Following the release of the first-ever Rapid Security Response update, which brought significant security fixes to billions of devices running iOS/iPadOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1, Apple released an update on Tuesday. firmware update (5E135) for all AirPods models except the original earphones from 2016. I’m willing to bet most AirPods aren’t even on the previous firmware (5E133), let alone this new.
Even though AirPods have been released since 2017, Apple still doesn’t have a proper way to update its popular headphones. While all other devices have some sort of button that lets you download and install the update, AirPods don’t. You need to a) know there’s an update, b) plug them in within range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and c) wait an indefinite amount of time.
Most people don’t know these steps, and many probably don’t even know that their AirPods received an update from the day they bought them. I wonder how many people even know how to check their AirPods firmware. (Go to the Settings app, tap Bluetooth, then tap the information (“i”) button next to your AirPods name. Then, on the next screen, scroll down to the About section to find the firmware version.)
And it’s even worse if you don’t have an Apple device. Windows PC or Android phone users cannot update their AirPods even if they know they need to. Instead, Apple tells them to go to an Apple Store to get the latest firmware, which they probably wouldn’t even know was there in the first place. Granted, that’s probably not a huge number of users, but if you’re selling your product to people who don’t have an Apple device, there should be a way to update it without making an appointment. you or go to an Apple Store. .
Earphone updates certainly aren’t as big as iPhone, Mac, or Watch updates, but they shouldn’t be a black hole either. Not all AirPods updates are bug fixes and other improvements. Sometimes new features, such as Spatial Audio and Conversation Boost, need to be added after purchase. I wonder how many AirPods Pro users never even realized they had these new features because Apple didn’t tell them.
With three models and hundreds of millions of devices in use, Apple’s AirPods are no longer a niche product and they are certainly more popular than the HomePod, which has an easy update method via the app. Home. Before iOS 17, Apple just streamlined the process of installing betas by linking them to Apple IDs and eliminating the arduous process of installing profiles. It’s time for Apple to do the same for AirPods updates.
