Apple AirPods Get Custom Equalizer Settings via IOS 27 That Lets You Tweak Sounds To Your Liking

Apple wants you to get significant control over your listening experience. The company announced during WWDC 2026 that the AirPods are getting custom equalizer settings in the iOS 27 update.

This feature will help AirPods users set their preferred sound via the equalizer settings on iOS 27, meaning they will no longer rely on streaming app settings that only apply to the said platform.

Apple AirPods Get Custom EQ Settings via iOS 27

Buried in the iOS 27 feature list is a custom equalizer setting for AirPods, giving users direct control over how their earbuds and headphones sound.

Apple describes the feature simply on the iOS 27 page, saying that users "can further personalize how your AirPods sound by adjusting the lows, mids, and highs right in AirPods settings." The feature is set to arrive this fall alongside the full iOS 27 release.

The custom EQ feature will be available on AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 models, all of which run on Apple's H2 audio chip. That means older AirPods models, including the standard AirPods 3 and the original AirPods Pro, will not have access to the new setting.

Beyond iOS 27, the feature will also be accessible on iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, giving users the same controls across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Apple will also include an interactive preview so users can hear the adjustments before committing to them, along with an option to easily return to the default tuning at any time.

The feature can be found directly in the AirPods section of the Settings app, offering a direct way to adjust the EQ without needing a separate companion app.

3-Band Custom EQ Tweaks Sound to the User's Liking

According to CNET, the new setting offers a three-band equalizer that lets users adjust low, mid, and high frequency ranges from within the AirPods settings menu on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.

During the WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple briefly showed the interface, which includes both a recommended setting and a custom option. Selecting the custom mode brings up a graph-style interface where users can drag a line to raise or lower each frequency band.

Apple included a note alongside the feature stating that AirPods are designed to faithfully represent music, TV shows, movies, and calls, and that the custom EQ is there for users who prefer a different sound profile. The EQ adjustments will apply to all audio played through the AirPods, not just music.

Custom Equalizer Available on AirPods Rivals

EQ customization has been a standard feature among competing audio brands for years. The likes of Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, and Bowers and Wilkins have long offered EQ customization through companion apps, letting users tweak bass, midrange, and treble or choose from various presets.

Sony's Sound Connect app, in particular, gives users a customizable equalizer with multiple frequency sliders. While Sony's current version offers around six adjustable bands, user feedback has long pushed for up to ten bands for more precise tuning.

Bose offers its own equalizer through the Bose Connect app, though availability varies depending on the headphone model. Sennheiser provides similar controls through its Smart Control app for compatible devices.

Apple's three-band approach is more basic than what these competitors currently offer, but it marks the first time the company has given AirPods users any direct, manual control over how their earbuds represent sound right from the system level.