Apple adds Custom EQ to AirPods for more personalized audio

Apple has announced that AirPods will gain a Custom EQ feature — a customizable equalizer that lets users fine-tune the sound to their preferences. The update will be part of the next generation of software updates Apple introduced on June 8.

Until now, AirPods have mostly offered preset modes and intelligent audio processing without full manual frequency adjustment. Custom EQ aims to change that: users will be able to adjust the balance of bass, mids, and treble to achieve a sound that better suits music, podcasts, movies, or calls. For example, boosting bass makes tracks feel denser and more energetic, while increasing the treble adds clarity to vocals and instruments. This kind of tuning is especially important for those who find the standard AirPods profile too neutral, lacking richness, or conversely, too bright.

The new feature will complement existing AirPods capabilities, including Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio, and Conversation Awareness. Unlike these mostly automatic modes, Custom EQ gives the user more direct control over how the headphones should sound.

Introducing an equalizer makes AirPods a more flexible audio device and brings them closer to competitors that have long offered manual sound tuning in their dedicated apps. For Apple, this is also an important step toward greater personalization: the company is increasingly adding features that let users not just rely on automation but tailor the device to their own habits.