Before the arrival of iOS 18, Apple released a firmware update for AirPods Pro 2 that will bring new features that the company announced at WWDC in June. Now that the latest version of the mobile OS is available, your iPhone can take full advantage of new tools, including Siri Interactions, Voice Isolation and more. Your AirPods Pro 2 should already have the update installed and ready to go when you upgrade to iOS 18, so here’s what to expect when using the new features.
Siri interaction
Siri integration lets you interact with your phone during times when you can’t or don’t want to talk or reach your phone. Machine learning on the H2 chip and transformer models on the source device (iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch) can see when you nod and shake your head. This can be used whenever Siri asks a question whether or not it is answered, such as accepting or rejecting calls, replying to or dismissing messages and sharing or dismissing notifications.
So far, Siri Interactions have worked as described for me. I like that the technology detects small head movements, so you don’t have to exaggerate to make the system respond. I found the feature very useful for incoming calls and texts, especially when my hands are full or I’m in a situation where I can’t speak quickly.
Voice Classification
Voice Isolation is a new feature that uses the AirPods Pro 2 H2 chip and the source device (iPhone, iPad or Mac) with advanced machine learning to improve how you sound on calls. The technology isolates your voice so it can cancel out significant amounts of background noise, and for some distractions, it will completely eliminate them. During my testing, the Voice Isolation completely blocked the noisy air conditioner and running water. It’s really surprising how the apparent roar on the phone is absent when this is enabled. It’s also nice that the tool works its magic with minimal impact on the overall sound quality.
The feature is enabled by default in your microphone settings, where you’ll find auto, standard and voice isolation options. Here, you can activate Voice Isolation while on a call if you don’t want the system to handle things for itself. The tool will also support FaceTime and any third-party apps that use CallKit. This includes WebEx, Zoom, WhatsApp and many more.
As a reminder, Siri Interaction and Voice Isolation are also available on AirPods 4.
Sports features and personal volume
In addition to those two headlines, the review equips the AirPods Pro 2 with “the best wireless audio Apple has ever brought to a mobile game.” In addition, gamers can expect improved voice quality, thanks to 16-bit, 48kHz audio when chatting during a session. Apple says it has also improved the personal volume on the AirPods Pro 2, but did not specify there. Personalized Volume is a tool that adjusts media levels on your AirPods Pro 2nd based on changes in environmental conditions and your volume preferences. Apple says this feature learns your listening preferences over time to fine-tune changes as needed.
Hearing aids and hearing tests are not available in this update
One of the biggest announcements from the iPhone 16 event was Apple’s plan to turn the AirPods Pro 2 into a set of over-the-counter hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Although the company has received FDA approval for the first software-based hearing aid solution to be available without a prescription, the feature and accompanying hearing tests are not yet ready. Apple plans to release a suite of hearing features as part of an update sometime this fall.
How to download AirPods Pro 2 update
The AirPods Pro 2 update is available for free over the air from your iPhone. You can check the version number under AirPods settings when the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. You’ll want to check the 7A294 to make sure you’re using the latest version. If not, you can start the update by listening to music for about 30 seconds and putting the AirPods Pro back in the case. If you notice that the earbuds don’t disconnect immediately from the Bluetooth menu, that means an update is happening, so keep the case closed next to your phone until it finishes. AirPods Pro will disconnect when the process is complete. You’ll need to make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 18 as well.
Source link
