AirPods Pro 2 to Gain Hearing Protection, Testing, and Aid Features

[jigzaw]

To my knowledge the only difference between the Lightning and USB-C version is the charging case. There is no difference in the AirPods. It is possible to order just the USB-C case. That seems like a waste as my Lightning case works just fine with either a cable or MagSafe charging. For $100.00 I would not even consider updating the case to USB-C.

The Lightning AirPods 2 don't support lossless audio on the Vision Pro, but the USB-C version does. I've seen mention of the H2 chip being upgraded in the USB-C version, but the site below attributes the difference to the Lightning AP2 using the U1 chips while the USB-C AP2 uses the U2 chip.

Maybe that won't make a difference for the hearing features, but I wouldn't be surprised if Apple decides it does.

Latest AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) vs AirPods Pro 2 (lightning): What's the real difference?

Apple's new AirPods boast a USB-C rather than lightning charging port, but that's not the only difference worth noting.

www.pocket-lint.com

 

[marvin_h]

So what’s the difference between this ‘new feature’ and just doing a free hearing test using the mimi app and applying the audiogram it generates through the iPhone’s accessibility settings like you’ve been able to do for years?

There must be some difference because they need government authorization for it….or maybe just for the naming converion!

The Mimi app and hearing aid function even works on the first gen AirPod pro. Hopefully that continues.

 

[InsideApple]

What about the new features liek head gestures etc since the RC is out? I installed it but can‘t see those features on my Airpods Pro 2.

 

[rbbloom99]

I have 2 pairs of AirPod Pros model A2698, both have the lighting plugs and MagSafe charging cases.

According to iphonelife.com they are Second Generation which means I can get the "hearing test".

AirPods Pro Second Generation with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning)​

• Model numbers: A2931, A2699, A2698
• Year introduced: 2022

 

[CostaMoses]

The hearing aid feature is massive for me and so many others. I will be buying these pretty quickly now. Hopefully I can get them to stay in my ears.

If you are younger, please wear earplugs when playing or going to concerts!
Don't end up like me with hearing loss in your late 20's (in my 40's now).

 

[rbbloom99]

The hearing aid feature is massive for me and so many others. I will be buying these pretty quickly now. Hopefully I can get them to stay in my ears.

If you are younger, please wear earplugs when playing or going to concerts!
Don't end up like me with hearing loss in your late 20's (in my 40's now).

I'm hearing impaired with hearing hypersensitivity and have been wearing Pros several hours a day when in public (grocery stores, Apple store, etc). In fact, I don't leave home without one pair hooked to my belt. With that said, I have never had them fall out, ever. And that's a good thing.

 

[lozion]

Does anyone find the version 2 noise cancelation algo leaves more background noise then the Pro 1?

Looking forward to the new hearing aid features.. 👍🏼

 

[Just_Kevin]

Maybe Tim is getting old.

So how many decibels of noise reduction do they have? Are they good enough to use while mowing the lawn?

I don’t know the specs, but I use mine while mowing and running other small engines and power tools and find them to be adequate.

 

[TVreporter]

Audiologists selling $2K+ hearing aids to seniors are trembling right about now… they finally get some competition.

 

[Entilzha]

Or deaf.

I see what you did there! Except it also showed text on the screen saying it was an update as well.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Audiologists selling $2K+ hearing aids to seniors are trembling right about now… they finally get some competition.

Not really. OTC devices are only appropriate for mild hearing losses. There are output restrictions on OTC for obvious reasons. They do not want people destroying their own ears with a device that is meant to improve their ability to communicate. OTC has been viewed as the equivalent of buying reading glasses (cheaters) at Walgreens. It’s a band-aid.

 

[Bodhitree]

Thought this looked like a good feature that will help people, and a significant addition to the Apple ecosystem. The best thing about the entire announcement, I reckon.

 

[raythompsontn]

Thought this looked like a good feature that will help people, and a significant addition to the Apple ecosystem. The best thing about the entire announcement, I reckon.

My hearing aid batteries last 18 hours, then 4 hours to fully recharge. Until Apple can get 18 hours of usage time before a recharge, the AirPods will not replace hearing aids. I am not going to remove hearing aids every 5 to 6 hours and wait an hour to recharge the devices.

In addition, my hearing aids are almost invisible being largely behind my ears. AirPods are just a little obvious.

 

[russell_314]

I have a sinking feeling this will only apply to the Pro 2 with USB-C and not work on the original Lightning version of the AirPods Pro 2. Hope I'm wrong about that.

No, that doesn’t even make sense. They are the same AirPods with a slightly modified case. They said AirPods Pro 2. I will be disappointed as well if that’s the case, but I’m not expecting it.

 

[FlyingToasterStrudel]

The Lightning AirPods 2 don't support lossless audio on the Vision Pro, but the USB-C version does. […]

Another hardware difference: the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) that come with the USB-C case have a slightly improved dust resistance rating than the APP 2nd gen that came with the Lightning case.

So the idea that the older Lightning APP 2nd gen may not get a new software-based feature is not completely out to lunch. In theory.

However if that were so, I think there’d be a footnote or something to that effect on the Apple site. (I’d go look, but I’m too lazy to check…)

 

[lozion]

My hearing aid batteries last 18 hours, then 4 hours to fully recharge. Until Apple can get 18 hours of usage time before a recharge, the AirPods will not replace hearing aids. I am not going to remove hearing aids every 5 to 6 hours and wait an hour to recharge the devices.

In addition, my hearing aids are almost invisible being largely behind my ears. AirPods are just a little obvious.

For the price you could have a few pairs?

 

[kalsta]

just so everyone knows, these are the exact same Airpod Pro 2 from 2022. No change outside of eartips which you can buy separately.

Cheers for the clarification.

We all understand this is a new software based feature for an existing product.

I didn't.

We all HERE understand this.

You underestimate the intelligence of folks in these forums.

For those of us who didn't realise, it doesn't make us unintelligent. I've just never paid much attention to Apple's Airpod releases before, as I'm quite content with my over-ear Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones. The features announced today really grabbed my attention though, and I guess I missed the bit where they said it was all thanks to a software update.

I have never seen them twist perspective that 3 devices are new when essential zero was changed.
I understand peoples thoughts on the phone but internals have always changed year to year. Wild. That's a used car salesman technique taken to 11.

While I agree they definitely could have made it clearer to avoid confusion (and product returns), are you unhappy that this is a free software update which current owners can all benefit from?

 

[doelcm82]

No, that doesn’t even make sense. They are the same AirPods with a slightly modified case. They said AirPods Pro 2. I will be disappointed as well if that’s the case, but I’m not expecting it.

They aren't exactly the same AirPods. As someone else pointed out, the AirPods 2 with the USB charging case work better with the Apple Vision Pro.

According to Apple Support:

All current models of AirPods and Beats headphones can connect to Apple Vision Pro. For the best experience, including Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency, use AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C)

Apple threaded a needle when they released a new version of the AirPods Pro but didn't update the version number. Pretty much the only new feature (other than the case) was support for a device relatively few would have. It's not the same product, but keeping the model number the same reduced the chance that people would update who didn't need to.

I know many think that incrementing a model number without new features available to most is exactly what the greedy people at Apple would do, it's not something they did in this case.

 

[Black Tiger]

So what’s the difference between this ‘new feature’ and just doing a free hearing test using the mimi app and applying the audiogram it generates through the iPhone’s accessibility settings like you’ve been able to do for years?

I can’t imagine a 1 trillion dollar company could do a better version. So just ignore the feature.

 

[Black Tiger]

They aren't exactly the same AirPods. As someone else pointed out, the AirPods 2 with the USB charging case work better with the Apple Vision Pro.

According to Apple Support:

All current models of AirPods and Beats headphones can connect to Apple Vision Pro. For the best experience, including Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency, use AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C)

Apple threaded a needle when they released a new version of the AirPods Pro but didn't update the version number. Pretty much the only new feature (other than the case) was support for a device relatively few would have. It's not the same product, but keeping the model number the same reduced the chance that people would update who didn't need to.

I know many think that incrementing a model number without new features available to most is exactly what the greedy people at Apple would do, it's not something they did in this case.

Are we sure that wording isn’t simply because that is the name of the most current version? They don’t sell the original pro 2s.

 

[doelcm82]

Are we sure that wording isn’t simply because that is the name of the most current version? They don’t sell the original pro 2s.

Pretty sure.

I read it here on this site:

Lossless Audio With Apple Vision Pro Will Be Limited to USB-C AirPods Pro 2

The five of us who bought the Apple Vision Pro were understandably outraged that we also had to buy new AirPods Pro 2 also, and we kvetched and vented our spleens.

It was the biggest scandal of the day for part of the day on whatever day we got the news.

But for most people it was a non-event.

 

[XboxEvolved]

Get the Pro 2 they are incredible, I have them since November 2022 and 0 complaints!

That’s fine, but for $250, I’ll wait until the newest ones come out next year sometimes

 

[omenatarhuri]

Get the Pro 2 they are incredible, I have them since November 2022 and 0 complaints!

Yeap, I've had my Pros for something like 4 years now and still going strong.

 

[rxp]

Agreed, I was super happy to hear about this from Apple. My wife has major hearing loss in one ear from an accident when she was a kid. The science showing how hearing loss can increase ones risk of Alzheimer’s / Dementia are pretty terrifying. Hopefully this, and the sleep apnea detection for Apple Watch 9 & 10 help give us more tools and awareness to help push society towards long term health 🙂

Has she tried bone conduction? Couple of my friends had no hearing in one ear due to accidents/birth issues. Bone conduction worked for them - after a period of their brain adjusting to sound they can now hear from both ears via bone conduction.

 

[zenotds]

This was the most exciting part of the keynote for me.
I've been half deaf on my left ear since I was a kid, had surgeries that fixed things up (4 of them) until a few years ago I lost it again for good, now I either get a bone implant or keep on using hearing aid which btw improved my life significantly. If this works half as good as my current hearing aid does I could keep my AirPods on at work instead of constantly switching them in and out.
Big kudos to Apple for this!

I have a pair of Pro 1st gen that are all busted and do crackly sounds.. but I don't see AirPods Pro 3 coming anytime soon. Might as well just get a pair of Pro 2 for the time being.