“Adaptive Transparency,” one of the new capabilities unveiled with the second generation AirPods Pro, takes Transparency Mode to the next level by suppressing particular noises while still allowing users to hear what’s vital around them. However, with the release of iOS 16.1 beta 3, owners of the first-generation AirPods Pro now have access to this setting in the iOS Settings app.
Transparency Mode, for those who are new, is a function included in the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that employs the built-in microphones to allow users to hear the environment around them without having to remove the headphones.
According to Apple, Adaptive Transparency in AirPods Pro 2 employs the new H2 chip (not found in older AirPods) to “minimize the intensity of harsh sounds like sirens or power tools.” However, those who have upgraded their smartphones to iOS 16.1 beta 3 (which was provided to developers last week) may now activate Adaptive Transparency for the previous AirPods Pro.
According to some Reddit users, the most recent iOS beta also includes a new AirPods beta firmware (version 5A304a) that allows Adaptive Transparency for the first-generation AirPods Pro. However, it’s unclear if the functionality genuinely works or whether it’s a problem at this time.
In the past, Apple has accidentally activated features in iOS that should not be available to everyone, thus users of the original AirPods Pro may see Adaptive Transparency in the Settings app. We’ll have to wait till more people try and compare the new option to determine whether it really works.
