Overview
- Apple released the new builds on Tuesday, June 16, moving AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 to firmware 8B41 and Beats Studio Buds to 1B211.
- Beats firmware 1B211 addresses a microphone security vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-20701 that could let an attacker within Bluetooth range listen on an unpaired, pairing-seeking device.
- Apple’s public notes for the AirPods 8B41 update list only generic “bug fixes and other improvements” and do not detail security fixes like the Beats release note does.
- Users receive the updates automatically by keeping the earbuds connected to a paired iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is on the latest OS, placing the earbuds in a powered charging case, and waiting at least 30 minutes with the case closed.
- The rollout is part of Apple’s routine, incremental firmware cadence and follows developer betas that added support for larger AirPods features planned for iOS 27 in the fall.