Apple is working on a new feature for the AirPods. This will allow you to use the AirPods as a hearing aid.
Apple is working on a new hearing function
According to the usually reliable Apple analyst Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a new health feature for the AirPods. Accessibility has always been an important agenda item for Apple and the new plans reflect that. Apple plans to turn the AirPods into a hearing aid as well.
Also Read: You Can Now Buy Black AirPods (And They’re Beautiful)
With the new function, the AirPods must capture live sound from the environment, in order to make the sound more audible for someone with poor hearing. The earphones can then, for example, filter out disturbing background noise, so that a conversation becomes easier to understand.
This is a bit like what the AirPods Pro 2 can already do with the “Adaptive Transparency” feature. The AirPods are expected to still need to be connected to a phone (or iPad) for the new hearing feature.
Read more: AirPods Pro 2 – just music to your ears
Already available: Live Listen
Since iOS 12, Apple has been working on a way to add hearing functions to the AirPods. In this iOS version, the Live Listen feature was introduced. With Live Listen, you can hear the ambient sound through your AirPods by using the microphone of a paired iPhone or iPad. You can also place your device in another room to hear the sound of that room.
Live Listening is therefore already an extremely useful function for better hearing sound in a room, but it does not yet function as a complete hearing aid. According to Gurman, Apple now seems to be working on a function that works the same as Live Listen, but is even more extensive. In this way, AirPods should be able to be used as a fully-fledged and officially recognized hearing aid in the future.
When do AirPods function as hearing aids?
It is not yet clear from when you can use your AirPods as a hearing aid. Gurman believes Apple will introduce a new feature for the hearing impaired within two years, making the AirPods a licensed hearing aid. So we still have to wait for the new function, but the hearing function is at least another good addition to Apple’s accessibility functions.
Also read: Apple is working on iPhone function that can charge AirPods wirelessly
Buy AirPods
Are you now looking for new earplugs? With noise reduction, the AirPods Pro 2 ensure that you are no longer bothered by annoying ambient noise. Want the cheaper AirPods? Then check the best prices for the AirPods 3 in our price comparison:
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