The AirPods Pro 2 will soon double as hearing aids

Apple has announced a batch of hearing health updates coming to the AirPods Pro 2, including a new "clinical grade" hearing aid feature for users with mild to moderate hearing loss. The iPhone maker says the hearing aid functionality is still awaiting FDA clearance, but it expects the agency's approval alongside other regulatory bodies "soon."

When enabled, the over-the-counter hearing aid capability will boost specific sounds in real time, such as speech and other environmental noises. A new clinically validated hearing test feature will also be included in this update that can help to detect hearing loss. Apple says the test requires both the AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iOS 18 iPhone or iPad and can be taken in under five minutes.

The interactive test will ask users to listen to noises at a variety of frequencies and then follow the on-display instructions to tap their iPhone screens accordingly. The results, which include an audiogram and a number that represents hearing loss for each ear, can be viewed within the iPhone Health app. A custom hearing profile is then created that's automatically applied when users listen to audio like music, podcasts, and calls.

Apple is also launching a passive hearing protection mode that will automatically reduce noise in loud environments like concerts. The feature is always enabled, with Apple noting that 1 in 3 people are regularly exposed to noisy environments that could damage their hearing.

The AirPods Pro 2's new hearing aid and hearing test features are expected to launch as a free software update this fall in over 100 countries and regions, including the US, Japan, and Germany.