Set a Custom EQ for Your AirPods in iOS 27

[MacRumors]

Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser owners have been able to adjust the audio frequency spectrum of their headphones for years, whereas AirPods owners have had to make do with Apple's default tuning. That's no longer the case in iOS 27, which adds a three-band equalizer to the AirPods settings screen.

It's worth noting that iOS has had an EQ setting for years – it's buried in Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Music, but it applies only to Apple Music playback, and works on any pair of headphones. In iOS 27, the new EQ is specifically tied to your AirPods, so it applies to everything you listen to. Your custom EQ profile also carries over to iPad and Mac when you pair your AirPods with them.

What You Need

Custom EQ requires Apple's H2 chip, so it supports AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. Earlier models, including the original AirPods Max, aren't compatible with the feature.

You'll also need current AirPods beta firmware. If the Equalizer option described below doesn't appear, pair your AirPods with your iPhone, tap your AirPods in Settings, then tap AirPods Beta Updates and toggle on the beta updates option. Afterwards, put your AirPods in the case, connect the case to power, and leave it near your unlocked iPhone to let the latest beta firmware install quietly in the background. It shouldn't take more than half an hour.

How to Adjust Your AirPods EQ

1. With your AirPods connected, open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap your AirPods at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Audio & Routing.
4. Tap Equalizer.
5. Tap Custom, then drag the low, mid, and high points up or down.

You should see a media playback control above the EQ showing the last thing you listened to, allowing you to hear how your adjustments sound in real time. Lows cover bass weight, mids carry vocals and most instruments, and highs handle treble detail and sibilance.

To undo your changes, simply tap Reset, or choose Recommended at the top to restore Apple's default profile. You'll find all the same options in iPadOS 27, as well as in macOS 27 Golden Gate (in System Settings).

iOS 27 and Apple's other upcoming software updates remain in public beta for now, with a general release expected sometime this September.

Article Link: Set a Custom EQ for Your AirPods in iOS 27

 

[Astuces iOS]

I don't know how useful this thing is because there already was an equalizer for apple music and I just don't know.

 

[surfzen21]

12 band individual EQ adjustment would have been better.

Maybe that will be a Pro Plus feature only for the H3 chip 🥲

 

[Core.2]

Does this work with Apple watch? Music streamed direct from the watch never has been the same as from the iPhone with a EQ setting for me.

 

[phuklok1]

i have airpods, but why can't they provide a custom EQ to *ALL* bluetooth devices - like a speaker, stereo, car, etc. (and also have it remember settings for each). This is typical apple nonsense that pisses off loyal customers like myself. after all these years, they've finally already created the back-end for this and then restrict it in software on purpose... annoying!

 

[turbineseaplane]

This has been overdue for more than a decade on iOS, and exactly a full decade if thinking of AirPods specifically I suppose.

Thank goodness.

FINALLY

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

I can't count the number of times Apple has suddenly released a new feature that's been available for ages on competing products or systems. It's one of the reasons I'm sticking with Windows, Microsoft Office, Google Maps, and others.

 

[BeatsByTim]

Here's a better headline for you guys: Apple hates their customers and reluctantly offers a pitiful 3 band EQ in order to placate the rabble.

 

[phuklok1]

12 band individual EQ adjustment would have been better.

Maybe that will be a Pro Plus feature only for the H3 chip 🥲

EQ requires barely any processing power. a pentium 3 could do it with almost no cpu usage decades ago, so i doubt it. they are probably doing it entirely on device anyway since the phone has far more battery storage and is doing the codec decoding anyway. they could have done this for all your audio devices if they were so inclined. wish they did. and a manual 10 or 12 band like someone else suggested would have been better and simpler as well.

 

[nxt3]

EQ requires barely any processing power. a pentium 3 could do it with almost no cpu usage decades ago, so i doubt it. they are probably doing it entirely on device anyway since the phone has far more battery storage and is doing the codec decoding anyway. they could have done this for all your audio devices if they were so inclined. wish they did. and a manual 10 or 12 band like someone else suggested would have been better and simpler as well.

I'm not sure how a manual 10-12 band would have been "simpler". It's definitely preferred, but I'm sure they did the 3 because it's truly simple.

Hopefully they increase the number of bands later. After reading the Airpods Pro 3 reviews, I held off buying them; when they announced EQs (even if it's not a great implementation) in iOS 27, I snagged a pair.

 

[OldNewMBP]

I don't know how useful this thing is because there already was an equalizer for apple music and I just don't know.

Well, iOS and iPadOS Apple Music all seem to only be able to select pre-set equalizers, while macOS partially has the full equalizer sliders. (Also those other EQ apps.)

 

[Radeon85]

So glad they added this; the best thing about it is that the equalizer is not locked to the iPhone, and the profile is saved to the AirPod buds. I wouldn't have put it past Apple to lock it to Apple devices. As I use my Pro 3's mainly on Windows and sometimes other devices, I get to use whatever profile I set.

While the Pro 3s sounded great for me already, I boosted the low and high maybe 20% roughly and the mid about 5%. Plenty of bass but not overpowering while everything is still nice and clear.

 

[DanteHicks79]

Imagine you drop $500 on over the ear cans only for the manufacturer to say "Sorry, no EQ for you!"

This is utterly ridics. There is zero reason Apple can't enable EQ for ALL bluetooth headphones, except that Apple wants you to spend even more money to buy their latest products.