Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing health features are as good as they sound

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 features transform them into hearing health tools.

: Apple's AirPods Pro 2 introduces new hearing health features like clinical-grade hearing aid, hearing protection, and a self-conducted hearing test. With iOS 18.1, the earbuds can serve as hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Users can adjust amplification and sound balance, although maximum volume is limited to ensure safety. Despite battery life limitations, this innovation marks significant progress in addressing hearing loss.

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 is set to revolutionize hearing health with three noteworthy features: clinical-grade hearing aid capabilities, advanced hearing protection, and an integrated hearing test. These updates, launching with iOS 18.1, allow the popular earbuds to function as hearing aids for adults experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss, effectively reducing the stigma associated with traditional hearing aids.

The hearing protection feature operates by default across all listening modes, utilizing a new multiband algorithm to maintain audio quality. While designed to accommodate loud environments like concerts, it does have its limits and advises against exposure to sounds beyond 110 dBa. The self-administered hearing test is accessible, aiming to improve hearing health awareness by integrating into Apple's health ecosystem, potentially going viral and educating the masses on hearing loss.

Notably, the hearing aid mode on the AirPods Pro 2 can be finely tuned via the Control Center on Apple devices, complementing media consumption with personalized sound adjustments. While the technological leap is significant, the earbuds' battery life remains a consideration, lasting about six hours with the hearing aid enabled. Still, this advancement sets a precedent that other tech giants like Samsung and Google are expected to follow.

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