iOS 27 beta 3 adds a new AirPods Listening Mode setting that makes Adaptive mode easier to adjust from the main AirPods menu in Settings.
With this change, users can open Settings, tap their connected AirPods, and see the usual Listening Mode options, including Off, Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation. When they choose Adaptive, iOS now shows small controls on both sides of the option, which lets them make the blend lighter or stronger without opening a separate Bluetooth settings page.
What changed in Adaptive mode
Adaptive mode combines Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, so AirPods can adjust outside sound based on the user’s surroundings. The new control gives users a faster way to decide how much ambient noise they want to hear while using Adaptive mode.
However, the setting still does not offer a free slider for exact control. Users can keep the default level or tap either side for a stronger or lighter effect.
Since this feature arrived in beta, Apple can still change or remove it before the public iOS 27 release.
