The Adaptive setting for AirPods now has a slider that let you choose more transparency or more noise cancellation. Apple's own documentation page covering iOS & iPadOS 27 release notes call this new control "Listening Mode," and it's meant to make it easier to dial in exactly how much ambient noise gets let through when Adaptive mode is active.
It's a refinement rather than a redesign in the sense that the underlying Adaptive mode behavior (blending ANC and Transparency based on your surroundings) stays the same, you just get more direct access to tune it. How this feature works has been demonstrated by Aaron Perris on X, formerly Twitter:
New in iOS 27 beta 3:
— Aaron (@aaronp613) July 6, 2026
AirPods Adaptive Audio slider in the audio mode picker pic.twitter.com/om1dFuy2He
This setting addresses a common complaint many MacRumors forum users had noted that the three levels of ANC strength adjustment within Adaptive Audio were buried in a settings panel, and people wanted quicker access. In fact, some users even asked for a widget or Shortcuts support. Apple actually explains how the AirPods’ Adaptive mode works in the documentation, see it as shown in the image below:
Right now, adjusting the Adaptive Audio intensity takes a few taps to get to. You'll need to open Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the “Info” button (usually represented as “i”) next to your connected AirPods. From there, look under the Audio section for the Adaptive Audio slider—you can then slide it to either direction to change how much outside noise gets let through while Adaptive mode is running.
The adaptive mode slider builds on changes introduced starting with iOS 27 beta 1:
- A completely redesigned AirPods settings menu, organizing features into clear categories such as Audio & Routing, Hearing Health, Controls & Gestures, Live Translation, Accessibility, Battery, Find My, and Privacy. The slider also has a volume adjustment setting added alongside the Transparency/Noise Cancellation/Adaptive mode toggles at the top of the screen.
- Custom EQ for H2-chip AirPods (Pro 2, Pro 3, AirPods 4, Max 2)—the first time users get direct control over audio frequencies rather than relying solely on Apple's fixed adaptive EQ.
- Name Recognition for accessibility, alerting deaf/hard-of-hearing users when someone says their name, supporting more than 50 languages.
- It also has other AirPods Pro 3 exclusives including precision Finding via Apple Watch and GymKit heart-rate syncing with gym equipment.
With iOS 27 beta 3, opening Settings and tapping into your connected AirPods still brings up the familiar four Listening Mode options — Off, Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation — and picking any one switches to it right away. What's new is that Adaptive now shows a small dot on each side of the toggle, giving you a quick way to lean the blend more toward Noise Cancellation or more toward Transparency.
However, other beta 3 highlights includes the non-AirPods features which are Siri Voice Beta 3 which is planned to add working voice customization (pace and expressivity) with two base voice options now usable. Apple also clarified that Apple Intelligence features in the Home app will require a 2GB iCloud+ plan, and made minor tweaks to lock screen icon shadows and Maps route-preference tooltips.
Note: The fact that iOS 27 has moved to public beta cycle, with the full release following in fall 2026 alongside new iPhones doesn't guarantee that the adoptive mode will make it into the public release of iOS 27, or that it won’t change based on developer and, soon, public beta feedback.
