What’s Inside the First AirPods Public Beta?

Apple surprised public beta testers this week by offering access to pre-release versions of almost all of Apple’s upcoming software releases, including a public beta firmware for the latest AirPods. This marks the first time that Apple has made beta firmware available to the public, making it much easier for users to try out new features.

Previously, beta firmware for AirPods was only available to developers and required a complex installation process. However, with the release of the first iOS 26 developer beta, users can now simply toggle a switch in their AirPods settings to access the beta firmware. This change indicates that Apple is making an effort to make beta firmware more accessible to a wider audience.

Apple releases new AirPods every few years, but regularly updates their software to provide new features and improvements. With each major iOS release, AirPods users receive enhancements such as hands-free Siri interaction, improved voice isolation, personalized Spatial Audio, and more. In the past, users had to wait until September to receive the accompanying AirPods firmware update, but with iOS 26, the new features are available immediately.

Some of the new features included in the latest AirPods firmware update are:

1. Pause Media When Falling Asleep: Allows AirPods to automatically pause playback when it detects that the user is falling asleep.
2. Camera Remote: Lets users control their iPhone camera using the stem of the AirPods.
3. Keep Audio with Headphones: Overrides automatic audio switching when connecting to external devices.
4. Studio-Quality Audio Recording: Delivers professional-quality vocal recording.
5. Enhanced Voice Quality for Calls: Improves voice clarity during phone calls.

How to Install the AirPods Public Beta Firmware

To install the beta firmware on your AirPods, ensure you are running the iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 public beta and have compatible AirPods (AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4). Follow these steps:

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Select your AirPods.
4. Scroll down and choose AirPods Beta Updates.
5. Toggle on AirPods Beta Updates.
6. Wait for the firmware to install.

Once installed, users can enjoy the new features on their AirPods. The firmware update process may take some time, but users can check the firmware version in the AirPods settings to confirm the update.