Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are about to gain a clinical-grade hearing test feature
The first reviews of the AirPods Pro 2 hearing features are out, and they also confirm that the launch is to be before the end of October.
Reviewers are all saying no more than “next week,” but this is in line with the expected October 28, 2024 release of iOS 18.1. Overall, reviewers are also all saying that the hearing test in particular is impressive.
“At times, the experience has been emotionally intense,” said Chris Welch in The Verge. “But this is a big milestone — and it seems inevitable that Samsung, Google, and other tech heavyweights will follow Apple’s lead fairly quickly.”
The test can be taken as many times as desired, and it is programmed to be different for each time. The principle is that the user presses a button whenever they hear a tone, but that tone, and the overall sequence of tones, changes with every test.
“For those who don’t know they have hearing loss — or have always wondered — Apple’s new test can reveal potentially life-changing insights,” wrote Nicole Nguyen in the Wall Street Journal. “Untreated hearing loss increases the risk of social isolation and dementia.”
“I say (okay, I whisper) this emphatically and urgently,” says Liz Plosser of Women’s Health. “The device is worth the investment because it could positively impact your hearing for the rest of your life.”
It’s not all positive
Every reviewer so far has praised the effectiveness of the hearing test, but most also have some criticisms. The test itself requires the wearer to be in a quiet place and some workers struggled to find one quiet enough.
Then there were some like Nguyen who point out that the AirPods “are fussier than traditional hearing aids and might not be the best option for people who’ve never worn them before.”
Nguyen is thinking chiefly of more elderly people, and notes that AirPods and their case are small, so the wearer needs dexterity to be able to handle them.”
For all users, Nguyen points out that “the adjustments are buried in the iPhone’s Settings app and only show up when AirPods are connected.” Plus there is an issue over battery life.
“The [AirPods] Pros can last up to six hours,” writes Nguyen, “[while] Yauman’s prescription hearing aids, Jabra’s Enhance Pro 20, only need to be charged about every 30 hours— on par with competitors.”
Apple announced at the September 2024 iPhone launch that AirPods Pro 2 would gain what it described as clinical-grade hearing aid features. Once a user has taken the test, the AirPods Pro adjust their audio output to try addressing any issues.
