Apple plans to introduce a new hearing aid for AirPods Pro with the upcoming iOS 18 update. Apple’s iOS 18 is predicted to be one of the biggest software updates for the iPhone till now. As reported by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple is planning to introduce this new feature for AirPods Pro users.
Updated October 2026. This March 2024 report has been confirmed: the FDA authorized Apple’s Hearing Aid feature in September 2024, and it arrived for AirPods Pro 2 with iOS 18.1. See the update section below. This article is general information, not medical advice.
It is also expected that the device will not go through any major hardware updates, but buyers might get additional software to improve the overall experience.
WWDC 2024, which will be held in June, will see the iOS 18 upgrade along with new and unique innovations. Apple also plans to enhance the use of AirPods.
Apple had earlier introduced the new AirPods Pro model in September 2023, along with the launch of the iPhone 15 series. However, the only upgrade we saw was concerning the charging feature with a USB C port. On March 4, 2024, Apple announced the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch and the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch.
Notably, the AirPods Pro has many existing features for the hearing health of its users. The live-listen feature on the device converts your phone into a directional microphone. It enables you to keep your phone in any area and transmit everything around it to your AirPods.
Reports claim that Apple has hired engineers from hearing aid companies, and the company is expected to make hearing assistance more affordable for people with hearing problems.
Interestingly, two years ago, the FDA came up with new guidelines and announced hearing aids that can be bought directly. They do not require a prescription, medical exam, or fitting by an audiologist. Thus, it increases the chance of Apple introducing a hearing aid feature in AirPods Pro.
Update: The Hearing Aid feature is now available
Apple announced the feature on September 9, 2024, describing AirPods Pro 2 as the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience, with Hearing Protection, a clinically validated Hearing Test and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature. On September 12, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized it as the first over-the-counter hearing aid software device, intended to amplify sounds for people 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment.
The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features arrived with iOS 18.1, according to Apple’s iOS 18 release notes. As of October 2026, Apple says the Hearing Aid feature works on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 with the latest firmware and an iPhone or iPad running the latest software. It can be personalized using the Hearing Test on your AirPods or an audiogram from a hearing healthcare professional, and it is set up in Settings under your AirPods’ Hearing Health options. Availability varies by country or region.
If you think you have hearing loss, especially if it is more than mild to moderate, speak to a doctor or audiologist rather than relying only on a consumer device.
