Apple’s premium earphones can now be used as full-fledged hearing aids. (Apple)
Is Apple really preparing a change that could save my elderly mother over $1,500? That’s the promise of the company’s newly announced effort to add true hearing aid functionality to the AirPods Pro. And why, with all due respect to the iPhone 16 and its awesome camera control buttons, it was, to me, the most exciting part of Monday’s keynote.
The news couldn’t have come at a better time for me: My 80-year-old mother has finally admitted that her hearing is, so to speak, substandard, and has asked me to make an appointment at the Miracle Ear Clinic down the street (“They’re having a fall sale!”). But before heading down that road, I decided to do a little research.
The frustrating world of hearing aids
I knew the hearing aid market was booming since the US government lifted the ban on commercial hearing aids in 2022. But a little Googling revealed that models, even familiar brands like Jabra, Sony, and Sennheiser, start at $300 and can go up from there, sometimes exceeding $2,000. That’s a lot, but surprisingly, it’s actually quite cheap compared to medical hearing aids, which often start at $1,000 and can cost more than $5,000. Yes, it’s true.
Some health plans allow you to defer the cost, but Medicare does not. Veterans can get hearing aids through the VA, but I remember my father’s hearing aids arriving months after his initial hearing test.
The top end of the range OTC hearing aid options for Jabra Enhance are close to $2,000. (Jabra Enhance)
And, crucially, many older adults seem to dislike hearing aids. There’s a reason for that: Hearing aids are generally difficult and unintuitive to use, and sometimes have only one small button to adjust the volume. Want to turn them off? First, open the battery cover. (And many hearing aids still use disposable micro batteries.) To give you an example, my mother got this expensive hearing aid a few years ago, but discovered that the hassle of wearing and maintaining it was outweighed by the improvement in sound quality that the hearing aids offered. The hearing aids still turn on, but don’t seem to work as effectively. The expired warranty is why she’s now looking for a hearing aid.
Competition from the OTC market is helping here, as the Jabras and Sennheisers of the world are pushing traditional hearing aid manufacturers to get a bit more tech-savvy. Some are eschewing behind-the-ear battery packs in favor of the simplicity of earbud-style headphones. Bluetooth connectivity for calls and apps for adjusting sound are finally becoming more common, as older adults become more accustomed to using phones and tablets.
But why buy what are essentially knock-off AirPods when you can get the real thing for a fraction of the price? (And amazingly, in an age where everything is subscription-based, there’s no recurring monthly fee.)
Waiting for Software Updates — and Managing Expectations
So when will the hearing aid feature be available? What once seemed a few weeks away may now be much closer. FDA regulatory approval (US) is already in place, arriving just a few days after the initial announcement. All that remains is a necessary software upgrade. You’ll need AirPods Pro paired with a compatible device running iOS 18, or the equivalent 2024 OS update for iPad or Mac. On the iPhone side, that applies to nearly all models sold since the 2018 model year (iPhone XS/XR and later). The first of these software updates were released on September 16, but it’s unclear if the hearing aid feature will arrive then or later; perhaps alongside the first Apple Intelligence release in October. (Apple’s site simply says “coming this fall.”)
Meanwhile, I started to upsell my mother, showing her the relevant parts of Apple’s video presentation and having her try on the AirPods Pro to gauge fit and comfort. Her initial reaction was less than enthusiastic: she liked the “no fall out” feature like the AirPods 2, but didn’t like the way the ear tips stuck in her ear canal. Many other headphone fans agree, which is why the new AirPods 4 design is more open. But Apple hasn’t hinted that hearing aid functionality will be coming to these headphones anytime soon.
Unlike traditional hearing aids, AirPods Pro are far from inconspicuous. (This shot is from Apple’s keynote video.) (Apple)
To be honest, this isn’t meant to be a miracle cure. Apple makes it clear that the feature is “intended for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.” I wouldn’t be surprised if my mom has reached a point at this point where she needs a professional-level hearing aid, over-the-counter or not, so she may end up opting for one of the Jabra Enhance models, which come with a 100-day money-back guarantee.
But now AirPods Pro has arrived as a testable alternative. From now on, anyone looking for a hearing aid can start their journey with AirPods Pro and the included free audio test. If you like the results, that’s it. At the very least, you’ll have a temporary solution. If you don’t, you can compare and contrast them with more expensive over-the-counter and clinical options in terms of comfort, battery life, ease of use, and of course, the effectiveness of the actual hearing aid. The fact that Apple has entered the hearing aid conversation with a ~$200 option seems like a win in itself.
