Apple AirPods Pro 2 can now double up as hearing aids in UK

The update is already available for users in various countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.

Updated on: Feb 24, 2025, 17:32:17 IST

By HT News Desk

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Apple AirPods Pro can now double up as a hearing aid for people in the UK after the tech giant released a software update to enable the feature.

Apple AirPods can now double up as hearing aids. (Representative Image)

The free software update is for AirPods Pro 2, the most recent version of Apple’s earphones, according to a report by PA Media. The update enables users to boost sounds around them when using their AirPods.

The update is already available for users in various countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. The availability of the features varies by region due to various regulatory restrictions.

The new features will join existing tools already a part of the AirPod features designed to protect user hearing. These include a loud sound reduction system that detects exposure to loud noises and reduces it without interfering with the core sound of what a user is listening to.

“At Apple, we believe that technology can help people live healthier lives, and we’re delighted to bring the hearing aid feature to the UK, offering our users an end-to-end hearing health experience with AirPods Pro 2,” Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, was quoted by PA Media as saying.

Also read: iPhone 16e: Why you might be wrong about Apple’s latest “budget” iPhone

How does Apple AirPods’ new hearing aid feature work?

Apple AirPods’ hearing aid features work by utilising a short hearing test to detect any mild to moderate hearing loss. The test is done via the AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad.

If hearing loss is detected after the test, the earphones can make personalised adjustments to boost sound around the user in real-time. These changes can also be applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls.

Apple said mild to moderate hearing loss affects millions of people in the UK, and research has shown that left untreated, it can affect health and wellbeing, including an increased risk of social isolation and dementia.

Adding the tool to a popular electronics product may also help those who are reluctant to consider hearing aids.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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