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During Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event yesterday, the company unveiled the AirPods Pro 2, which can function as “clinical-grade” hearing aids.
This is thanks to a new feature in the AirPods, which is pending FDA clearance, but Apple expects to receive approval soon.
In a social media post, Apple confirmed that in addition to the hearing aids feature, the AirPods Pro 2 will also have a hearing protection feature, while a five-minute hearing test will be included in iOS 18.
Apple said the test was developed using real-world data, and helps users assess their hearing by detecting tones of varying volumes and frequencies.
The hearing aid feature for the AirPods Pro 2, along with the hearing test for iOS 18, will be available through a software update this fall in over 100 countries and regions.
The AirPods Pro 2 were one of a number of new product launches from the Apple event yesterday (September 9).
How to use Apple’s Hearing Aid Features
Users can activate the hearing aid feature in AirPods Pro 2 by enabling a personalized hearing profile, which enhances specific sounds, such as speech and environmental noises, in real time. This feature works across phone calls, music, and media, allowing wearers to better hear their surroundings and engage in conversations.
It can be set up through a five-minute hearing test on iOS 18, which assesses the user’s hearing and creates a tailored profile stored in the Apple Health app. During the test, users tap their smartphone screen whenever they hear a tone, which allows the system to evaluate their hearing health.
With the personalized hearing profile created, users can adjust sound frequencies for clearer phone calls and media, even if they have minimal hearing loss. There is also a feature called Media Assist, which further refines the listening experience by boosting specific parts of speech or music, making conversations and soundtracks easier to understand.
This is not the first time Apple is touting a hearing assistant feature in its AirPods. Previous versions, such as the original AirPods Pro, included features like Live Listen, which allowed users to amplify surrounding sounds using their iPhone as a directional microphone.
