Apple adds custom equalizer to AirPods in iOS 27

Apple has announced it will introduce a custom equalizer for its AirPods, a long-requested feature that will give users direct control over their headphones' sound profile for the first time. The company made the announcement during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026 keynote, stating the feature will arrive with the public release of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 later this year.

The new EQ will be a three-band equalizer, allowing users to adjust low, mid, and high frequencies directly from the AirPods settings menu on their Apple devices. An interactive preview will let users hear and see changes to the audio waveform in real time as they adjust the settings. Once a custom profile is set, users will be able to seamlessly switch back to Apple's default sound tuning.

This marks a significant shift for Apple's audio products, which have historically relied on automated features like Adaptive EQ to optimize sound dynamically based on a user's environment and ear shape. While these automated tools will remain, the addition of manual controls addresses a common critique from some users and reviewers who found the lack of personalization a drawback, particularly for...