Apple is set to revolutionise the AirPods experience with a new three-band custom equaliser, improved control interface, and expanded smart features in iOS 27, signalling a shift towards more personalised and connected audio devices.
Apple is preparing a meaningful audio update for AirPods in iOS 27, with a new three-band custom equaliser that lets users adjust lows, mids and highs rather than relying only on Adaptive EQ or Apple Music presets, according to reports from SlashGear and MacRumors. The change is aimed at AirPods models using Apple’s H2 chip and is expected to require both the latest firmware and an iPhone running iOS 27. MacRumors says the feature will be available through the Settings app, bringing a level of manual tuning that AirPods have long lacked.
The software update also appears to be reorganising the AirPods settings experience. According to MacRumors, Apple is streamlining the menu, grouping controls into clearer categories and adding dedicated volume sliders for Transparency, Noise Cancellation and Adaptive modes. That should make the interface easier to navigate, particularly for users who regularly switch between listening modes and want quicker access to finer controls.
Apple is also widening the AirPods feature set beyond audio adjustment. Reports from SlashGear, MacRumors and TechRadar say connected AirPods will be able to relay requests to the new Apple Intelligence-powered Siri, while new gestures are being added, including the ability to trigger the iPhone camera from the AirPods stems. The update is also said to extend Precision Finding for AirPods 3 with an Apple Watch running watchOS 27, and to add GymKit support tied to the heart rate sensor in AirPods 3, according to SlashGear and Zetik.
Accessibility changes are part of the package as well. MacRumors says Apple is adding Name Recognition for deaf or hard-of-hearing users, designed to alert wearers when their name is spoken. Taken together, the changes suggest Apple is positioning AirPods as more than an accessory for music playback, with deeper ties to Siri, fitness tracking, accessibility and device control.
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