Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Beta Firmware With Support for iOS 18 Features

Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, including both the Lightning and USB-C versions. The firmware has a build number of 7A5290a, up from 7A5266c, and it is available to developers at the current time. This is the fourth firmware update that Apple has released since announcing new AirPods Pro 2 features in June.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware
There are multiple features that are coming to the AirPods Pro 2 as part of iOS 18, and these features are included in the firmware update.

With head gestures, users can control Siri on the AirPods Pro with a shake or a nod of the head. If you get a phone call, for example, you can shake your head no if you don't want to answer it, or nod to accept the call. ‌Siri‌ interactions can be used for responding to incoming messages, calls, and notifications.

Apple is adding Voice Isolation to the AirPods Pro to cut down on loud background sounds to make you easier to hear, and there is a new Personalized Spatial Audio feature specific to gaming. Game developers will be able to incorporate spatial audio into their games for a more immersive audio experience.

The new firmware is limited to developers at the current time, but it will be available to all iOS 18 users following the public launch of the new software.

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
govee floor lamp

CES 2026: Govee Announces New Matter-Connected Ceiling and Floor Lights

Sunday January 4, 2026 5:00 am PST by
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin 25W Battery magnetic

CES 2026: Belkin Announces Magnetic Ring Power Bank, Modular Dock, and More

Sunday January 4, 2026 3:02 pm PST by
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users. UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...

Top Rated Comments

MrMaxwell Avatar
18 months ago
Voice isolation is desperately needed - making a call on AirPods Pro is painful unless you are in a location with absolute silence. Hope to see some demos soon!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dubvulture Avatar
18 months ago

Why do my APP2 show firmware 7A266c instead of 7A5266c?
Mine went from 7A266c to 7A290a. No fives for me either.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lindijones Avatar
18 months ago
Also on 7A290a here and the sound signature has changed.
A little more flat. Less boomy.
And a little less harsh at higher volumes.

(Could be still less energy between 5kHz-7kHz for me and a little more in the upper treble, but ok. Any improvement is welcome.)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
System603 Avatar
18 months ago
I'm looking forward to the head gestures feature more than I would initially expect. After seeing the demo, I started noticing situations throughout the day (calls, workout start notifications, replies after initial query, ...) and it seems it will be quite useful.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Microtard64 Avatar
18 months ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/22/airpods-pro-2-beta-firmware-4/')

Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, including both the Lightning and USB-C versions. The firmware has a build number of 7A5290a, up from 7A5266c, and it is available to developers at the current time. This is the fourth firmware update that Apple has released since announcing new AirPods Pro 2 features in June.



There are multiple features that are coming to the AirPods Pro 2 as part of iOS 18, and these features are included in the firmware update.

With head gestures, users can control Siri on the AirPods Pro with a shake or a nod of the head. If you get a phone call, for example, you can shake your head no if you don't want to answer it, or nod to accept the call. Siri interactions can be used for responding to incoming messages, calls, and notifications.

Apple is adding Voice Isolation to the AirPods Pro to cut down on loud background sounds to make you easier to hear, and there is a new Personalized Spatial Audio feature specific to gaming. Game developers will be able to incorporate spatial audio into their games for a more immersive audio experience.

The new firmware is limited to developers at the current time, but it will be available to all iOS 18 users following the public launch of the new software.

Article Link: Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Beta Firmware With Support for iOS 18 Features ('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/22/airpods-pro-2-beta-firmware-4/')
I have found that if I connect my AirPods Pro 2 (USBC) directly to my iPhone 15 Pro via a USBC cable, the firmware is updated within 10-12 minutes of establishing the connection. Your mileage and experience may vary.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mother Nature Avatar
18 months ago

I don't get what's new, voice isolation has been working for me on the airpods pro since it was introduced on iphone.......my voice gets cut more using the airpods with voice isolation enabled on the phone but what's really new?
That's voice isolation performed by iOS, the new voice isolation is kind of processed directly by the AirPods, I guess using algorithms processed by the H2 chip.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)