Owners of Apple‘s premium AirPods Pro 2 are in for a treat with a valuable free upgrade rolling out today. The much-anticipated Hearing Aid feature has arrived in the UK, transforming the iconic white earbuds into a clinical-grade hearing device.
This innovative Hearing Aid function amplifies sound for users with mild to moderate hearing loss, enhancing their ability to connect with friends, family, and the world around them. Users can also customise their experience with a unique profile that automatically adjusts audio settings for music, movies, games, and phone calls across devices.
Having been available in the US since last year, this feature has already made a significant impact on many lives.
“We have received a large amount of feedback from customers,” explained Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple’s vice president of Health in a recent chat with Express.co.uk. “‘I could hear my loved one really clearly’, like those types of things.
“There was one where someone had a daughter who sang and it was the first time he really ever had a chance to be able to hear the voice and didn’t realise that he was missing out on that. The letters that come through are really impactful.”
This significant update from Apple comes at a crucial time, as millions in the UK experience mild to moderate hearing loss, often without realising its impact on their lives. Research has indicated that untreated hearing loss can adversely affect overall health and well-being.
To help users gauge their hearing ability, Apple has also introduced a Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in the UK. This quick five-minute test, conducted via an iPhone, provides instant results on-screen. If any issues are detected, users can easily activate the Hearing Aid feature.
“I think it all ties to the fact that hearing is such a connection to your life and it’s a human connection,” said Desai.
“Our hope is that by making a hearing test more accessible at home, more people are learning about the help they need and getting it sooner. You can simply turn on the Hearing Aid for AirPods with the tap of a button.”
Many may question whether AirPods Pro can truly rival the technology found in traditional, often costly, hearing aids. However, this update has undergone rigorous scrutiny and received approval from medical experts, with Apple boasting about achieving a “gold standard.”
“When we go through regulatory approval, we actually have to show concordance with tradition as being the gold standard,” explained Desai. “And our performance is really on par. In order to gain acceptance and approval, we have to demonstrate that this is genuinely improving hearing to levels that are acceptable and expected for a hearing aid, and we’ve been able to do that.”
AirPods Pro 2 owners can expect to receive the Hearing Aid update this week, but those with other AirPods should not anticipate the same feature anytime soon. The advanced technology and chips within these premium earbuds have made this update feasible, and currently, there are no plans to roll it out to other models.
“It is really in the technological capabilities of the AirPods Pro 2 and some of the chip redesigns that occurred. This processing power enabled us to achieve performance levels that are equal to and comparable with traditional hearing aids,” Desai explained.
Apple has been leading the way to set the standard in health technology. Its Apple Watch provides extensive insights into fitness, heart health, and overall well-being, and the company has recently launched new Beats earbuds that include heart rate tracking.
The widespread ownership of AirPods combined with the convenience of taking a hearing test at home could be transformative, particularly for those unaware of their declining hearing.
“I think so many people are going to discover valuable information about their hearing,” said Desai. “It’s going to be amazing when it launches here. We’re really excited to bring it to the UK.”