Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features

EQ is a game changer for apple. Finally. How many steps in the EQ? Is it parametric?

Airpod in one ear, hammer in the other.

It’s 2026. I don't understand why Apple makes it so difficult for consumers to update their AirPods. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

EQ is a game changer for apple. Finally. How many steps in the EQ? Is it parametric?

Yup, a major feature if you have any of the AirPods, because they (at least the Pro 2, Pro 3, and Max) have a big dip in the intelligibility range - where hi-hats are, for example - and need it. The lack of it on iPhones has been frustrating me for a long time.

It may be like the 10-band graphic one in the Mac version of Music, but I don't know. However, my understanding is that the iOS 27 EQ settings are stored in the headphones rather than the iPhone, so you need newer AirPods for it to work. That excludes the original AirPods Max. :(

One thing I discovered recently is that if you go into Accessibility-> Audio & Visual -> Headphone Accommodations, there's an Audio Tuning feature with a Brightness setting that make a huge difference. There's no good preset EQ setting among the silly ones in the Music app.

Also, you can use something like the Mimi hearing app to do a hearing test, and then (in the same place) choose an inverse curve. That's not an EQ, but it's something.

odd my case updated to the beta first

My AirPods (Pro 2) updated to the new beta hours ago but it took their case until just recently to update…if your AirPods/case do(es)n’t update I would suggest resetting the ‘Pods by holding the rear button until the front light turns orange and then white again; two different tones will also sound. Then make sure beta updates are enabled again after quick/familiar AirPods setup process and be prepared to wait, as per usual.

Godspeed brave AirPods beta testers! 🫡