Quote · Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast
WWDC 2026: Is Siri Actually Good Now?
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AirPods Finally Get an EQ — Rufus Has Thoughts
At 1:02:25 · chapter starts 1:02:10
AirPods finally gain a user-adjustable EQ in iOS 27 — high, mid, and low bands, nothing more. Rufus, visibly relieved, immediately declares it overdue by at least a decade. He then goes into granular detail on why he still prefers his AirPods Pro 2 over the Pro 3: a resonance around 600–2000 Hz makes keyboard clicks sound thocky, closing a car door sounds like an explosion, and the noise cancellation is so aggressive it creates discomfort. The 3-band EQ won't solve those specific issues, but Marques notes that for the first time in AirPods history, he can now truthfully say 'you can make them sound the way you want' in reviews. Adam raises the apparent contradiction with Apple's 'adaptive EQ' marketing, which Marques explains operates on a different layer than the user-facing slider.
iOS 27 adds a 3-band EQ to AirPods for the first time. Rufus is glad it exists but frustrated it only has three bands and won't solve his specific complaint: a resonance in the 600–2000 Hz range of the AirPods Pro 3 that makes keyboard typing sound 'thocky.' He still prefers his AirPods Pro 2.
iOS 27 finally adds a customizable EQ to AirPods, but it only offers 3 bands — high, mid, and low — which Rufus considered a limited but overdue addition.
