Apple unveiled several new health features exclusive to the AirPods Pro 2nd generation during its It’s glowtime event. This means that the existing earphones are being equipped with new capabilities.
These special new features are designed to protect and test your hearing and can also be used as a hearing aid (hearing aid) to help users with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Hearing protection
The new Active Hearing Protection feature is designed to minimize users’ exposure to loud ambient noise. By utilizing the H2 chip, it will actively reduce loud, disruptive sounds at a rate of 48,000 times per second.
This is an improvement over the current AirPods Pro, which already feature noise-cancelling technology but don’t address real-time ambient noise cancellation to the same extent. The hearing protection is designed to work in all listening modes, so users are protected in environments like concerts or sporting events while maintaining the integrity of the audio they’re listening to. The silicone ear tips on the AirPods Pro 2 also contribute to passive noise cancellation.
Hearing test function
The AirPods Pro 2 also come with a scientifically validated hearing test feature. According to Apple, this test uses pure audiometry, a standard clinical approach, to evaluate hearing. Users can complete this test in just a few minutes using their AirPods Pro 2 with an iPhone or iPad.
The results of the test are stored in the Health app, allowing users to share their hearing profiles with healthcare providers as needed. Apple says this is the first time a major consumer technology company has delivered such an accessible hearing test feature directly into a widely used personal device.
Hearing aid function
The new AirPods Pro 2 also come with a hearing aid feature, designed to help people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The device uses a personalized hearing profile generated by the hearing test to make real-time adjustments, amplifying sounds around the user so they can stay connected to their environment.
Apple notes that this feature will not only be useful for conversations, but will also automatically improve the listening experience for media content, including music, movies, and phone calls. Users will be able to fine-tune their settings to meet their specific hearing needs.
The new features for AirPods Pro 2 will be available this fall in over 100 countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium. Users can use the hearing aid feature via their personalized hearing profile or by uploading an audiogram created by a healthcare provider.