Apple has updated the AirPods Pro 2 with new hearing-related features, including hearing protection, personalized hearing tests, and a hearing aid mode. The updates will be available this fall in over 100 countries, and require iOS 18 on the paired iPhone. The AirPods Pro 2 will protect hearing, improve sound quality, and enhance media listening.
Apple has unveiled five new colors for its AirPods Max over-the-ear headphones: Midnight, Starlight, blue, purple, and orange. The new colors are accompanied by the long-awaited upgrade to a USB-C port. There are no other changes or updates, and the price remains $549. The AirPods Max are available for pre-order starting today, with a release date set for September 20.
The AirPods Pro 2 are receiving a significant update in the form of hearing-related features. These features are scheduled to arrive “this fall” and will focus on hearing protection and health. Using machine learning, the headphones will automatically apply hearing protection in loud environments, ensuring that the user’s hearing is preserved. The H2 chip works to reduce loud intermittent noises 48,000 times per second.
The new features will also include a personalized hearing test, which users can share with their healthcare professionals. This test will power a built-in hearing aid mode, adjusting the headphones to better help users hear voices and sounds around them. The features will also be able to make adjustments to improve audio quality.
The AirPods Pro 2’s hearing health features will be available in over 100 countries and regions, including the US, Germany, and Japan, following the receipt of marketing authorization from global health authorities. These features will require an iPhone running iOS 18, which is paired with the AirPods Pro 2.
[ Images: Apple AirPods Max, Apple AirPods Pro 2 ]
