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

Apple today provided public beta testers with updated 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 public beta testers and developers 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 8A5343a, up from 8A5324b, and it is the same firmware that was provided to developers earlier this week.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware
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

srbNYC Avatar
24 weeks ago
No, there's no good way to force the update, so you don't have to ask.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StoneJack Avatar
24 weeks ago

I'm annoyed iOS 26 is required to install this update. I want to try the improved audio quality and mic performance but want to stay on iOS 18 for a while longer.
Does not matter what u want
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimjiminyjim Avatar
22 weeks ago

I have good cell service, it’s the same if I do wifi calling. Like you they are excellent at everything else, don’t know what’s up with the call quality.
Hmm. Yep, I love the things so much I'll buy the new ones as soon as they come out, hoping that this is fixed. I should probably wait and see, but... I've had these ones since they first came out and they've been worth every penny even with this issue.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Henrik H Avatar
24 weeks ago
Probably won’t fix talking on AirPods being very hard to understand for the others on the calls. Been that way for two to three years now, with all AirPod models, every speaker.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stonefly Avatar
23 weeks ago

Probably won’t fix talking on AirPods being very hard to understand for the others on the calls. Been that way for two to three years now, with all AirPod models, every speaker.

I thought it was just me.
I have the same problem on my AirPods pro 2 since new.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HazMatt69 Avatar
24 weeks ago
Still stuck on 8A343a (and oddly, case is 8A324b)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)