Apple has released a new public beta firmware for AirPods, version 9.0.314, bringing a long-awaited custom equalizer to its popular wireless earbuds. The update, which was announced alongside the iOS 27 public beta, is now available for several AirPods models including the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Public Beta Details
The AirPods public beta firmware is identified by build number 9A314b. Users can opt into the beta through the Settings app on their iPhone. The process is straightforward: with AirPods connected, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPods, scroll down, and toggle on "AirPods Beta Updates." Once enabled, firmware updates will automatically download and install when the AirPods are in their charging case and within range of the paired iPhone. This beta program offers early access to features still under development, giving users a chance to test and provide feedback before the official public release.
The introduction of custom EQ is a significant milestone for AirPods. Over the years, many users have requested greater control over audio output, especially after competing products like Sony's WF-1000XM5 and Samsung's Galaxy Buds offered extensive EQ customization. Apple had previously provided limited audio adjustments like Accessibility settings for hearing-impaired users, but this marks the first time a full multi-band equalizer is available across all audio content.
Custom EQ Comes to AirPods
With the new custom EQ, users can adjust lows, mids, and highs to tailor the sound to their personal preference. The feature is located in the Settings app under the AirPods section, within the "Audio and Routing" menu. While adjusting the equalizer, users can simultaneously play a song from Apple Music directly in the settings interface to hear real-time changes. Apple notes that AirPods are designed to faithfully represent audio, but if users prefer a different sound profile, they can customize how the earbuds reproduce music, TV shows, movies, and calls.
The custom EQ is a three-band system, which is relatively basic compared to more advanced equalizers offering ten or more bands. However, for most listeners, controlling lows, mids, and highs provides sufficient flexibility to compensate for personal hearing preferences or adapt to different genres. For instance, boosting the lows can enhance bass-heavy tracks, while adjusting the highs can sharpen vocal clarity. Apple has kept the interface simple to avoid overwhelming users, mirroring the minimalist design philosophy found across its ecosystem.
This feature is available on all AirPods equipped with the H2 chip, including the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 series, and AirPods Max 2. The H2 chip, first introduced with the AirPods Pro 2, provides advanced computational audio capabilities such as Adaptive Transparency and Personalized Spatial Audio. Adding custom EQ builds on these capabilities, offering a more personalized listening experience.
The inclusion of custom EQ has been a top request among AirPods enthusiasts since the launch of the original AirPods in 2016. For years, third-party apps attempted to fill the gap through system-wide equalizers, but they often suffered from compatibility issues or required jailbreaking. Now, with Apple's official implementation, users can expect reliable performance across all apps and media types. The feature also supports accessibility: individuals with partial hearing loss can boost specific frequencies to improve clarity, complementing Apple's existing Hearing Health features.
Beyond custom EQ, the AirPods public beta firmware is part of a broader set of improvements coming with iOS 27. The update introduces a redesigned Settings interface for AirPods, reorganizing controls into dedicated menus for Hearing Health, Find My, Live Translation, and more. This reorganization makes it easier for users to find specific settings without scrolling through lengthy lists. Additionally, an Adaptive Audio slider has been added, allowing fine-tuning of the adaptive transparency and noise cancellation mix. This gives users more granular control over how much ambient sound they let in while still blocking loud noises.
Another notable addition is expanded GymKit support. Previously, GymKit required an Apple Watch to sync workout data with compatible gym equipment. With iOS 27, the full GymKit experience comes to iPhone and AirPods Pro 3, enabling seamless connectivity with treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes without needing a watch. This is particularly useful for those who prefer tracking workouts solely on their phone or for users who do not own an Apple Watch. The integration leverages the H2 chip's low-latency communication to ensure real-time data exchange.
Other iOS 27 Features for AirPods
The iOS 27 update also brings Precision Finding for AirPods Pro 3 via the Find My app on Apple Watch. While Precision Finding has been available for iPhone users locating AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, the addition of Apple Watch support provides an alternative for those who primarily wear their watch and leave their phone behind. The feature uses Ultra Wideband technology to guide users to misplaced earbuds with directional arrows and distance indicators, similar to how it works for AirTags.
Perhaps the most forward-looking addition is Siri AI integration. When paired with a compatible iPhone running iOS 27, AirPods can interact with Apple's enhanced Siri AI, which offers more natural conversation understanding and on-device processing. This means users can ask complex follow-up questions, compose messages using dictation, and perform tasks without needing to press buttons or wait for Siri to confirm each step. The AI model runs locally on the iPhone, so privacy is maintained while delivering faster responses. For AirPods Pro 3, which feature an upgraded microphone array, voice pickup is improved in noisy environments, making Siri interactions more reliable than ever.
The public beta is available for developers and public beta testers. Users who enroll in the free public beta program can install the firmware on their AirPods and report bugs directly to Apple via the Feedback Assistant app. It's important to note that beta firmware may contain bugs or reduce battery life, so installing on primary devices is not recommended. Apple typically refines these features over several beta iterations before releasing them to the general public later in the fall.
The AirPods landscape has evolved dramatically since their debut. The original AirPods launched in 2016 as a wireless companion for iPhone 7, removing the headphone jack and sparking a industry-wide shift to truly wireless earbuds. Over the years, Apple added features like active noise cancellation (AirPods Pro), Spatial Audio, and adaptive transparency. The new custom EQ represents a maturity of the product line, acknowledging that audio preferences are personal and that one-size-fits-all tuning does not satisfy all users. Apple's move is likely to be praised by audiophiles and casual listeners alike, especially those who have been waiting for a native solution rather than relying on third-party apps.
Competitors have long offered robust EQ options. Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones feature a ten-band equalizer with presets, while Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro include a six-band EQ. Even Beats, which is owned by Apple, has offered EQ adjustments in its app for years. Bringing basic EQ to AirPods helps Apple close the feature gap and remain competitive in the premium wireless earbud market.
For those eager to try the new settings, the process is simple after updating to the beta. Once the firmware is installed, navigate to Settings > [Your AirPods] > Audio & Routing > Custom EQ. From there, a visual interface displays three sliders for Bass (low), Mid, and Treble (high). Users can swipe up or down to adjust each band, with a default flat line at the center. A preview tone can be played to gauge the effect, and saved profiles are stored per-device, so changes apply to all audio output from that paired iPhone.
Early adopters have reported that the custom EQ significantly improves the listening experience for certain genres. Bass-heavy tracks gain punch without distortion, while classical music becomes more detailed with adjusted mids and highs. Some users have noted that the EQ interacts with Spatial Audio, affecting the perceived soundstage. Apple has presumably optimized the integration to minimize unwanted artifacts, though results may vary depending on personal hearing and content.
The new Adaptive Audio slider appears alongside the custom EQ in the Settings menu. Adaptive Audio is a feature first introduced with iOS 26 that dynamically blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation based on the environment. The slider allows users to choose the balance between transparency and noise cancellation on a continuous scale, from full transparency to full noise cancellation. This gives users more control over how much they hear the outside world, whether they are in a quiet office, a noisy street, or a bustling coffee shop.
Overall, the AirPods public beta firmware 9.0.314 is packed with meaningful changes that address long-standing user demands. Custom EQ alone is a major addition, but the Settings redesign, Adaptive Audio slider, GymKit, Precision Finding on Apple Watch, and Siri AI integration collectively enhance the AirPods ecosystem. As Apple continues to refine these features through the beta period, users can expect a polished final release later this year. For now, those willing to explore the beta can gain early access to these improvements and contribute feedback that shapes the final product.
Source: 9to5Mac News