Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse after firmware update 7A294

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Level 1

125 points

Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse after firmware update 7A294

The active noise cancellation on (at least) the AirPods Pro 2 is much worse after firmware update 7A294, including 7A302. The noise cancellation effect seems noticeably weaker now, roughly 50-70% as effective. Qualitatively, the effect is now closer to a slightly quieter adaptive mode. Essentially, I can now practically hear everything at a reduced volume, and my Sony 1000XM5 headphones now perform much better than my AirPods Pro 2, and this wasn't the case until the firmware/iOS 18 update.

Troubleshooting steps I've tried:

Cleaning the AirPods and tips (gentle surfactant/alcohol wipes, Blu-Tack), although they were already clean
Replacing the tips (they were already pristine)
Changing tips and ensuring proper fit
Resetting the AirPods
Toggling all settings on and off (Off, Transparency, Adaptive, Noise Cancellation)
Ensuring I hadn't accidentally selected something other than the noise cancellation mode
Having the AirPods replaced at the Apple Store

None of the above remedied the issue.

Some examples and context:

I can now fully make out conversations on the train in Tokyo, which I wasn't able to do that up until a day or two ago. To wit, train announcers are now less distant and audible. I can now hear people conversing on the other side of the carriage, and at one point, I was able to make out the music leaking out of someone else’s headphones...
I can now make out talking heads playing at low volume on a TV in another room.
I can now make out external sounds when ANC and Background Sounds (Dark Noise) are active at the same time, and up until the most recent update this combination was closer to being fully isolated.
Background music in convenience stores is now fully present, where as prior to the update I couldn't hear a thing.
I now no longer bother swapping to Transparency when my girlfriend is trying to talk to me across the room, because I can hear everything she has to say while noise cancellation mode is active. In the past, having to toggle between settings was a source of annoyance for us.

The situation is particularly disappointing, as I once adored these headphones, and the degradation of the noise cancellation effect makes the AirPods Pro 2 essentially more annoying than anything else.

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 4:53 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

corneliu_sava

Level 1

74 points

Sep 29, 2024 1:51 PM in response to P1otr

Same for me. From best AirPods with which I bragged to everyone who didn't have a pair of AirPods to checking if ANC is even turned on. We need to get Apple's attention so maybe have everyone else affected, comment on this thread.

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Answer 2

Pheidl Author

Level 1

125 points

Sep 29, 2024 7:24 PM in response to corneliu_sava

And the most recent firmware update, 7A305, is no better. I guess, for whatever reason, Apple decided to completely scuff the noise cancellation quality on AirPods Pro. I’m not even sure it makes sense to say the AirPods Pro have “Active Noise Cancellation” anymore. And yeah, that sounds dumb on the face of it, but they’re honestly no better than mediocre earplugs right now.

My guesses are:

Apple ran up against the limitations of the onboard compute, which now has to handle the hearing aids feature, the Siri nod to respond thing, the changes to Adaptive mode, etc.
These new features, in addition to ANC, impacted battery life in an unacceptable way. I’m not actually sure what kind of burden ANC places on the battery, but I imagine that having to be ready to detect speech in real time in Adaptive mode, and having to monitor the kinematics of the headphones to handle the new Siri stuff, has a non trivial impact on the battery.
Apple wanted the ANC on the new AirPods 4 to seem qualitatively similar to the AirPods Pro at launch to drive sales, because they know that reviewers aren’t diligent enough to perform scientific slash objective measures of the noise cancellation performance, especially on older products, and that most users aren’t discerning enough to notice or care?
Enough people complained about “ear pressure” and or someone wasn’t looking where they were going and had a very quiet accident?
Apple were sued and were forced to roll their own ANC algorithm on short notice slash someone has the rights to whatever amazing ANC code they were running?

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Answer 3

P1otr

Level 1

38 points

Sep 27, 2024 1:51 PM in response to Pheidl

Unfortunately, it’s the same for me. Sometimes I even check if I actually have the noise cancellation mode turned on because so many sounds are coming through. I hope Apple will do something about it because, in fact, they’ve ruined my favorite headphones.

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Answer 4

Sep 26, 2024 8:43 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here. Noise cancellation is worse and very frustrating, especially when commuting or when the someone is watching TV while I'm watching a podcast on my phone. I tried resetting the AirPods to factory settings, tried with another Iphone 14Pro... same thing, ANC is worse than before the update.

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Answer 5

Gallyga

Level 1

48 points

Sep 30, 2024 4:12 AM in response to Pheidl

I was on a train yesterday and could hear everything. It’s almost completely pointless having noise cancelling turned on.

I’m sat here writing this, listening to the radio as someone sat at a table 2 metres away and I can hear everything they are saying to each other.

Prior to iOS 18 the noise cancelling was decent on these same earphones.

I hope apple fixes this.

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Answer 6

ath86

Level 1

74 points

Sep 25, 2024 1:13 PM in response to Pheidl

I am experiencing the same issue!

After iOS 18 update my noice canceling is weaker! I am pretty sure thet Apple reduce the noice canceling at least by 30%-50% and i dont know the reason!

i had the best earpods in the market and now its like a usual earpods. You cannot understand a lot of difference between transparency and Noice canceling! Its frustrating!

what is going on Apple? Will this problem solved anytime soon?

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Answer 7

Oct 2, 2024 4:46 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here. I want my old good noise cancellation back!

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Answer 8

Oct 9, 2024 10:32 AM in response to Pheidl

I can literally hear water dripping with ANC on on my AP2. It’s mind-boggling that Apple doesn’t allow us to opt out of or at least confirm firmware updates for the AirPods, the same way we do for iOS updates. It’s unfair that they can push out updates that downgrade functionality without giving us a choice.

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Answer 9

mrveidar

Level 1

20 points

Sep 29, 2024 8:07 AM in response to Pheidl

I am experiencing the same issue - it is a bit like ANC isn’t on at all. It is much weaker than before updating to iOS 18. I really hope this is not planned obsolescence.

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Answer 10

Pheidl Author

Level 1

125 points

Oct 26, 2024 8:11 PM in response to Pheidl

Update: Firmware version 7B19 was released. I continue to experience the same degraded noise cancellation effect on my AirPods Pro 2 that was introduced with version 7A294.

More info. on the latest AirPods firmware here: About firmware updates for AirPods - Apple Support

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Answer 11

ath86

Level 1

74 points

Oct 8, 2024 12:45 AM in response to JereRoge

We all have to push for that issue! In every Forum and community! And just maybe we will have a response…

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Answer 12

Nov 25, 2024 10:13 AM in response to Pheidl

This issue is still occurring with version 7B21. Will this be fixed, or should we start considering another device to manage turning Noise Cancelling on and off? I have Auditory Processing Disorder (I’m on the autism spectrum), and ANC is an essential part of my daily routine

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Answer 13

goiy

Level 1

32 points

Oct 6, 2024 6:35 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here - transparency custom mode, headphone accommodations with audiogram are not working since 7A302 IOS18.0.1 (possibly earlier) The 'hearing aid' effect is now gone, after Apple made a fuss about it being FDA approved ! Volume goes up and down randomly too

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Answer 14

JereRoge

Level 1

32 points

Oct 7, 2024 10:04 PM in response to Pheidl

Same here. I can hear everything in the office now, and even worst when I go into the workshop with all the machinery. Very dissapointed, I hope they release a report explaining what happened and fix it.

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Answer 15

cdrrules

Level 1

26 points

Oct 10, 2024 8:30 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here. Great noise cancellation previously, now basically no noise cancellation. I use them in a noisy office setting and can hear every outside conversation, HVAC noise, etc. as if I didn't have AirPods in my ears at all. I loved these AirPods when I got them 6 months ago, now not sure that they're worth even keeping at this point.

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