These adjustments apply across music, video, and phone calls.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 now has a hearing test feature and the tech giant is weeks away from introducing “clinical-grade hearing aid features” to its AirPods.
Designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, the feature will be available via a free software update to iPhones and iPads.
This update, already available in the US, is arriving in the UK thanks to a shift in how local legislation is interpreted.
UK regulations on hearing aids have been notoriously strict, leaving consumers with limited choices.
Options have typically ranged from basic amplifiers that only make everything louder to expensive, custom-fitted hearing aids costing thousands of pounds.
The new AirPods feature aims to bridge that gap, offering a hearing test experience similar to an audiologist’s assessment.
It plays tones at different volumes and frequencies, and users tap their screen when they hear a sound.
This automatically adjusts the settings on their AirPods for future use, even when they’re not connected to an iPhone.
Additional settings under the ‘Hearing Health’ section will allow users to customise features like amplification level, left-right balance, tone, ambient noise reduction, and conversation boost for face-to-face chats.
These adjustments apply across music, video, and phone calls.
For UK users to access the feature, an iPhone running iOS 18 or later is required.
However, AirPods are not exactly cheap, with prices starting from £129.
With over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids now available in the US since 2022, some experts question whether Apple’s offering is worth it.
Audiologists caution that while OTC hearing aids are a more affordable and accessible option, they come with trade-offs.
Self-fitting devices, like AirPods, don’t offer the fine-tuning that a professional audiologist provides using real-time sound measurement.
This can make a big difference in hearing clarity, particularly in tricky situations like noisy environments or windy countryside walks.
One hearing specialist explained: “An audiologist can customise hearing aids precisely to your hearing loss and adjust them for different settings.”
However, some argue that devices like the AirPods Pro 2 could act as “gateway devices” for those hesitant to try traditional hearing aids.
By reducing the stigma of wearing hearing aids, they might encourage people to seek professional help later.
Health professionals, including the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), have welcomed the innovation but also urged caution.
They worry these features may give users with severe hearing loss a false sense of confidence.
A spokesperson said:
“If you need hearing aids for more serious hearing loss, this option might not offer an optimum experience.”
Unlike an audiologist, the AirPods won’t spot physical issues such as excess earwax or foreign bodies. Experts recommend seeing a doctor for sudden hearing changes or other unusual symptoms.
With its blend of accessibility and advanced tech, Apple’s latest feature could signal a new era for hearing devices.
Whether it becomes a game-changer or simply a stepping stone for more people to explore hearing health remains to be seen.
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