By: Dipin Sehdev
Apple’s iOS updates usually bring a handful of new AirPods features, but this year’s headphone-related announcements are relatively light. There are no major new spatial audio tools. No major AirPods interface redesign. No big Apple Intelligence-powered listening mode. But there is one feature that AirPods users have wanted for years:
Custom EQ.
With iOS 27, Apple is finally adding system-level EQ controls for AirPods, giving users a way to adjust the sound of their earbuds and headphones directly instead of relying only on Apple’s default tuning. The first developer beta of iOS 27 is available now, with a public beta expected in July and a full release expected in September 2026. For most headphone companies, this would not be groundbreaking. Sony, Bose, JBL, Cleer, Sennheiser, and others have offered custom EQ settings through their apps for years. For Apple, though, this is a meaningful shift.
AirPods Finally Get More Personal
Apple has traditionally taken a very Apple approach to AirPods sound: trust the tuning. The company has long relied on its own audio engineering, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio processing, and Apple Music EQ presets to shape the listening experience. But users who wanted to change the actual AirPods sound profile at the device level had very limited options. That changes with iOS 27. Apple’s new custom EQ appears to offer a simple three-band adjustment system:
| EQ Band | What It Controls |
|---|---|
| Low | Bass and low-end weight |
| Mid | Vocals, guitars, body, and presence |
| High | Treble, clarity, and sparkle |
This is not the kind of advanced 10-band or parametric EQ that serious audio enthusiasts may want. But it is far better than nothing. And for the average AirPods user, it may be exactly the right level of control.
Apple Is Catching Up, Not Leading
Let’s be honest: Apple is late here. Sony’s Headphones Connect app has offered detailed EQ controls for years. Bose allows users to adjust bass, mids, and treble on many of its headphones. JBL offers multi-band EQ customization. Cleer and other headphone brands also allow users to tailor sound profiles through companion apps. Apple, meanwhile, has continued to ship some of the most popular earbuds and headphones in the world without giving users meaningful sound customization. That always felt strange. AirPods are used by millions of people with very different preferences. Some want more bass. Some want cleaner vocals. Some want sharper treble. Some want a warmer, softer sound for long listening sessions. A fixed sound profile can only go so far. With iOS 27, Apple is finally acknowledging that users should have more control.
Which AirPods Will Support Custom EQ?
Apple has not made every compatibility detail fully clear yet, but early reporting indicates the feature is expected for newer AirPods models, including AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. That means older AirPods owners may need to wait for confirmation once the public beta becomes available.
What About AirPods Pro 3 Heart Rate Sync?
Apple also announced expanded GymKit support for AirPods Pro 3. AirPods Pro 3 already include heart-rate sensing hardware, and with iOS 27, Apple says users will be able to sync that heart rate data through iPhone while listening. Apple announced AirPods Pro 3 in 2025 with built-in heart-rate sensing and deeper Fitness app integration, making this new GymKit expansion a logical next step. That is useful, but for headphone users, custom EQ is the bigger story.
Why This Matters
The bigger takeaway is that Apple is starting to treat AirPods more like serious audio products rather than locked-down accessories. Custom EQ may seem small, but it changes the relationship between user and product. Instead of being told, “This is how AirPods sound,” users can finally say, “This is how I want my AirPods to sound.” Again, this is not revolutionary. It is overdue. But it is still a welcome improvement.
The Bottom Line
AirPods custom EQ in iOS 27 is not the most advanced implementation on the market. A simple three-band EQ will not satisfy every audiophile. Apple still has room to add multiple saved presets, more frequency bands, and deeper controls in the future. But for millions of AirPods users, this will be a meaningful upgrade. And after years of watching Sony, Bose, Cleer, and others offer more sound customization, Apple is finally catching up.
Better late than never.
