Apple releases fifth AirPods beta firmware with iOS 27 support
Apple released beta firmware build 9A5347a for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2, making it available to developers and public beta testers.
9to5Mac noted that Apple is preparing to launch RAW 9, a significant upgrade to its image processing engine that utilizes machine learning to enhance clarity in photography.
The outlet reported on a new system-level RAW engine coming to iOS 27 and macOS 27 that combines demosaicing and denoising via the Apple Neural Engine.
The shift toward machine-learning-based processing could provide professional photographers with significantly higher output quality from both new and legacy hardware.
The report cites specific details and technical explanations from a WWDC session.
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Marcus Mendes
“iOS 27 photos Apple overhauls RAW photo processing with iOS 27, showcases impressive results Marcus Mendes | Jul 6 2026 - 3:52 pm PT 4 Comments With iOS 27 and its companion system”
Recommended from Apple topics and recent confidence changes
The August 20 episode of 9to5Mac Happy Hour discusses an Apple video showing new camera-equipped AirPods, changes in iOS 27 beta 6, Siri AI and whether iPhone 18 Pro will fit iPhone 17 Pro cases.
Apple Newsroom announced revised business terms for apps distributed in the European Union after working with the European Commission. The unified terms include a 5 percent Core Technology Commission for certain digital transactions outside the App Store and take effect October 1.
9to5Mac reported that watchOS 27 appears to expand the Modular Apple Watch face with nine new color choices, based on code found in an iOS 27 beta. The outlet said the beta does not yet show the colors in preview form.
9to5Mac reports that Apple’s September product event is approaching and discusses more than ten products that could launch in September or soon after, with new iPhone and Apple Watch models the strongest expectations.