Before you see how you can activate Adaptive Transparency for AirPods Pro 1 (1st gen), let's see a little what this new audio experience means.
For I don't know what reasons, even if Adaptive Transparency is a feature introduced for headphones AirPods Pro 2, with iOS 16.1 this feature also became available for owners of AirPods Pro 1st gen.
Update 04.2023: For iOS 16.1 final and later versions, Apple withdrew the feature Adaptive Transparency for the first model of AirPods Pro, remaining exclusive for AirPods Pro 2.
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What does Adaptive Transparency mean?
With the launch of the new generation AirPods Pro 2, Apple also brought a new ambient sound filtering feature when headphones AirPods Pro I'm in my ear. With the module Adaptive Transparency activated, loud outside sounds are blocked, leaving the user to hear only what is important from outside.
The sounds of police, fire, rescue, construction site sirens will be blocked, while you will hear the other sounds of the environment.
Basically, the feature Adaptive Transparency is a way between Active Noise Cancellation and the mode Transparency Mode.
Very useful, moreover, in the conditions in which the new AirPods Pro 2 I promise one Active Noise Cancellation twice as efficient as the one existing on the first generation of AirPods Pro. This means that outside sounds are almost completely blocked and you can listen to music without problems in the subway, airplane or other places where you are surrounded by loud outside sounds.
How to enable Adaptive Transparency for AirPods Pro 1
Adaptive Transparency was originally announced for AirPods Pro 2. Apple states that this feature is possible thanks to the new H2 chip. Apparently, with the release of iOS 16.1 (beta 3), many owners of AirPods Pro 1 found this feature available in settings AirPods Pro 1.
So if you want to activate Adaptive Transparency for AirPods Pro 1 (first generation), you need to follow these steps:
1. Put the AirPods in your ears, then go to the “Settings” in AirPods settings. With iOS 16.1 these settings appear directly in the main menu under the iCloud account.
2. Under the option “Ear Fit Tip Test” you can also find the option through which you can activate Adaptive Transparency for AirPods Pro 1. (second image in the article).
As I said in the update to this article, Apple withdrew this feature with the release of the final version iOS 16.1, but it is not excluded that it will be available again.