2D15 AirPods Pro Firmware 👍🏼? or 👎🏼?

[Ralfi]

I’m thinking it’s an improvement in both audio quality & Noise Cancellation, which elevates these things to being the best smartphone accessory of the last decade.

I’ve just watched this video & it seems they’ve been boosted to a point where they match/beat the prior king of Noise Cancellation, the Sony WF-1000XM3.

Do you think the 2D15 firmware has, overall, improved or reduced the quality of the AirPods Pro?

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I have no idea. My AirPods Pro have stayed at firmware version 2B584 since I purchased them in late November.

I have no complaints about this firmware version's capabilities. If I did, I would have sent back the APP within the 14-day no-questions-asked return period.

 

[Itinj24]

I can now use ANC comfortably For extended periods of time without the pressure sensation that plagued me. However I still think Transparency mode has been muffled a bit from the launch firmware but that’s just my observation. I can still here the outside environment fine, just not as clear as it used to be. Almost feels like I have the last gen AirPods in. An improvement to me however. I’ll take it.

 

[Ralfi]

I can still here the outside environment fine, just not as clear as it used to be.

I think I agree - I noticed myself needing to put more effort into hearing people speak from similar distances. I could hear them, but it felt like a little NC had crept into Transparency mode?

 

[Itinj24]

I think I agree - I noticed myself needing to put more effort into hearing people speak from similar distances. I could hear them, but it felt like a little NC had crept into Transparency mode?

Yeah I have no clue what goes into their tweaking efforts but possibly a balancing act. But then again, besides my pressure issues with ANC in the early firmware and most claiming that was the time when ANC was best, transparency was too in my opinion so that doesn’t make much sense. Who knows, really?

*hear* That’s embarrassing lol (from my previous post)
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Another thing I noticed is better connection to my other devices. The previous firmware would often connect to my ATV4K, then disconnect a few seconds later if previously connected to my iPhone. I’d have to drop them in the charging case for a few seconds then put back in ears and reconnect to ATV. That doesn’t happen anymore.

 

[Ralfi]

Another thing I noticed is better connection to my other devices. The previous firmware would often connect to my ATV4K, then disconnect a few seconds later if previously connected to my iPhone. I’d have to drop them in the charging case for a few seconds then put back in ears and reconnect to ATV. That doesn’t happen anymore.

Yep, forgot to mention this...Connecting between devices seems to be quicker for me too.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

2D15 in my opinion is a big improvement across the board over previous firmware updates

 

[Phil77354]

A few days ago I received two new AirPod Pros as replacement units due to the crackling problem that many have experienced.

After having difficulty in getting them to pair with my iPhone, I had two chats with Apple Support and we finally determined that the two AirPods had different firmware installed - one has 2B588 and one has 2D15. I can get them to reset and pair individually but not together. Our conclusion was that I couldn't get them to pair together due to the different firmware versions.

I'm now going through multiple cycles: using them for a short period, then putting them back into the charging case connected to power, closing the case and then waiting for 30 minutes or so to see if the firmware is updated. So far no change, after doing this quite a few times over a period of 1 ½ days so far.

I would greatly prefer to have a way to force the firmware update, instead of being in a position where it is necessary to simply wait for a period of time to see if it happens on it's own.

(Shouldn't it be necessary for the AirPods to have an 'active' connection to the iPhone in order to receive the firmware update? The instructions say to place them in the charging case with the cover closed in order to receive an update to the firmware. The connection is apparently still functional for the purposes of software updates but not active for use in listening to audio??)

 

[Phil77354]

Well, lacking any response to my earlier post, I did finally resolve this issue myself so I will post here for the possible benefit of others who may run into a similar problem.

I continued to use only the AirPod with the older firmware, 2B588, and left the 'updated' AirPod sitting on my desk without being used at all. I tried using the one AirPod for a while, returning it to the charging case so that it would hopefully request the firmware update, tried to reset it, etc. Nothing changed the firmware version.

Finally I decided to try using them together again, and by that time the 'updated' AirPod had almost lost all battery charge. I then returned both to the charging case, and unpaired them from my iPhone.

After giving them sufficient time to recharge, I reset the AirPods and paired them with my iPhone. This time they paired together, and both are updated to the current firmware 2D15. They are finally working together, properly.

The above is my best recollection of how I made this all work successfully. I suppose that somewhere there is a procedure established for resolving an AirPods pair that for whatever reason end up with different firmware, as I had when this all started.

 

[G.McGilli]

After a week of testing I can say this new firmware is so, so much better - for my purposes.

Every day, I usually switch between listening to music on from my iPhone, or directly from my Apple Watch 2 or 3 times depending on my activity.

It now auto connects to both devices when the case is opened, and whichever starts playing music first it just starts playing out of the Airpods.

I used to have to always go into Bluetooth settings and manually switch from one device to the other every time I switched.

I also have an MBP and threw this into the mix last night - and the sound just started playing from the MBP too without me having to press connect from the taskbar like I used to have to do.

Granted these are all new devices: AW5, 2019 MBP, iP11pro.

So older devices might not function the same.

But the auto switching is now perfect! removes the biggest headache I had since getting the APP at launch.

 

[zhenya]

IMO the biggest audible improvement is with Transparency mode which now sounds completely natural for the first time - almost as if you have nothing in your ears at all - no hint of the over amplification and shrillness that this mode had on all previous firmware revisions.

 

[EdMan]

Crazy thing is I've haven't been using my APP for quite awhile and had been using my regular AP2's. I got them in early December and they never updated from 2B588. After all the hoopla I'm glad they didn't. I think Apple had pulled the update before mine could update. I just noticed they are now on 2D15 and they sound fantastic. Mine always did sound great though but I got paranoid to use them regularly after all the fuss on this site. Didn't feel like jumping through hoops with Apple.

 

[Ralfi]

Mine always did sound great though but I got paranoid to use them regularly after all the fuss on this site.

Sorry you missed out on using these great things due to negative comments here.

You had nothing to worry about. The internet‘s normally a haven for complaints (many legitimate, but usually they’re isolated issues), so if you’re happy with them, you didn’t need to deny yourself their usage.

 

[boswald]

I'm surprised so many people are reporting excellent playback with the newer firmware. I haven't noticed anything. No complaints though, as I love them regardless.

 

[ruy]

My airpods v2 still have battery draining problem even the earbuds stay in the case. Random ‘click’ sound when using. I will never buy AirPods anymore!

 

[mineralwalker]

I was glad to see an update that fixed issues for other people, I hadn’t had any major issues.

I’ll say I’m kinda miffed. There’s no point to setting “Noise Cancellation”, I hear plenty of noise. Set it off does better sound isolation, and I noticed even with that feature supposedly off, fitting them both in my ears activates something. Putting it simple - it’s like Off and Noise Cancellation got switched and mislabeled.

Might be poor taste but, who is making these firmware updates? Hellen Keller?!? ?

 

[zhenya]

I was glad to see an update that fixed issues for other people, I hadn’t had any major issues.

I’ll say I’m kinda miffed. There’s no point to setting “Noise Cancellation”, I hear plenty of noise. Set it off does better sound isolation, and I noticed even with that feature supposedly off, fitting them both in my ears activates something. Putting it simple - it’s like Off and Noise Cancellation got switched and mislabeled.

Might be poor taste but, who is making these firmware updates? Hellen Keller?!? ?

Highly doubt its firmware. If you can’t hear a difference between Off and NC, your units are faulty (not uncommon, these are rather delicate) and you should get them replaced.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I noticed no difference, but I also skipped the bad firmware. So I'd say this one is safe.

 

[pw5a29]

For me the ANC is the same, but the sound profile definitely improved. So its a good update.

(Didn't try the OG firmware, just the 2B588 previously)

 

[dogg]

I lost my APP the other day while out on a walk. Very upset about it so ordered an new set. But in between the delivery date of the new pair I found the old. I have compared both sets and have to stay the new pair are better than my old. Older pair were swapped out about 2 months ago by Apple for the high pitched noise. I thought that the replacement were fine. New firmware on them and clean every other day with Blu Tak. But these new ones outshine they older. Am tempted to return the old set and keep the new ones. Old set are mint condition diction. What to do?...