diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-beta.yml b/.github/workflows/build-beta.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a1d584
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-beta.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+name: Build and Publish Beta
+
+# Builds AIR-1 firmware from the beta branch and publishes it as assets on a
+# rolling "beta-fw" pre-release. The on-device "Firmware Channel" select points
+# OTA updates at these assets. Stable firmware is built/published separately
+# by build.yml (push to main -> GitHub Pages).
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [beta]
+    paths:
+      - 'Integrations/ESPHome/**'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+# Least privilege: read-only by default; only publish-beta is elevated to write.
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  version:
+    name: Read version
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      v: ${{ steps.read.outputs.v }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - id: read
+        run: |
+          v=$(awk '/substitutions:/ {f=1} f && /version:/ {print $2; exit}' \
+            Integrations/ESPHome/Core.yaml | tr -d '"')
+          echo "v=$v" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "Beta version: $v"
+
+  build:
+    name: Build ${{ matrix.name }}
+    needs: version
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        include:
+          # Beta serves OTA updates only, so it builds the end-user image
+          # (AIR-1.yaml), not the first-flash Factory image.
+          - { yaml: Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1.yaml,     name: firmware-standard }
+          - { yaml: Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1_BLE.yaml, name: firmware-ble-beta }
+    uses: esphome/workflows/.github/workflows/build.yml@025a1e6255610c498ed590403b7e510b69e474df # 2026.4.1
+    with:
+      files: ${{ matrix.yaml }}
+      esphome-version: stable
+      combined-name: ${{ matrix.name }}
+      release-version: ${{ needs.version.outputs.v }}
+
+  publish-beta:
+    name: Publish beta release assets
+    needs: [version, build]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Download firmware artifacts
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
+        with:
+          path: fw
+          pattern: firmware*
+
+      - name: Ensure rolling 'beta-fw' pre-release exists
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          gh release view beta-fw -R "${{ github.repository }}" >/dev/null 2>&1 \
+            || gh release create beta-fw -R "${{ github.repository }}" \
+                 --prerelease --title "Beta (rolling)" \
+                 --notes "Latest AIR-1 beta firmware. Auto-updated on every push to the beta branch."
+
+      - name: Rewrite manifests to absolute URLs and upload assets
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          BASE="https://github.com/${{ github.repository }}/releases/download/beta-fw"
+          declare -A DIRS=( [standard]=firmware-standard [ble]=firmware-ble-beta )
+          for v in standard ble; do
+            src="fw/${DIRS[$v]}"
+            man=$(find "$src" -name manifest.json | head -1)
+            if [ -z "$man" ]; then
+              echo "::error::manifest.json not found for ${DIRS[$v]}"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            # Both variants share a device name, so their bin filenames match.
+            # Release assets are a flat namespace: prefix per variant.
+            find "$src" -name '*.bin' | while read -r bin; do
+              mv "$bin" "$(dirname "$bin")/$v-$(basename "$bin")"
+            done
+            echo "Rewriting $man"
+            # Make ota.path and parts[].path absolute release-asset URLs so the
+            # device never has to resolve a relative path against a redirect.
+            jq --arg base "$BASE" --arg pfx "$v-" '
+              .builds[0].ota.path = ($base + "/" + $pfx + (.builds[0].ota.path | sub(".*/"; "")))
+              | .builds[0].parts |= map(.path = ($base + "/" + $pfx + (.path | sub(".*/"; ""))))
+            ' "$man" > "manifest-$v.json"
+            cat "manifest-$v.json"
+            gh release upload beta-fw "manifest-$v.json" -R "${{ github.repository }}" --clobber
+            find "$src" -name '*.bin' -print -exec \
+              gh release upload beta-fw {} -R "${{ github.repository }}" --clobber \;
+          done
+          echo "Beta assets published."
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index cc32322..65772a2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@ jobs:
       pull-requests: write
     with:
       device-name: air-1
+      # AIR-1.yaml is the end-user image served at firmware/ (OTA updates). The Factory image (improv +
+      # factory test) is only used for first flashes via the web installer.
       yaml-files: |
+        Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1.yaml
         Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_Factory.yaml
         Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_BLE.yaml
-      firmware-names: "1_Factory:firmware,1_BLE:firmware-ble"
+      firmware-names: "1:firmware,1_Factory:firmware-factory,1_BLE:firmware-ble"
       core-yaml-path: Integrations/ESPHome/Core.yaml
       esphome-version: stable
       # Bypass check if manually triggered with bypass option
diff --git a/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1.yaml b/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1.yaml
index fd8a28b..faaab6b 100644
--- a/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1.yaml
+++ b/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1.yaml
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ ota:
   - platform: http_request
     id: ota_managed
 
-http_request:
-  verify_ssl: true
-
 safe_mode:
 
 update:
diff --git a/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_BLE.yaml b/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_BLE.yaml
index 83c1774..4b3461d 100644
--- a/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_BLE.yaml
+++ b/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_BLE.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+substitutions:
+  # Legacy BLE devices keep updating from the firmware-ble manifest.
+  ota_stable_manifest: "https://apolloautomation.github.io/AIR-1/firmware-ble/manifest.json"
+  ota_beta_manifest: "https://github.com/ApolloAutomation/AIR-1/releases/download/beta-fw/manifest-ble.json"
+
 esphome:
   name: "${name}"
   friendly_name: Apollo AIR-1
@@ -38,9 +43,6 @@ ota:
   - platform: http_request
     id: ota_managed
 
-http_request:
-  verify_ssl: true
-
 safe_mode:
 
 update:
@@ -49,13 +51,6 @@ update:
     name: Firmware Update
     source: https://apolloautomation.github.io/AIR-1/firmware-ble/manifest.json
 
-bluetooth_proxy:
-  active: true
-
-esp32_ble_tracker:
-  scan_parameters:
-    active: false
-
 wifi:
   on_connect:
     - component.update: update_http_request
diff --git a/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_Factory.yaml b/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_Factory.yaml
index 0a052a3..f609248 100644
--- a/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_Factory.yaml
+++ b/Integrations/ESPHome/AIR-1_Factory.yaml
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ ota:
   - platform: http_request
     id: ota_managed
 
-http_request:
-  verify_ssl: true
-
 safe_mode:
 
 update:
diff --git a/Integrations/ESPHome/Core.yaml b/Integrations/ESPHome/Core.yaml
index 1250e1d..601d43e 100644
--- a/Integrations/ESPHome/Core.yaml
+++ b/Integrations/ESPHome/Core.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,45 @@
 substitutions:
   name: apollo-air-1
-  version: "26.7.1.1"
+  version: "26.7.14.1"
   device_description: ${name} made by Apollo Automation - version ${version}.
   # Default OTA password. Override in your device YAML by re-declaring
   # `substitutions: { ota_password: !secret <name>_ota_password }` so each
   # device on your network uses a unique secret instead of the shared default.
   ota_password: "apolloautomation"
+  # Default update channel on first boot (no stored user choice yet, i.e. a
+  # fresh flash). The beta-channel builds override this to "Beta" (see
+  # Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/) so firmware obtained from the beta
+  # channel keeps tracking it instead of offering a stable "downgrade".
+  firmware_channel_default: "Stable"
+  # Manifest URL bases. Stable = GitHub Pages (main branch builds).
+  # Beta = rolling "beta-fw" pre-release assets (beta branch builds).
+  stable_manifest_base: "https://apolloautomation.github.io/AIR-1"
+  beta_manifest_base: "https://github.com/ApolloAutomation/AIR-1/releases/download/beta-fw"
+  # Per-variant OTA manifest URLs. Core defaults to the unified (standard)
+  # image; AIR-1_BLE.yaml overrides these so legacy BLE devices stay on the
+  # firmware-ble manifest.
+  ota_stable_manifest: "${stable_manifest_base}/firmware/manifest.json"
+  ota_beta_manifest: "${beta_manifest_base}/manifest-standard.json"
+
+esphome:
+  # List form so package merging concatenates with each variant's own on_boot
+  # entries (mapping form would be replaced by the variant's block instead).
+  on_boot:
+    - priority: -100
+      then:
+        - script.execute: apply_ota_source
+    # Re-apply the Bluetooth Proxy switch after all components set up, so BLE
+    # scanning matches the persisted switch (proxy stays off by default).
+    - priority: -300
+      then:
+        - if:
+            condition:
+              switch.is_on: bluetooth_proxy_switch
+            then:
+              - esp32_ble_tracker.start_scan:
+                  continuous: true
+            else:
+              - esp32_ble_tracker.stop_scan:
 
 esp32:
   variant: esp32c3
@@ -13,7 +47,26 @@ esp32:
   framework:
     type: esp-idf
 
+esp32_ble_tracker:
+  id: ble_tracker
+  scan_parameters:
+    continuous: true
+
+bluetooth_proxy:
+
+http_request:
+  verify_ssl: true
+  # GitHub release-asset downloads answer with a redirect carrying a
+  # ~3.6 KB Content-Security-Policy header; each header line must fit
+  # this buffer or the request fails with "HTTP_CLIENT: Out of buffer".
+  buffer_size_rx: 5120
+  # The redirect target is a signed URL with a ~850-char query string; the
+  # follow-up request line must fit the TX buffer or esp_http_client_open
+  # fails with "Out of buffer" before sending anything.
+  buffer_size_tx: 2048
+
 api:
+  encryption:
   on_client_connected:
     - delay: 90s
     - if:
@@ -442,6 +495,34 @@ button:
     on_press:
       - sen5x.start_fan_autoclean: sen55
 
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Firmware Update"
+    id: update_firmware
+    icon: mdi:cloud-download
+    entity_category: "config"
+    on_press:
+      - logger.log: "Applying firmware update for the selected channel"
+      # OTA download needs the device awake for its whole duration.
+      - lambda: |-
+          id(deep_sleep_1).prevent_deep_sleep();
+      - delay: 3s
+      - script.execute: apply_ota_source
+      - script.wait: apply_ota_source
+      # The manifest fetch runs in its own task; give it a fixed window to land
+      # (update.is_available stays false for same-version switches).
+      - delay: 5s
+      - lambda: id(update_http_request).perform(true);
+      # Only reached if the update did not start (e.g. manifest unreachable).
+      # Re-arm deep sleep unless something else is holding the device awake.
+      - if:
+          condition:
+            and:
+              - switch.is_off: prevent_sleep
+              - binary_sensor.is_off: ota_mode
+          then:
+            - lambda: |-
+                id(deep_sleep_1).allow_deep_sleep();
+
 text_sensor:
     # Convert VOC Index To Text: 
     # https://sensirion.com/media/documents/02232963/6294E043/Info_Note_VOC_Index.pdf
@@ -522,6 +603,19 @@ switch:
             id: setCo2AutoCalibration
             enable: false
 
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Bluetooth Proxy"
+    id: bluetooth_proxy_switch
+    icon: mdi:bluetooth
+    entity_category: "config"
+    restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
+    optimistic: true
+    on_turn_on:
+      - esp32_ble_tracker.start_scan:
+          continuous: true
+    on_turn_off:
+      - esp32_ble_tracker.stop_scan:
+
 select:
   - platform: template
     name: "Air Quality LED Source"
@@ -536,7 +630,34 @@ select:
       then:
         - script.execute: update_air_quality_led
 
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Firmware Channel"
+    id: firmware_channel
+    icon: mdi:source-branch
+    entity_category: "config"
+    optimistic: true
+    restore_value: true
+    options:
+      - "Stable"
+      - "Beta"
+    initial_option: "${firmware_channel_default}"
+    on_value:
+      then:
+        - script.execute: apply_ota_source
+
 script:
+  - id: apply_ota_source
+    # Sets the OTA manifest URL from the Firmware Channel select (Stable/Beta).
+    # The manifest base is per-variant (ota_*_manifest substitutions) so legacy
+    # AIR-1_BLE builds keep their firmware-ble manifest.
+    then:
+      - lambda: |-
+          const bool beta = id(firmware_channel).current_option() == "Beta";
+          std::string url = beta ? "${ota_beta_manifest}" : "${ota_stable_manifest}";
+          ESP_LOGI("firmware", "OTA manifest set to: %s", url.c_str());
+          id(update_http_request).set_source_url(url);
+      - component.update: update_http_request
+
   - id: setCo2AutoCalibration
     mode: restart
     parameters:
diff --git a/Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1.yaml b/Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ddc70f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Beta-channel build of AIR-1.yaml: the identical image except the Firmware
+# Channel select defaults to "Beta" on first boot, so firmware obtained from
+# the beta channel keeps tracking it. Built by build-beta.yml only; the
+# stable (GitHub Pages) builds use AIR-1.yaml directly.
+substitutions:
+  firmware_channel_default: "Beta"
+
+packages:
+  base: !include ../AIR-1.yaml
diff --git a/Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1_BLE.yaml b/Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1_BLE.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3472fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Integrations/ESPHome/beta-channel/AIR-1_BLE.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Beta-channel build of AIR-1_BLE.yaml: the identical image except the Firmware
+# Channel select defaults to "Beta" on first boot, so firmware obtained from
+# the beta channel keeps tracking it. Built by build-beta.yml only; the
+# stable (GitHub Pages) builds use AIR-1_BLE.yaml directly.
+substitutions:
+  firmware_channel_default: "Beta"
+
+packages:
+  base: !include ../AIR-1_BLE.yaml
diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index 0235fd5..99a5cfd 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ <h1>Apollo AIR-1 Installer</h1>
       <div class="button-row" style="display: flex; justify-content: center; gap: 20px; align-items: center;">
         <div>
           <p>AIR-1 Firmware</p>
-          <esp-web-install-button manifest="./firmware/manifest.json"></esp-web-install-button>
+          <esp-web-install-button manifest="./firmware-factory/manifest.json"></esp-web-install-button>
         </div>
       </div>