It won’t be long until iOS 17 becomes readily available to everyone — and there’s a whole slew of Adaptive Audio, Mute and Unmute, Automatic Device Switching, and Dark Mode perks in the pipeline, depending on which set of ever-popular Apple’s AirPods lineup to you. self
Just to clarify the state of the game before we get into it, at the time of writing (Aug. 11) the third public iOS 17 beta has arrived (on August 9), but you need a separate update of software for AirPods, and that’s currently only in dev beta. So, the iOS 17 beta doesn’t update AirPods so we’re a bit in limbo – you “can” get these upgrades now if you pay for the dev beta. For most of us, it’s “you” getting these parts in September. Got it? Good.
1. Adaptive Audio (read: Adaptive Noise Control)
Adaptive Audio (which you prefer to think of as Adaptive Noise Control) is an exclusive feature of AirPods Pro 2 that combines ANC and Transparency modes in a seamless all-in-one listening experience engineered to adjust the amount you stream based on your immediate surroundings – and of course, your interactions throughout the day.
Noise control works to eliminate external ambient sounds (think airplane jet engines, AC units, the hum of traffic on a highway), while making sure you don’t miss anything you want. you can hear, for example. your flight attendant asking if you’d like the meat-free option.
And one more bit specific to AirPods Pro 2 is this: as MacRumors knows, with the updated firmware, the Adaptive Audio feature can be activated (after AirPods are connected) via open the Control Center, long press the volume, and select the “Adaptive” option that includes Transparency and Noise Cancellation.
2. Conversational Awareness (never miss the gossip)
Technically, Conversation Awareness is part of Adaptive Audio, but it’s a neat perk that deserves its own entry. This feature can be detected when someone is speaking, a little like Sony’s Speak to Chat tech, which arrived in 2020 with extra ears on the Sony WH-1000XM4, although that responds to YOUR voice, not the people around you. Apple’s response detects a conversation going on in your immediate environment, lowers the volume of your music, and reduces background noise while enhancing the sounds in front of you so you can get the scoop.
Are we still thinking about not removing your earbuds in the office when someone rude comes over? One for the water cooler, maybe.
3. Personalized number (your iPhone knows you)
Again, this is all part and parcel of Adaptive Audio, but Personalized Volume is worth mentioning because it adjusts the sound of what’s playing based on your own personal preferences and the ambient sound of your environment.
Yes, your iPhone will actually learn more about your preferred listening volume, over time, adjusting to match your preferred sound level as needed.
4. Mute and unmute during calls with new on-ear functionality
This one is not only for AirPods Pro 2. By pressing the trunk of AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2 or third generation. AirPods 3, you can mute and unmute yourself while you are on a call. It also works on the AirPods Max if you press the button-slash-dial on the right ear cup behind the headband during calls, aka the Digital Crown.
5. Automatic device switching, but snappier
AirPods Pro 2 can automatically switch between Apple devices more easily in iOS 17. Will we get triple multipoint device connectivity, as first seen on the Technics EAH-AZ80? Apparently not. In fact, my wish for manual control and some of the updates we hope to see (universal EQ adjustment, a battery saving mode, Auracast) are not here…
6. Dark mode, but darker
It’s small, but if you connect AirPods to an iPhone that has Dark Mode enabled (not to be confused with the iPhone’s excellent Do Not Disturb mode), the connection popup will also be in Dark Mode – a notable benefit for those of us who are excited. cueing our dark wave playlists.
