Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features

Apple today released a third version of the beta firmware it is testing for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 9A5314b.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware 2
In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is adding a new AirPods interface, a slider for Adaptive mode, and support for custom EQ, so the firmware adds support for those features. AirPods are also compatible with the new Siri AI.

When the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 or later, there is a beta firmware option that can be accessed in the AirPods settings interface. Toggling on beta updates allows users to install the beta firmware.

Firmware updates can be downloaded by connecting the AirPods to an Apple device and connecting them to power. It can take a few hours for new firmware to be installed because there is no straightforward software update option like there is for other Apple devices.

Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 27

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
iPhone Handoff Feature

iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Wednesday September 2, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time. ...

Top Rated Comments

BeatsByTim Avatar
10 weeks ago
Airpod in one ear, hammer in the other.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrENGLISH Avatar
10 weeks ago
It’s 2026. I don't understand why Apple makes it so difficult for consumers to update their AirPods. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
10 weeks ago
EQ is a game changer for apple. Finally. How many steps in the EQ? Is it parametric?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
10 weeks ago
My AP4 ANC are still on 9A304b. Have tried all the usual update rituals, they seem to resist. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Edit: everything updated last night by itself.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LelandHendrix Avatar
10 weeks ago
Is this it, and could there be a typo in the copy that adds a 5?? I'm guessing not, but I'm just curious. I don't know the numbering conventions for these versions

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lost Hills Avatar
10 weeks ago
it will, happened pretty quick for me. 3 band EQ but an amazing improvement at this stage i think
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)