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Pheidl Author

Level 1

77 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

Top-ranking reply

corneliu_sava

Level 1

44 points

Posted on Sep 29, 2024 1:51 PM

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.

View in context

53 replies

bigjhnny

Level 1

14 points

Oct 28, 2024 5:56 PM in response to Pheidl

Same here. I could work previously with kids running in the background. Now I can hear them yelling at each other. This is NOT what I purchased. Please fix this ASAP. It's impairing my ability to work remotely.

Nov 4, 2024 7:16 PM in response to Pheidl

I recently noticed this as well after using them in a noisy server room. ANC was less comfortable than both adaptive and even off. It felt like ANC doesn't remove certain mid range frequencies anymore, so they felt loud with it enabled.

Tried it in other situations and noticed I can hear people speak relatively easily. Tried a running sink and it was only slightly quieter than adaptive (set to less noise). As I was testing them just now I heard my refrigerator turn on and I have no issues hearing it continue to run.

Pheidl Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 16, 2024 7:33 PM in response to Stf11

Yep, this maps to my own experience. The noise cancellation is there, but it’s as if it has been toned down 20, 30, 40%, something like that.

Interesting to hear about the AirPods 4 performing better for you. I’d be interested to see someone comparing the two with the tone generator test, or something repeatable I don’t know about. I.e. load up a tone generator on your iPhone, set it an arms length away, lower the volume until you can’t hear the tone on AirPods 4 and then check if this holds with Pro 2.

Anyway, these things were such a god send. What a shame.

Pheidl Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 24, 2024 4:14 AM in response to Scootertheshooter

It's unusual to experience varying noise cancellation performance across different devices with AirPods. The issue being discussed here is almost certainly to do with the AirPods' firmware rather than a particular iOS version or iPhone model conflict, since noise cancellation processing necessarily happens within the AirPods themselves.

Nov 3, 2024 11:14 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here, I was able to watch videos on my mobile while my daughters watched the television in the same room, and now I can hear the television. I was able to have my airpods put and not listen almost anything outside and now I can hear noises and people speaking. I was able to stay in the airplane with near zero noise and now I can hear people speaking and backgroung noise. I was able to work with my kids close and not hear them and now I can hear them in the backgound.

What a shame from apple to reduce the effectiveness of their luxury items... Hope they fix it in the near future.

It would be good if some social media content creators can give visibility on this.

Nov 5, 2024 4:46 AM in response to Pheidl

Same, when I bought these a few months ago, I couldn't hear my son talking to me sitting in front of me. I can now hear him from another room.

Factory reset, deleted and repaired with the same problem.

it started about a month ago.

Pheidl Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 4, 2024 3:37 PM in response to mohanad995

I feel the same way 😩

mfittko

Level 1

14 points

Oct 11, 2024 7:27 AM in response to Pheidl

Same thing, was repeatedly checking if ANC is on or not lately. Also my right side Airpod 2 pro started giving a very bad high pitch feedback noise. No idea if related.

Bond25

Level 1

8 points

Oct 16, 2024 3:52 PM in response to Pheidl

I am in exactly the same situation. No difference between transparence and ANC for a long time. Really disappointed :(!

Oct 22, 2024 9:28 AM in response to Pheidl

I have same issue after ios18 update

Oct 23, 2024 5:03 AM in response to Pheidl

I strongly agree that this is done on propose to force people onto buying new phones. I have an 11 pro max and my old AirPods work fine with it. AirPod pro2 work on my Samsung . Such BS I feel like

Gallyga

Level 1

42 points

Oct 23, 2024 8:43 PM in response to Scootertheshooter

This is happening using iPhone 16 phones as well. I have a iPhone 16 Pro Max and have this issue.

whatever the issue is it’s not the phone. It’s something they have done with iOS 18.

ath86

Level 1

44 points

Oct 28, 2024 11:35 PM in response to Pheidl

Guys! Sorry to hear this but i think nothing will be fixed anytime soon! Apple doesnt recognize this as an issue so…!

Dont wait for something anytime soon!

Oct 30, 2024 1:04 AM in response to Pheidl

Yes. Same issue here. It’s like ANC isn’t filter out some frequency of sound, but boosting it

Nov 1, 2024 2:53 PM in response to Pheidl

Same for me and for another friend of mine. Noise cancelling on Airpods Pro 2 almost inexistent.

Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse after firmware update 7A294