Apple Rolls Out New AirPods Pro 3 Firmware to Sync With iOS 27

Today Apple turned on the lights for iOS 27 on iPhones, and, right on its heels, a new firmware update for AirPods began its quiet rollout. The build number? 9A348. It’s the kind of behind‑the‑scenes tweak that most of us only notice when a fresh feature finally works the way the marketing team promised.

Who gets the upgrade? A handful of the latest models: AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max 2, and the second‑generation AirPods 4. Apple also said the soon‑to‑arrive AirPods 5 will pick up the same firmware as soon as they ship later this week, so you won’t have to wait long if you’re on that waiting list.

So, what’s actually new? For starters, Apple introduced a custom EQ that lets you fine‑tune the sound profile directly from the iOS 27 Settings app. If you’ve ever wished you could push the bass a notch higher without third‑party apps, this is it. There’s also a Siri AI integration that taps into the iPhone’s larger language‑model engine – you’ll notice the assistant answering a bit smarter when you ask it to “play something upbeat.”

Fans of the Apple Watch will appreciate the added Precision Finding support, which uses the watch’s Ultra‑Wideband chip to locate misplaced earbuds with a blink of an eye. Gym lovers aren’t left out either; GymKit now works over Bluetooth, so you can sync your workouts without hauling out a separate accessory.

Apple has also given the AirPods settings a visual makeover. The new layout groups together controls you actually use – like Adaptive Transparency and Spatial Audio – and hides the more esoteric options deeper in the menu. Roughly half of these changes are exclusive to the Pro 3, while the rest roll out to the other supported models.

One quirk remains: you can’t force the update. Apple still relies on its background process to push the firmware when the earbuds are in their case, charging, and near a paired iPhone. The company did publish a short guide on its support site to help users make sure the conditions are right, so a little patience (and a fully‑charged case) should do the trick.

Already spotting a price dip? The AirPods Pro 3 are now $199 (down from $249), and the AirPods Max 2 have slipped to $449. If you’re in the market for accessories, there’s a magnetic strap neckband and a cleaning kit that many reviewers swear by.

Have you already installed the new firmware? What do you think of the custom EQ or the Siri upgrade? Drop a comment and let the community know – Apple loves feedback, and so do we.