AirPods Get the EQ Controls Apple Fans Have Been Demanding

After years of steering AirPods owners towards its own preferred sound profiles, Apple is finally giving users a native way to tune their earbuds and headphones. Custom EQ has finally arrived for AirPods users running the iOS 27 beta, following its announcement at WWDC 2026, and it brings a simple but significant three-band equaliser directly into the AirPods settings menu.

The new setting lets you adjust low, mid and high frequencies manually, rather than relying entirely on Apple’s automatic Adaptive EQ.

That means more bass for heavier tracks, clearer mids for vocals and podcasts, or brighter highs for extra detail. An interactive preview uses recently played audio so changes can be heard in real time, while a reset option returns everything to Apple’s default tuning.

Not Every AirPod Makes the Cut

Compatibility is the catch. Custom EQ is tied to Apple’s H2 audio chip, so the feature is available on AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. AirPods Max 2 is also supported through the newer beta firmware, but owners of the original AirPods Max — including the USB-C refresh — appear to be left out.

Anyone already running the iOS 27 developer or public beta can try Custom EQ by connecting compatible AirPods, opening the AirPods settings, and enabling AirPods Beta Updates. Once beta firmware is enabled, the update installs automatically when the AirPods are in their charging case, connected to power, and within range of the paired iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Worth Waiting For?

For AirPods owners who have long wanted more say over how their earbuds sound, this is a genuine “finally” moment. It is not a studio-grade equaliser, but system-level control over the AirPods sound profile is a meaningful shift for a product line that has traditionally prioritised Apple’s own tuning decisions over user adjustment.

That said, there are still good reasons to wait. Beta firmware can introduce bugs, and early testers have reported odd behaviour with features such as spatial audio after updating. Rolling AirPods back from beta firmware is not straightforward either, so anyone relying on a pair every day may be better off waiting for the full iOS 27 release expected later in the year.

Have you tried the new feature? Let us know!