AirPod owners will be able to personalise the sound of these popular 'buds for the first time.
Apple confirmed that it'll launch a Custom EQ function as part of its next major operating system update, iOS 27, which is scheduled to roll out in the autumn. Built into a redesigned panel that appears inside the Settings app whenever you're wearing a pair of AirPods, you'll be able to adjust the lows, mids, and highs independently.
There's an interactive soundwave that shows all three parts of the sound signature. You can use touch controls to adjust the frequencies to fit your own tastes. Custom EQ will be available on any pair of AirPods powered by the H2 system-on-a-chip. That means you'll be able to use the feature across AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4.
You can adjust the lows, mids, and highs independently of one another in the new Custom EQ interface
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Custom EQ isn't only available on your iPhone. Those same controls will show up in an iPad or MacBook once you've updated to iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 when all of the new operating systems launch later this year.
If you're unhappy with any of the changes you've made, Apple offers a quick way to return to the default tuning whenever you customise the EQ. The Custom EQ was announced alongside a slew of new functionality at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
The company offered an early glimpse at its all-new Siri assistant, which goes head-to-head with ChatGPT – that is, unless you're living in one of the 27 EU member states. It also confirmed that its incoming software updates will bolster performance on older devices, with apps opening 30% faster even on the oldest iPhone 11.
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But the arrival of Custom EQ seems to have gone down especially well with gadget owners. One person reacted to the announcement with a post on Reddit stating: "Been asking for this since the original AirPods came out."
"Apple finally letting us have a Custom EQ for AirPods in the next iOS is actually wild," another added.
Another added: "Just saw this announced, took them forever but it's finally here, very happy with that"
Firmware updates are delivered automatically when your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad or Mac connected to Wi-Fi. There's no need to dive into the Settings menu to trigger the update — like you'll need to do on iPhone or iPad.
Apple hasn't shared a release date for the AirPods software boost, but it made the first beta version of the update available to developers to test with their apps ahead of the worldwide release later this year.
If Apple sticks with its usual release schedule, we'd expect to see the upgrade coming to the H2-equipped AirPods sometime in September when the final version of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 become available to millions of devices.