AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max all have a new beta firmware update

By Joe Wituschek
published

Air Pods Pro on stage
Air Pods Pro on stage (Image credit: Rene Ritchie / iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple has released a new firmware update for the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
  • Firmware version 5A5304a improves Automatic Switching.
  • It also brings the usual round of performance improvements and bug fixes.

If you own a pair of AirPods and have been running the beta, there's a good chance you are getting a firmware update today.

Today, Apple released its latest beta firmware update for the entire lineup of the current AirPods models. Firmware version 5A5304a replaces version 5A5282d and will apply to the second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.

According to Apple, firmware version 5A5304a improves Automatic Switching, the feature that allows your AirPods to automatically switch between your devices depending on which one is currently playing audio. The update also brings with it the usual round of bug fixes and performance improvements.

Airpods Max Side

Airpods Max Side (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)

Being a firmware beta, this update is limited to developers who can download version 5A5304a from the Apple Developer website. Installing the beta requires an iPhone running the latest iOS 16 developer beta, a Mac running the latest macOS Ventura developer beta, and the Xcode 14 beta.

Apple started to offer firmware betas for its AirPods models for the first time at this year's WWDC. The betas allow developers to test out the latest and greatest with AirPods software and ensure it's working correctly before it comes to all users in a public firmware update later.

If you're looking for a great deal for any AirPods model, check out our list of the Best AirPods deals for Prime Day 2022.

AirPods Pro

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AirPods Pro


Bottom line: Finally, a comfortable pair of AirPods with active noise-canceling. What more could you ask for?

Joe Wituschek
Joe Wituschek
Contributor

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.