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Every New AirPods Feature in iOS 27

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With every iOS update, Apple adds new features to the AirPods. In iOS 27, the AirPods work with Siri AI, and there's a long-requested custom EQ option.


Custom EQ

Apple resisted custom EQ for the AirPods for years, preferring to require users to stick with Apple's sound profiles. That's changing in iOS 27, and there are finally adjustable equalizer settings.

When the AirPods are connected to an iPhone running iOS 27 and have the latest firmware, custom EQ can be accessed by going to Settings > [AirPods Name] > Audio & Routing > Equalizer > Custom.

There are options for adjusting lows, mids, and highs.

Custom EQ is available for AirPods with an H2 chip, which includes the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2.

Redesigned Settings Menu

There's a more compact settings interface available when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone. It's still located under Settings > AirPods, but all of the AirPods features are better organized and easier to get to.

The Transparency, Noise Cancellation, and Adaptive modes are still accessible at the top of the screen for quick switching, but Apple also added a volume slider for adjusting sound in the same interface.

Instead of expanded menus for Hearing Health, Call Controls, and gestures, the options are organized into separate menus. Apple has logically aggregated controls into categories that include Audio & Routing, Hearing Health, Controls & Gestures, Live Translation, Accessibility, Battery, Find My, and Privacy.

Siri AI

The smarter version of Siri, Siri AI, works on the AirPods through a connected iPhone. When you're wearing AirPods, you can ask Siri AI questions and make requests.

Siri AI isn't a standalone feature on the AirPods, and it requires an iPhone that supports it. Siri AI has a long list of new capabilities, which are outlined in our Siri guide. Apple is rumored to be developing AirPods with cameras that will feed visual data to Siri AI, and the current integration is a precursor to that deeper feature set.

Precision Finding

The AirPods Pro 3 charging case features Ultra Wideband (UWB), and it works with Precision Finding on the iPhone. With the update to iOS 27 and watchOS 27, you can also use an Apple Watch for AirPods Pro 3 Precision Finding.

GymKit Syncing

GymKit works with the iPhone in iOS 27, and it can sync heart rate data collected from the AirPods Pro 3 to gym equipment like treadmills and indoor bikes.

Accessibility

Apple added Name Recognition in iOS 27, so users who are deaf or hard of hearing can be alerted if someone says their name. It's a feature that works with the AirPods Hearing Health options, and it supports more than 50 languages globally.

Compatibility

Some of the new AirPods features require an H2 chip, and for Siri AI, you'll need an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone. The Precision Finding and GymKit features are limited to AirPods Pro 3.

Launch Date

The new AirPods features require iOS 27 and updated AirPods firmware. Developers have access now, and Apple plans to release a public beta in July. iOS 27 will launch in September alongside new iPhone models.

Article Link: Every New AirPods Feature in iOS 27
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-airpods/
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Reactions: Z-4195
Truly wild that Apple redesigned the Settings menu but didn't just make a separate app and still doesn't allow for manual firmware updates.

Also the horizontal volume slider in the Settings menu is very weird and bad 😂
 
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I'm pretty much over new features and gloss right now. I just want stuff to work. All of it. All the time.

i'm UTD on iOS (and all software) and my messages app won't index.

I just used freeform for the first time in 3 years and it's bad. Lacks UI continuity with the rest of the OS. Sometimes "duplicate" was immediately available in the contextual meanu, sometimes it wasn't. It's just a mess.

My Apple Watch has glitches in the clock - the main feature of the device. The CLOCK. Incorrect time. Incorrect date. (brand new watch).

The spell check has been beaten to death. it changes the words you do want, and allows words that aren't actual, real words and doesn't have a problem with them.

I could go on. We all could.

In short, there is too much emphasis on features and appearance and not enough on functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.

Why is apple so unfocused right now (rhetorical). (it's leadership. It's always, always, alwways leadership. Tim Cook lovers can f/o about his "leadership" and the stock price. Apple has been regressing for years and years under Cook and he's the reason. He's part of the managerial/administrative state. Apple will die without a CEO in the trenches).
 
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I really love it. It’s changed both my AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 for the better. Unlike the Apple Music eq - the equalizer really makes the bass thump without distortion or clipping. It’s made the volume control on the AirPods Max unusable though. It is beta so I’m sure it will fix soon
 
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jarman92 said:
Truly wild that Apple redesigned the Settings menu but didn't just make a separate app and still doesn't allow for manual firmware updates.
Click to expand...
Seriously, out of all they could have changed, and don't get me wrong these are awesome changes (especially custom EQ), why oh why do you have to go through the silliest of songs and dances to get these to update???
 
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rchaser said:
I'm pretty much over new features and gloss right now. I just want stuff to work. All of it. All the time.

i'm UTD on iOS (and all software) and my messages app won't index.

I just used freeform for the first time in 3 years and it's bad. Lacks UI continuity with the rest of the OS. Sometimes "duplicate" was immediately available in the contextual meanu, sometimes it wasn't. It's just a mess.

My Apple Watch has glitches in the clock - the main feature of the device. The CLOCK. Incorrect time. Incorrect date. (brand new watch).

The spell check has been beaten to death. it changes the words you do want, and allows words that aren't actual, real words and doesn't have a problem with them.

I could go on. We all could.

In short, there is too much emphasis on features and appearance and not enough on functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.

Why is apple so unfocused right now (rhetorical). (it's leadership. It's always, always, alwways leadership. Tim Cook lovers can f/o about his "leadership" and the stock price. Apple has been regressing for years and years under Cook and he's the reason. He's part of the managerial/administrative state. Apple will die without a CEO in the trenches).
Click to expand...

Have you been under a rock the last 2-3 weeks? This comment reads like it was written before the WWDC keynote.

Re: your Watch, sounds like you need to get it replaced—I've used an Watch pretty much every day for 10+ years, frequently running beta software, and have never had a problem with the time; I've never even heard about anyone having a problem with the time.
 
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MNWildFan said:
Seriously, out of all they could have changed, and don't get me wrong these are awesome changes (especially custom EQ), why oh why do you have to go through the silliest of songs and dances to get these to update???
Click to expand...
I recently when to the Genuis Bar on an unrelated issue. While there I was chatting with the technican and happened to ask why the updates on the Airpods Pro was so convoluted. He stated you have to wait for each device to charge 100% and only then will the update take place.
If you're impatient and don't wait it'll never happen. You also can't have the devices set to fully charge below the 100%.
He stated this like everyone should know it.
He was surprised when I told him I am a bit Apple savvy and had no idea.
 
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lusty said:
Are you confusing announcements with actions?
Click to expand...

Nope, and I’m actually running the betas so can personally report—along with pretty much every tech journalist/reviewer—that the announcements were accurate.

Also the person I was responding to said:

“In short, there is too much emphasis on features and appearance and not enough on functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.

Why is apple so unfocused right now (rhetorical).“

Which is just flatly contradicted by WWDC’s heavy emphasis on “functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.” Easily half the keynote was dedicated to exactly that.

They then went on to talk about Apple needing a new CEO, which is a rather odd thing to say considering Apple is getting one in September.

Ergo, I asked whether they’ve been under a rock.
 
Last edited:
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jarman92 said:
Have you been under a rock the last 2-3 weeks? This comment reads like it was written before the WWDC keynote.

Re: your Watch, sounds like you need to get it replaced—I've used an Watch pretty much every day for 10+ years, frequently running beta software, and have never had a problem with the time; I've never even heard about anyone having a problem with the time.
Click to expand...
If only there was a history of things that were announced at WWDC and then they didn’t pan out or wasn’t as promised.

I am a day 1 watch user. I’ve never experience a time problem. I’m stunned by it. But it’s not just the time. Find my Hardly ever works. Walkie talkie is bad. The camera remote is better…

My main complaint still stands.

I’m not going to count eggs before they hatch. Announcements are announcements. We’ll see.
 
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rchaser said:
I'm pretty much over new features and gloss right now. I just want stuff to work. All of it. All the time.

i'm UTD on iOS (and all software) and my messages app won't index.

I just used freeform for the first time in 3 years and it's bad. Lacks UI continuity with the rest of the OS. Sometimes "duplicate" was immediately available in the contextual meanu, sometimes it wasn't. It's just a mess.

My Apple Watch has glitches in the clock - the main feature of the device. The CLOCK. Incorrect time. Incorrect date. (brand new watch).

The spell check has been beaten to death. it changes the words you do want, and allows words that aren't actual, real words and doesn't have a problem with them.

I could go on. We all could.

In short, there is too much emphasis on features and appearance and not enough on functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.

Why is apple so unfocused right now (rhetorical). (it's leadership. It's always, always, alwways leadership. Tim Cook lovers can f/o about his "leadership" and the stock price. Apple has been regressing for years and years under Cook and he's the reason. He's part of the managerial/administrative state. Apple will die without a CEO in the trenches).
Click to expand...
This years updates are literally all about bug fixes first and features second what are you talking about. I think Apple will be just fine .
 
  • Like
Reactions: Parowdy
jarman92 said:
Nope, and I’m actually running the betas so can personally report—along with pretty much every tech journalist/reviewer—that the announcements were accurate.

Also the person I was responding to said:

“In short, there is too much emphasis on features and appearance and not enough on functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.

Why is apple so unfocused right now (rhetorical).“

Which is just flatly contradicted by WWDC’s heavy emphasis on “functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.” Easily half the keynote was dedicated to exactly that.

They then went on to talk about Apple needing a new CEO, which is a rather odd thing to say considering Apple is getting one in September.

Ergo, I asked whether they’ve been under a rock.
Click to expand...

Please tell me autocorrect is fixed. I get what you're saying, but what he said about autocorrect is my main issue and I haven't heard any reports that it's any better.
 
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I really just wish for the ability to skip forward with a double squeeze on the right side and skip back with a double squeeze to the left side. The triple squeeze is an impossible gesture. Not something that I ever want to do and I skip back to replay a song pretty frequently. If I remember correctly we used to be able to customize this sort of thing with AirPods 1/2 but by AirPods 4 we can’t tap (which is more convenient) and can’t really customize the squeeze controls which kind of sucks. Nothing advertised in this article looks useful for me personally.
 
jarman92 said:
Nope, and I’m actually running the betas so can personally report—along with pretty much every tech journalist/reviewer—that the announcements were accurate.

Also the person I was responding to said:

“In short, there is too much emphasis on features and appearance and not enough on functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.

Why is apple so unfocused right now (rhetorical).“

Which is just flatly contradicted by WWDC’s heavy emphasis on “functionality, continuity, bugs, etc.” Easily half the keynote was dedicated to exactly that.

They then went on to talk about Apple needing a new CEO, which is a rather odd thing to say considering Apple is getting one in September.

Ergo, I asked whether they’ve been under a rock.
Click to expand...
It’s literally an announcement and WHY did it take so long?? Yes. I’m aware of all the talk. Not under a rock. Announcements are announcements.

Rather than accepting an announcement, we’ll see what is actually produced. Too many failures recently to take them at face value. And unless tou’ve been under a rock lately, you should know that.
 
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lmddawson said:
This years updates are literally all about bug fixes first and features second what are you talking about. I think Apple will be just fine .
Click to expand...
And to be fair, we’re only at this point of discussing “fixes” because things have gotten so bad. It’s apple’s mea culpa.
 
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rchaser said:
It’s literally an announcement and WHY did it take so long?? Yes. I’m aware of all the talk. Not under a rock. Announcements are announcements.

Rather than accepting an announcement, we’ll see what is actually produced. Too many failures recently to take them at face value. And unless tou’ve been under a rock lately, you should know that.
Click to expand...

Except it’s not “literally an announcement”—as I just said, I (and many others) am using the betas and can attest that the announcements are accurate. They’ve already been produced. Which is probably why you’re now pivoting to “it took too long!”
 
AFT on the custom EQ...except its only kinda sorta custom EQ-ish... Lets see what Version 2.0 will bring.

C'mon, Apple... some of us have some pretty good and specific reasons for wanting / needing a somewhat detailed custom EQ. Whats the holdup? Who is making this decision?
 
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