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You don't have to buy a brand-new pair of AirPods to unlock a never-before-seen feature in the works from Apple. The Californian company is preparing to roll-out a software update to all AirPods Pro 2 owners in the UK that can transform these wireless earbuds into clinical-grade hearing aids.
Apple announced the clever new functionality alongside the latest iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and redesigned AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation in September last year at its spaceship-like headquarters.
The free update for AirPods Pro 2, which is already available to owners in the United States, will launch in the UK within weeks after receiving the green light from regulators. Apple says it will be suitable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Using a personalised hearing profile built up after taking a new Hearing Test baked into the Settings app, your AirPods will automatically boost the sounds you struggle most to hear in real-time.
If you don't already own a pair of AirPods Pro 2, the incoming Hearing Aids feature could be the perfect time to upgrade. You'll need to spend £229 in the Apple Store to pocket a pair of these wireless earbuds (although you'll benefit from free laser engraving!) but Amazon has slashed £30 off the cost of these brand-new 'buds. Prime members enjoy free next-day delivery too
Apple is only able to flip the switch on its hearing aid capabilities due to a change in the law introduced by ministers earlier this month. Until now, those with hearing problems have typically only been able to obtain aids if they have a prescription. That's changed under new guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the change was an example of the UK ripping out "pointless regulation that suffocates innovation." He said the shake-up paves the way for "groundbreaking" new hearing aid devices, like the AirPods Pro 2, with "the potential to help tens of thousands of people with hearing loss".
"The action we’re taking will give businesses the green light to start selling these products to patients across the UK," the Labour MP for Ilford North added. "This is part of the work this government is undertaking in partnership with leading technology companies, to harness the revolution in medical technology, bring our analogue healthcare into the digital age, and make life more convenient for patients."
NHS figures show that 1 in 3 adults in the UK are deaf or experience hearing loss or tinnitus. That increases to over 1 in 2 people over the age of 55, where roughly 53% of adults rely on hearing aids.
A spokesman for Apple told The Daily Telegraph: "With the new policy guidance from the UK Department of Health and Social Care, we look forward to bringing the hearing aid feature on Airpods Pro 2 in the coming weeks to help improve the daily lives of so many UK users."
Before you start using the new Hearing Aid feature, Apple will conduct a short hearing test. It uses pure-tone audiometry — a gold-standard clinical approach — and is available for users aged 18 and above with iOS 18.2 or later
APPLE PRESS OFFICE
AirPods Pro 2 — the best-selling earbuds on the planet, according to Apple — cost £229. However, these noise-cancelling earbuds can often be found on-sale, with prices dropping as low as £179. If you've got a pair of these premium earbuds, the latest software features land at no additional cost.
With the Hearing Aid feature enabled, the AirPods Pro 2 will amplify sounds around you to help wearers better engage in conversations and stay connected with their environment.
As well as bolstering hard-to-hear sounds, the software update for AirPods Pro 2 makes these 'buds better at minimising your exposure to loud environmental noise while preserving the entire dynamic range of what you're listening to. Dubbed Loud Sound Reduction, the built-in H2 chipset actively reduces louder noises 48,000 times every second.
The feature, which is enabled by default in Transparency and Adaptive Audio listening modes, can be helpful in a variety of settings. Apple has specifically added a new "multiband high dynamic range algorithm" that aims to preserve the sound at live events, like concerts, to ensure it sounds more natural and vibrant — even if you're wearing your AirPods Pro 2 to protect your hearing.
Apple has shipped a Noise app on its Apple Watch smartwatches for a long time. This app serves as a warning when the decibel levels in your environment exceed the safe limits that could potentially damage your hearing.
To get started with the Hearing Aid functionality baked into your AirPods Pro 2, you'll need to start with the Hearing Test feature. This takes approximately five minutes to complete and can be done from home using a compatible iPhone or iPad.
You'll hear various tones and bleeps at different volumes and you'll need to tap on the screen to register when you've heard a tone. Upon completion, this will provide a comprehensive score indicating any hearing loss and its severity. Results include an audiogram and are securely stored in the Health app, where they can be shared with healthcare providers.
The test uses pure-tone audiometry — a gold-standard clinical approach — and is available for users aged 18 and above with iOS 18.2 or later.
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide live with hearing loss, a figure projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can impact overall health and wellbeing, including increased risks of social isolation and dementia.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
When the software update is finally available to AirPod Pro 2 owners in the UK, here's how to update the firmware running on these wireless earbuds to the latest version:
The update will be delivered automatically while charging, but you can check your current firmware version through your device's settings. If you charge your AirPods overnight beside your iPhone, the update should take place seamlessly in the coming weeks as soon as Apple flicks the switch.
Hearing Aid functionality will be enabled across both variants of the AirPods Pro 2, including the original model within a Lightning Port to recharge (launched in September 2022) and the follow-up with USB-C (launched the following year, September 2023)
APPLE PRESS OFFICE
According to NHS guidance, Britons who have not undergone a clinical assessment should see a GP if:
