Everyone will like it! Tried the new Adaptive mode in AirPods Pro 2 on beta firmware

Along with the release of the first beta version of iOS 17, Apple released beta firmware for AirPods Pro 2 with a number of new features for headphones. Naturally, I put both.

I don’t experience this for anyone. The process is not very simple, rollback is impossible, and there are a lot of bugs, which is logical. In the fall, new features will be available to all owners of AirPods Pro second generation. In the meantime, I’ll tell you how the new one works. adaptive mode: pros, cons, efficiency.

In general, I really liked him. For the likely future, it will become the new “default” mode. And because of him, Transparency and active noise reduction will cease to appear at all.

What’s new in the next firmware for AirPods Pro 2

Current beta versions of software – 6A238h at the headphones 60.55.0 at the cover.

List of update changes from those that are commonly used:

▪ “Individual volume” function appeared
▪ added “Speech recognition”
▪ renamed one old function
▪ added a new “Adaptive mode” of the headphones

Let’s see together what will be added or replaced by the new firmware. I tested them, it turns out, exactly 1 week at the time of writing this text. I’ll emphasize right away that this withdrawal is solely at the initial moment, and everything can change by the official release.

What does the “Individual Volume” feature in AirPods do?

Headphones change the level of reproduced content depending on the perception. This I quoted the description in action. There is nothing to add here.

Example. Walking down the street, a car drives by. The music volume instantly reaches a minimum of 2 or even 4 virtual divisions. Panicking, you remove your headphones and turn off Individual Volume. Because he understands – if someone on the road also honks, you generally go deaf for evening.

In more voluminous manifestations, the volume of the music is stored permanently. The sensitivity of this function is too high. If you like it when music gets quieter and louder for no apparent reason, then congratulations. For the rest, this appearance of a beta version is extremely rare.

Conclusion: “Individual loudness” requires serious finishing or even removal, thoughts in the form of the ability to spoil the hearing or, at least, piss off the volume control back and forth from every rustle. Users also need to be given the opportunity to increase and limit auto-adjustment limits, at the same time declare a refusal to sign a refusal (beta testers sign it to detect installation, yes).

Why is the Speech Recognition feature needed in AirPods?

When AirPods hear you start a conversation with someone, or someone starts talking near you, the earbuds automatically (no signal) go into Transparency mode. 3 seconds after the end of the conversation, the mode itself returns to the previously set one, also without a signal.

Example. You are in front of the checkout. As soon as you or the cashier say something, the speech abruptly becomes easily distinguishable. After a few seconds, when they are already moving away from the cash register, the headphones return to the noise control mode that was originally set. It happens very smoothly, barely noticed. The mode itself switches to blocking, in Command centre and so on.

The feature can no longer be disabled in the implementation and the first version of the firmware. Sometimes it falsely processes some sounds. But I literally noticed this for the whole week, and it did not cause discomfort. In noisy habits like a subway car, the headphones are slow to start the noise when a conversation is heard. Transparency is not included “to the full”. Apple’s priorities are right here.

Conclusion: a nice and useful feature that many players have had for a long time. It only works for Apple straightaway good, not like most others. And “Speech Recognition” can be quickly turned on (or off) in the population section Command centreopposite the AirPods Pro mode switch.

Renamed the muffler switch for loud sounds

In 2021, I was inflamed by how the then-discovery hearing protection function worked – the abrupt muffling of loud signals and sounds.

The most famous, popular example is the same cash desk and the squeak of the terminal. Almost always, AirPods Pro react to a very sharp inclusion of “noise reduction” for one and a half to two seconds.

This can be turned on and off by a peek-peak counting call at your own risk. There will be no conclusion. Personally, this muting annoyed me more than it helped. But I am sure that over the course of two years it has repeatedly saved both hearing and nerves.

Previously, this item was called “Adaptive Frequency”but now it has been renamed so that no one gets confused.

How the new “Adaptive Mode” works in AirPods Pro 2

Adaptive mode is the main new feature.

You can turn on the mode setting in the same way as “Transparency” and active noise reduction. The new button is available in the section settings for headphones, as well as in the section Volumes curtains Command centre. It was highlighted with a multi-colored ball – emphasized, with smooth transitions. And I know that some will run to write in the comments.

Adaptive mode is somewhere between noise reduction And Transparency mode. Depending on the surrounding conditions, he himself smoothly flows from one state to another. Close noises similar to dangerous (car traffic, signals) are intentionally raised. Static and unpleasant noises (repair work, metro) – on the contrary, are muffled.

By default, noise is still muffled in this mode. Just not as much as in Active Noise Cancellation mode. Therefore, he says that this is something between six and two ANC episodes.

Example. Walking down the street. The car passed next to you – you can hear it. But the rest? Can not hear. Sat in a taxi. The noise of the wheels and the engine is not audible. Metro? Almost inaudible. Station announcement? Heard from the moment the alert signal was detected. And so on.

I really like that in adaptive mode no need to reach for the headphones or take out the iPhone to manually watch the noise reduction, then Transparency depending on the situation. Besides, how these situations occur automatically, I have no complaints.

Conclusion: excellent mode and will become for many the capital included by default. Headphones of a healthy diet, when it is important to “hear”, and when it is better to “jam”. I traveled like this in the subway, including on the noisy Moscow line (green), and did not want to turn on the classic “noise reduction”.

Is it worth it to put a beta version on your AirPods Pro 2 for this?

In no case. The firmware is problematic, which is normal for beta versions.

Yesterday, for example, my left observer began to reproduce only basses, vocals, on the contrary, remained in rights. And the noise canceler went astray, as if the headphones were drowned, and it buzzed in my head. Reboot iPhone, reconnect headphones without connection. The problem was cured only by connecting the headphones to Android, and then back to the iPhone.

Also, auto-connection to devices does not work very well. The iPhone outputs sound to the AirPods every once in a while when you take them out of the case. I have to unplug it several times, plug it back in. Command centre. This Apple bug was shared on the “beta” view list page.

In the fall, the firmware will be released for everyone, with already corrected problems. Then rate it adaptive mode on myself. I’m sure many will like it. Unfortunately, owners of the first generation AirPods Pro, as well as AirPods Max, fly past the new features. But nothing can be done, here the chip in them is old.

PS If you are not afraid of anything, you are ready to take risks and spend time – here are instructions for installing beta firmware on AirPods. If you don’t understand something there, it’s better not to even start.