With the release of iOS 16.1 beta 3 last week, owners of the first-generation AirPods Pro and AirPods Max noticed that the update enabled the “Adaptive Transparency” option for these earphones. While it was unclear whether the feature was actually coming to older AirPods or not, Apple has now removed the option with iOS 16.1 beta 4, confirming that it was just a bug.

Adaptive Transparency not coming to older AirPods

Transparency Mode is a feature available in the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that uses the built-in microphones to let users hear the world around them without having to take off the earphones. The second-generation AirPods Pro expand on this functionality with a new Adaptive Transparency Mode feature.

However, according to Apple, Adaptive Transparency relies on the new H2 chip to “minimize the intensity of loud noises like sirens or power tools.” While some users believed that this feature would be expanded to more AirPods somehow, this is not the case.

More about iOS 16.1

The update also adds a Clean Energy Charging option, Live Activities API, early support for the Matter protocol, and the option to delete the Wallet app. For iPad users, iPadOS 16.1 brings Stage Manager for older iPad Pro models with the A12X and A12Z chips.

Read also:

  • iOS 16.1 beta 1: Here are all of the new features and changes
  • iOS 16.1 beta 2: These are the new features and changes coming with the latest update
  • iOS 16.1 beta 3 now lets users switch between wallpaper sets in the Settings app
  • iOS 16.1 to feature ‘Satellite Connection Demo’ for iPhone 14 users