New AirPods firmware enables Spatial Audio, automatic switching
Apple released new firmware for the AirPods Pro and second generation AirPods on Monday, with build number 3A283 now available to download and install.
New AirPods firmware
The update replaces the previously available firmware, build number 2D15 for the second generation AirPods, and build number 2D27 for AirPods Pro. This marks the fifth firmware update Apple has issued for the AirPods Pro since launch.
The iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur updates enable new features for Apple's H1 equipped devices like quick switching and spatial audio.
Spatial audio mimics a 3D soundscape and movie theater-like experience, while also using the built in accelerometers to track a user's head movement to keep the sound properly oriented. AppleInsider was able to confirm the 3A283 update enables spatial audio.
Spatial audio settings within the AirPods Pro bluetooth menu
Quick switching would take the existing iCloud pairing feature of the H1 chip and increase its autonomy. Theoretically a user will be able to wear their AirPods and have audio automatically play in them as long as they are within proximity of the active device.
The new firmware is installed automatically for users, with no mechanism on offer to manually force an update to take place. So long as the AirPods Pro are in the charging case and connected to an iOS device, the firmware will install by itself.
AirPods users can check the current firmware for their audio accessories within the Settings app, selecting General, then About, then select their device from the menu.
New AirPods firmware
The update replaces the previously available firmware, build number 2D15 for the second generation AirPods, and build number 2D27 for AirPods Pro. This marks the fifth firmware update Apple has issued for the AirPods Pro since launch.
The iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur updates enable new features for Apple's H1 equipped devices like quick switching and spatial audio.
Spatial audio mimics a 3D soundscape and movie theater-like experience, while also using the built in accelerometers to track a user's head movement to keep the sound properly oriented. AppleInsider was able to confirm the 3A283 update enables spatial audio.
Spatial audio settings within the AirPods Pro bluetooth menu
Quick switching would take the existing iCloud pairing feature of the H1 chip and increase its autonomy. Theoretically a user will be able to wear their AirPods and have audio automatically play in them as long as they are within proximity of the active device.
The new firmware is installed automatically for users, with no mechanism on offer to manually force an update to take place. So long as the AirPods Pro are in the charging case and connected to an iOS device, the firmware will install by itself.
AirPods users can check the current firmware for their audio accessories within the Settings app, selecting General, then About, then select their device from the menu.
Comments
Also, why can’t they just combine all the settings under one header instead of separating them like they do?
Until I tried it on the iPad Pro I was pretty convinced that it didn’t work at all but he effect on the iPad was pretty obvious. I tried again on the iPhone and could hear it but it is very limited in comparison to the iPad Pro. I’m not sure why the effect is different on the two different devices. Trying it on the Apple TV 4K it doesn’t seem implemented at all and there is no way to check to see if there is a special audio setting as far as I can see. Perhaps in a future update. It would be most useful on the Apple TV.
As far as I know, this is new but I haven’t looked in accessibility for a few beta versions so I can’t be sure. But interestingly, I toggled the Follow iPhone setting off and then back on and now my iPhone is working as well as my iPad Pro with special audio. The iPhone 11 Pro special audio was working poorly before I did this but the iPad Pro always worked well.
Edit: OK, the auto switch feature seems to be very flaky. I tried toggling the Follow iPad setting as I did with the iPhone and the AirPods Pro disconnected and wouldn’t reconnect until I toggled the Bluetooth setting and played around with connecting the AirPods Pro again for a bit.