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iOS 27 Introduces Custom EQ for AirPods and Expands GymKit to iPhone and AirPods Pro 3
Key points
- Custom EQ is now available for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max 2, and AirPods 4.
- Users can adjust low, mid, and high frequencies in AirPods settings.
- GymKit now supports iPhone and AirPods Pro 3 for syncing workout data.
- AirPods Pro 3 can provide heart rate data to gym equipment via GymKit.
- Compatible GymKit equipment, like the BowFlex T6, is becoming more accessible.
New Custom EQ Feature for AirPods
iOS 27 introduces a Custom EQ feature for several AirPods models. This allows users to personalize their sound profile by adjusting low, mid, and high frequencies. The setting is accessible through AirPods' settings under Audio & Routing > Equalizer > Custom.
The Custom EQ feature is available on AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max 2, and AirPods 4. Apple states that while AirPods are engineered for faithful audio representation, this feature provides an option for users who prefer a different sound profile.
Expanded GymKit Functionality
The iOS 27 update also expands Apple's GymKit feature, which previously required an Apple Watch. GymKit now supports iPhone and AirPods Pro 3, allowing these devices to connect directly with compatible cardio equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, and indoor bikes.
When connected, the iPhone can receive workout metrics like distance, incline, pace, and calories from the gym equipment. Simultaneously, AirPods Pro 3 can transmit heart rate data to the equipment, providing a comprehensive workout tracking experience without needing an Apple Watch.
GymKit Without Apple Watch
This expansion means that users can now utilize GymKit's two-way data exchange with their iPhone and AirPods Pro 3. The setup involves tapping the iPhone to a compatible machine and starting a workout. Workout data is stored privately on the iPhone and removed from the equipment.
GymKit enhances accuracy by allowing devices to share data. For example, a treadmill can provide precise distance and incline, while AirPods Pro 3 can supply heart rate information, filling gaps that neither device could track alone.
Increased Accessibility of GymKit Equipment
Initially launched with watchOS 4 in 2017, GymKit-compatible equipment was often expensive. However, more affordable options are becoming available. For instance, the BowFlex T6 treadmill, priced around $1,000, now offers GymKit integration.
This development makes GymKit's benefits, such as more accurate workout data synchronization, accessible to a broader range of users, including those with home gym setups.
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How outlets covered it
The BowFlex T6 treadmill now offers Apple GymKit integration, making the feature available on a home treadmill priced around $1,000. This development provides Apple Watch users with more accurate workout data synchronization between their watch and a treadmill, as GymKit was previously limited to much more expensive equipment.
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces GymKit functionality to iPhone and AirPods Pro 3, allowing these devices to connect directly with compatible gym equipment to exchange workout data. This expansion provides an alternative to the Apple Watch for tracking gym workouts, enabling the iPhone to receive machine metrics and AirPods Pro 3 to provide heart-rate data.
Apple's iOS 27 update brings new features to AirPods, including a Custom EQ setting for personalized sound profiles and expanded GymKit functionality for AirPods Pro 3 to sync heart rate data with gym equipment. The update also integrates Siri AI, making AirPods an AI wearable with enhanced capabilities.