AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability

https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html

Please go to the feedback page and send a formal complaint.

If the ANC performance keep the current level, I will definitely not recommend others to buy it.

2D15 has not fixed ANC and has made the other big bug (clicking sound) WORSE for me. There are now 3 current bugs (this one has been around 6 months, second has been around for a few months, and the last one has been around since 13.4.1 has been released. All with no word or acknowledgement from Apple.

There are three main bugs that have NOT been fixed (two with AirPods Pro that just got updated today with NO fixes):

1) ANC-issue since 2B588 firmware (released Nov. 2019) that remained in 2C54 and new 2D15 (released 5/5/2020): https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615?answerId=252591015022 (our thread)

2) Clicking sound on AirPods Pro that has been around for months also not fixed today with 2D15 (got worse for me).

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251050158?answerId=252591252022

3) iOS devices running 13.4.1 are having major battery drain issues since updating. There is no known fix as of today. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251265543?answerId=252584580022

I don't want to argue. I just want to know if you had a pair of APP running the OCT 2019 F/W either 2B57X or 2B584 (the last that had the "old" ANC).

Also, I didn't intend to speculate and was describing my own personal experience (which isn't speculation) combined with what others on this thread and two others have said to describe the overall experience. I can say with confidence that sadly 2D15 has not fixed the ANC problem nor the single AirPod "clicking" sound bug (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251050158?answerId=252591493022) for myself. Others are also saying the same and said that within the first hour of updating ~14 hours ago.

I was very optimistic for this update. Some on other sites were calling it "The Big Fix". But... for me, it doesn't seem so.

I really appreciate this info. This is very helpful. Do you know anything (or have any of your 40 people if you can ask them) experienced the one-sided-AirPod "clicking", "tapping", "static" noise issue? (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251050158?answerId=252591493022)

Apple told me that it is a common issue and that it is F/W related and I swapped mine out multiple times. They told me to "expect" a similar problem even when swapping out. They were correct.

2D15 seems to make this static clicking sound louder for me unfortunately confirming again that it's F/W and not H/W. But at least it's F/W which means it can be fixed (at some point).

I will have to play with ANC more when I go out. I updated overnight and have only played with it in the house.

Thanks for putting time into this reply. I do appreciate the genuine effort and thoroughness of it.

Ok so it is plain and simple. They easiest way to test is as follow:

1. Swipe down on your phone to get to the Control Centre.
2. Press down and hold on the Volume Slider on the screen.
3. Now snap your fingers let's say on the right hand side of your head close to the Airpod and whilst doing that switch between "Noise Cancellation" and "Off".

For me there is absolutely no difference in audibility of my fingers snapping. I would like to hear if you have the same experience because this simply means that the ANC does not work at all.

I had many other reasons for feeling the way I did.

I was a loyal customer for 13 years and was also plagued by the APP clicking sound (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251050158) and the ridiculous iOS 13.4.1 (13.5, 13.5.1) battery draining bug (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251265543) that rendered my $1200 XS Max unusable. And then I was called a liar and talked to like an animal by GM of the Apple Store and that was the last straw. You can see my post from the other forums.

My last post there:

Yeap. I am done with Apple.

Went to the Apple Store and was talked to and treated like an animal (minus one kind Korean female staff member who was empathetic).

The GM (Aussie guy) at the Seoul Flagship store accused me of lying (implicitly) and finally threw me over the edge to switch to Samsung (where I not only received great customer service but also a bunch of free perks and free gifts).

Shiny new S20 Ultra with 5G and an AMOLED and battery bigger than my face.

My gf sold my iPhone for me today.

13 years of loyal Apple customer -- OVER. AND OUT.

That was the only proper fix for this problem for me!

Someone let us know because I sold my iPhone now after https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251265543?page=14 a battery that drained in about 2 hours and being talked down to at Apple Store. So I'd have to borrow my friend's iPad to update APP which are the only product that I still have. Going to gift my dad my old Apple Watch as a late Father's Day gift while I use my S20 Ultra and Watch Active2.

See this forum (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251050158).

They might swap them out. If they don't accuse you of lying like they did to me 🙃

They said they "couldn't reproduce the problem" but they REFUSED TO PUT THEM IN THEIR OWN EARS.

Horrible customer service. 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃

Shanesnh wrote:

Someone let us know because I sold my iPhone now after https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251265543?page=14 a battery that drained in about 2 hours and being talked down to at Apple Store. So I'd have to borrow my friend's iPad to update APP which are the only product that I still have. Going to gift my dad my old Apple Watch as a late Father's Day gift while I use my S20 Ultra and Watch Active2.

After your conduct here, I'm not surprised.

My problems with the Airpods Pro - I'm on firmware 2C54, and my APPs are hardware version 1.0.0:

1. I hate the high-frequency "warble" when moving/chewing etc, with ANC/transparency mode on! (ref. another big thread in here)
2. There's more bass with ANC/transparency mode ON than OFF. (that's nice, when I can't use ANC while walking/jogging etc because of the high-frequency warble)
3. ANC is worse than with 2B584 and even 2B588
4. When I got my Airpods Pro, I got "Good Seal" (in green) with every "Ear tip fit test" I took. With both medium and large tips. Now I have yellow on every test. Same tips, and same ears ;) I get "Good seal" if I gently push them in the ear canal while testing.

*** Apple? $250 (more than $320 here in Norway) and you forked it up!! Fix it!!!

I'm here, hating 2C54, but not giving up! I need an updated firmware now!

• Treble "warble"
• Sub-par ANC (compared to 2B584)
• Ear fit tip test failing (worked on 2B584 and 2B588)
• Less bass with ANC/Transparent OFF

I'm past my return date, so I either need to keep them or lose money and sell them on the second hand market :(

Did I say it? I need a new and better firmware NOW!

There is no fix for this issue, and asking Apple to do something, doesn't work. It would surprise me if Apple actually reads this forum. You have about 3 options

• Ignore the situation
• Leave the AirPods and wait for a new firmware
• Buy another brand (I took this option)

Good luck!

I posted a few weeks ago, because i noticed the deterioration with 2C54 in ANC since i bought them in November 2019, and tried my luck again speaking with the German Apple Support Chat.

Their response in a nutshell:

• They can not give me a replacement set of AirPods, because it is a software problem and not a hardware problem
• Apple engineers are working "hard" to solve the issue with the firmware, but they can not specify a date, when the update will be released

At least they are aware of the problem, but is has been a few months already. I can not believe, that it takes so long to program an update.

You want an update? Here's an update for you all:

1. They delete some of my comments.
2. All issues not fixed yet and it has been 6+ months.
3. They need to be sued.
4. Probably this comment will be deleted too and i'm not breaking any rules.

I'm disappointed and in the future i'm not buying another apple product. Shame.

I agree. No change for the better with ANC. :/

I recently got a pair of replacements with 2B588, and I actually feel that it's less effective with 2D15. :O

The changes I've noticed so far, compared to the 2C54:

• The ear fit test is green. (only yellow with 2C54)
• Bass with ANC/Transparency mode OFF, is now as powerful as with ANC/TM ON (actually marginally more bass with OFF now :O )

Otherwise everything else works fine. Sound is ok (I think sound/bass is a bit fuller overall?).