AirPods Pro 3 will not update firmware

I have followed every step on the Apple site to update them to firmware 8A357 (many times, overnight many times). That version is required to use the hearing aid function. The geek squad cannot get them to update. This is the third pair I’ve tried. My phone is a 13 Max Pro. iOS 18.7.1 as of 10-6-2025. Can anyone confirm 8A357 version is the latest for the AirPods and are there problems updating. I’ve spent days trying to get them to update.

ALSO: why are they being shipped with 8A353 that won’t work with the hearing aid function?