Transparency mode is a feature available on Apples AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that allows outside sound to be heard naturally, almost identically to what would be heard if the earbuds were removed from the ears. Essentially, it mixes outside sounds with your audio, allowing you to hear the world around you without removing the earbuds or headphones. Transparency mode works by channeling outside sound from the exterior microphones and shaping the sound with feedback from the interior microphones using advanced algorithms that run on the H1 chip.

Transparency mode is different from Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which silences external noises by actively picking up background noises and creating inverted soundwaves that help block those noises out. When Transparency mode is enabled, the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max use built-in microphones to recreate your sonic surroundings as precisely as possible so that you can hear the world around you without removing the earpieces.

Transparency mode is a convenience feature that allows you to leave the earphones in your ears in situations where it would be inconvenient for them to be taken out. It can also help bypass passive noise cancellation or the natural sound-blocking seal made by in-ear earphones. Transparency mode can be activated by pressing and holding the Force sensor located on the stem of the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max.

In summary, Transparency mode is a feature that allows outside sound to be heard naturally while wearing Apples AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. It works by channeling outside sound from the exterior microphones and shaping the sound with feedback from the interior microphones using advanced algorithms that run on the H1 chip. Transparency mode is different from Active Noise Cancellation and is a convenience feature that allows you to leave the earphones in your ears in situations where it would be inconvenient for them to be taken out.