Yesterday at WWDC 2026, Apple announced the next iteration of its software platforms: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Tahoe 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 to developers. These updates include improvements to Liquid Glass, a new Siri AI, new Screen Time options, and more.
Along with these features, Apple has finally introduced the custom equalizer feature for AirPods after a long wait, allowing users to fine-tune the sound balance and adjust bass, treble, mids, and more to their liking.
However, the feature was not available after installing the first developer beta of iOS 27 and others because Apple also needed to release a new AirPods beta firmware update for this feature to work. Today, Apple has released a new beta firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 models, supposedly enabling the Custom EQ feature on these models.
Users running the first beta of iOS 27 need to go to Settings>AirPods section at the top> scroll down to open ‘AirPods Beta Updates’ to enable it.
Do note that these versions are not stable and are meant for testing purposes. They are not recommended to be downloaded on a primary device due to the nature of beta software. Once updated to the beta, the only way of going back to a stable release is by taking it to Apple.
If you want to check if your AirPods have updated to the latest beta, follow these steps:
– Open the lid of your AirPods/or wear them
– Go to Settings>AirPods section at the top> scroll down to find the version
Here, you’ll be able to see the current firmware version of your AirPods. If it hasn’t updated, you’ll just have to wait, as there’s no way to manually update. Just make sure your AirPods case is sufficiently charged, along with your iPhone being in close proximity.
A quicker method, which might work, is to connect your AirPods case to a Mac with a cable, with AirPods themselves in the case. The same applies to other accessories, such as Apple’s MagSafe Charger, and more.
Are you excited to use Custom EQ? Let us know down in the comments or write to us on @appleosophy! Be sure to download the Appleosophy App from the App Store or visit our website to stay updated with the latest Apple news!
