Apple plans to introduce healthier hearing features for AirPods in the coming years, a development highlighted by MacRumors citing a Power On insider briefing from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. At this stage, there are no specifics about the exact features, but Gurman notes that the headphones will gain information about the user’s hearing status. AirPods already include Live Listening and Speech Accentuation to assist those with hearing challenges. Live Listen streams audio from an iPhone microphone to the headphones, while Speech Accentuation amplifies nearby voices when enabled.
Despite these capabilities, the FDA has not approved AirPods as medical devices. Bloomberg reports that Apple aims to secure FDA approval for AirPods, with Gurman predicting this could happen within the next year or two. MacRumors also notes that this is not the first time potential medical uses for AirPods have been discussed. Earlier reporting by Ming-Chi Kuo and Kevin Lynch suggested future AirPods could include sensors to monitor health indicators such as body temperature, heart rate, and sweat density, among others.
In related coverage, former discussions on how disabling certain features can impact AirPods charging were noted by another publication [citation]. These ongoing conversations reflect Apple’s interest in expanding the health and accessibility functionality of its wireless earbuds while navigating regulatory and performance considerations. [Bloomberg via Gurman] [Ming-Chi Kuo] [Kevin Lynch] [insiders] [citation]