Apple has fixed a firmware update blocker for AirPods Max 2 in iOS 27 beta 2, released today, allowing developers to install the new AirPods firmware on the $549 headphones. The issue was acknowledged in Apple’s own developer release notes under bug ID 178280323, which stated plainly that AirPods Max 2 firmware beta updates were not supported in iOS 27 Beta 1 or macOS 27 Beta 1. That limitation is now resolved.
The AirPods Max 2 launched in March 2026 powered by Apple’s H2 chip, and it is one of the headline devices for a new wave of AirPods software features arriving in iOS 27 this fall. The AirPods firmware beta, which carries build number 9A5292e, is only available to developers at this time and requires iOS 27 beta 2 (build 24A5370h) or macOS 27 Golden Gate beta 2 (build 26A5368g) to install.
What the AirPods Max 2 firmware beta adds
The biggest feature unlocked by the new firmware is a customizable 3-band EQ built directly into AirPods settings, letting users adjust lows, mids, and highs to create their own sound profile. Apple has historically handled equalization automatically through Adaptive EQ, adapting the sound to each media genre without user input, so giving listeners manual control is a notable departure from that approach. Apple says the feature includes an interactive preview so users can hear changes in real time before committing to them.
Beyond custom EQ, iOS 27 brings a redesigned AirPods interface and compatibility with the new Siri AI to H2 chip-equipped models. These features are limited to headphones running the H2 chip, which means only the following models qualify:
- AirPods 4
- AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)
- AirPods Pro 3
- AirPods Max 2
Apple released the firmware beta for AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3 earlier, around June 9, so AirPods Max 2 is the last of the H2 models to gain access. Developers can enable the beta firmware download through the AirPods settings interface when the headphones are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running the appropriate beta software.
Other changes in iOS 27 beta 2
The AirPods Max 2 fix is the most notable resolved issue in today’s release, but beta 2 also addresses several other problems that surfaced after the first build. iPhone Mirroring between iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate is more reliable after crash issues in beta 1, including improvements to app resizing and automatic return to iPhone size. RCS in Messages now supports inline replies, and the Apple Home app can remotely update an Apple TV 4K, bringing it in line with how HomePod updates are already handled.
Apple is targeting a public beta release for iOS 27 in July, with the final version shipping to everyone this fall. For the vast majority of AirPods Max 2 owners, the custom EQ and other iOS 27 firmware features will not arrive until that general release, but the beta 2 fix signals that the hardware is fully prepared for what is coming.
Given that AirPods Max 2 went more than five years without a major update before launching this year, missing the first software cycle for its own chip generation would have been a notable problem. Apple appears to have caught the issue early enough that it should not matter by fall.
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