Apple’s next big update for iPhones, iOS 27, is a big one. The upgrade, which is currently in beta testing, ships with features like Siri AI, new AI image editing tools, and notable updates for AirPods. We finally have a custom EQ (something users have demanded for a decade), a new way to adjust Adaptive Audio mode, among other changes. If you own AirPods, iOS 27 is going to be a major update.
As of this article, these features are available in the iOS 27 beta, and they might change or evolve before the final public release in the fall. While anyone can install the iOS 27 beta, I recommend at least waiting for the public beta release, which should be around the corner. To test the new AirPods features, you’ll also have to upgrade to the AirPods beta firmware (from AirPods > AirPods Beta Updates). Once you are running the latest software, here’s what you’ll find:
The AirPods settings menu has always left something to be desired. It’s a bit clunky and not particularly accessible, which means a lot of these features are likely going unnoticed by many AirPods users. That changes with iOS 27. While you still head to Settings > AirPods to find the options, the interface is now modern, easier to access, and more compact.
In iOS 27, you’ll see a visual preview of your AirPods and their battery life, along with the name, mode selector, and a volume slider. Below, all the features are now arranged in their own sections, like Audio & Routing, Hearing Health, Controls & Gestures, and so on.
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AirPods finally have EQ options
Credit: Apple/YouTube
Most Bluetooth earbuds on the market come with some kind of customizable EQ—except, of course, AirPods. There’s a basic EQ setting that applies to the entire Music app, but these options are barebones, and don’t let you fine-tune how your AirPods sound. With iOS 27, Apple is finally planning to change this.
If you have AirPods with Apple’s H2 chip, go to Settings > AirPods > Audio & Routing > Equalizer in iOS 27. Here, switch to Custom. Apple will play a preview of a recently played song, with an option to change the EQ in three sections: “Low,” “Mid,” and “High.” From here, move the waveform that appears on-screen up and down to tune the sound how you like it.
What do you think so far?
Adaptive mode is now more easily customizable
AirPods with Active Noise Cancellation have three modes: “Transparency,” “Adaptive,” and, of course, “Noise Cancellation.” Transparency lets in environmental noise, while Noise Cancellation blocks as much noise as possible. Adaptive sits somewhere in the middle, blending Transparency and Noise Cancellation depending on what’s going on around you.
This is great in theory, but in practice, it didn’t always work for me. In my experience, Adaptive lets in too much environmental noise to be useful. For you, it might be the opposite. To mitigate this, Apple lets you control how much audio Adaptive lets in, but the option is buried in Settings, making it easy to miss. As of iOS 27 beta 3, Apple now has an easy-to-use slider to control Adaptive Audio. Under “Listening Mode” in AirPods settings, you can move Adaptive Audio’s slider left or right to make it sound closer to Transparency or Noise Cancellation.
Smaller changes coming to AirPods with iOS 27
There are three additional small yet notable features for AirPods that Apple is adding to iOS 27:
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Name Recognition: iOS 27 expanded Hearing Health for AirPods, and now supports Name Recognition. If you’re hard of hearing, this feature can let you know when someone says your name. Name Recognition is now supported globally in over 50 countries.
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Precision Finding via Apple Watch: Your AirPods Pro 3 case supports Ultra Wide Band precision finding. And with the new watchOS 27 Find My app, it’s now possible to use precise finding for your AirPods directly from your Apple Watch.
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Talk to Siri AI directly: If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, you can chat with Siri AI through your AirPods.
