New firmware for the Beats Studio Pro has finally added Apple’s audio sharing feature to the $349 over-ear headphones launched a year ago.
The new firmware has build number 2C301. This is up from the prior build, 2B68, which is the version that shipped with the Beats Studio Pro.
The recently launched Beats Solo4 had audio sharing from day one. The Beats Studio Pro and the Beats Solo4 are powered by the same in-house custom chip developed by Beats, so it’s unsurprising they support similar audio features. But considering the Beats Studio Pro arrived in July 2023, it’s surprising it took more than a year to add audio sharing.
Beats Studio Pro include noise cancellation, enhanced transparency mode, personalized spatial audio and Find My tracking. The $349 headphones were Apple’s first Beats product to feature USB-C and lossless audio via USB-C.
How to use audio sharing with Beats headphones
With audio sharing, you and a friend can both listen to audio from an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV with compatible AirPods or Beats headphones. To connect two pairs of headphones for audio sharing, choose Share Audio below your connected headphones within the AirPlay menu in the Control Center.
Or, tell a friend to enable pairing mode on their Beats headphones while in their charging case with the lid open and bring the case near your device, then choose Share Audio from a popup card on your iPhone. Visit Apple’s website for a list of headphones that support audio sharing.
How to update the firmware on your Beats headphones
Like with AirPods, Beats products are updated silently in the background with no intervention on your part. “Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your Beats headphones or earphones are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi-Fi,” notes Apple’s support document.
How to check the Beats firmware version
To check your Beats firmware version, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad or System Settings > Bluetooth on your Mac, then hit the ⓘ (Info) button next to your paired and connected Beats headphones. You’ll find the firmware version number listed in the About section.
If your Beats are paired with an Android phone, you can use the official Beats Android app. The Beats Updater desktop app is officially retired and is no longer used to download and install Beats firmware updates.