair it with my Ericsson T28W. I was hooked on Bluetooth ever since. I think as more gifted programmers use the headtracking API we'll see more intuitive features we'd have wondered what we would've done without them over time.
If you're cycling you probably should hear all the noises. If I am walking or sitting somewhere I would cancel squealing brakes, loud diesel buses, EV low-speed beeping,...if I could. Give me a list I can check-off and AirPods Pro can target these noises.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
techyOS Avatar
techyOS
22 months ago

Does anyone know how to install the beta for AirPods Pro 2? There is no more "developer mode" in settings as some instructions online have pointed out to do as a step.....?
You have to plug your iPhone into a Mac with Xcode to see the Developer tab in your iPhone Settings app.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H
Haiku_Oezu
22 months ago
Looks like the keyword this year was "customization" lol
Can't remember the last time so many news articles on MacRumors involved the word "customize" in one way or the other
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SDJim Avatar
SDJim
22 months ago
I'm actually really excited about this. Conversation Awareness sucks because it triggers anytime I start singing along, but I need to be able to at least notice if someone is calling my name from the house while doing yard work. Adaptive often seems to let in too much noise as it is, so I welcome this ability!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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