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AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Beta firmware 9B5043a lands for AirPods Pro 3

Firmware build 9B5043a is now live for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Max 2 — but Apple isn’t saying what’s inside.

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The Gadgets Desk · (13 Oct 2026)

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 beta firmware update notification on iPhone screen
Apple AirPods Pro 3 beta firmware update notification on iPhone screenPhoto via 9to5Mac
AirPods Pro 3 vs Pro 2 One Year Later… It’s Not Even Close · 9to5Mac on YouTube

Apple has pushed beta firmware build 9B5043a to AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Max 2 — confirming the AirPods Pro 3 is already in active circulation among testers ahead of any official launch announcement. The update rolled out globally on October 13, 2026, alongside macOS 27.2 Golden Gate beta 4 and other OS betas.

No public notes accompany the firmware, and Apple has not disclosed what’s new or fixed inside it. That includes no mention of features, battery tweaks, spatial audio refinements, or ANC improvements, all common points of speculation around AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2 comparisons. Nor does Apple say whether this firmware will ship with the final retail version of the AirPods Pro 3.

It’s strictly for developers and public beta enrollees. To opt in, users must toggle ‘Beta Updates’ in AirPods settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running iOS 26 or later. Then connect the earbuds to power and wait. Installation can take hours.

No reset instructions are required for the Pro 3 specifically, though both 9to5Mac and MacRumors note resetting remains a fallback for older models if updates stall. The AirPods Pro 3 itself remains unannounced: no price, no release date, no specs beyond its inclusion in this beta rollout. Rumours linking it to a late-2026 launch persist, but Apple hasn’t confirmed anything.

What’s clear is that the device is functional enough to run signed beta firmware, and that Apple is treating it as part of the same ecosystem as the newly launched HomeView smart display and Apple TV 4K. Next step? Watch for iOS 27.2’s public release. Likely in November, which may carry broader AirPods compatibility hints, or trigger a wider firmware rollout.

Where to buy · 4 products

Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Hitechreports earns from qualifying purchases. Prices change; the story gives the price as reported when it was written.

AirPods Pro 3: everything we knowPrice, specs, release date and deals in one place
TopicsAirPods Pro 3betaairpods-pro-2firmwareapple

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How this story was made

Written by the Hitechreports desk from the reporting credited above, with facts attributed to their original publishers. We do not test devices ourselves; anything about performance, battery life or cameras comes from the outlets that did. Prices are as reported at the time of writing. Editorial policy · Report an error

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