Which AirPods Function as Hearing Aids — and What That Actually Means

Apple made history in September 2024 when the AirPods Pro 2 received FDA clearance as an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid. That's not marketing language — it's a regulatory classification that places a consumer earbud in the same category as devices previously sold only through audiologists. But understanding what that means, who it applies to, and how it actually works requires a bit of unpacking.

The Short Answer: AirPods Pro 2 (2nd Generation)

Only the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) — specifically those running firmware version 7B19 or later, paired with an iPhone running iOS 18 or later — include the FDA-cleared hearing aid feature. No other AirPods model, including the AirPods 4 (even with Active Noise Cancellation), the AirPods Max, or the original AirPods Pro, carries this classification.

This distinction matters because the feature isn't just marketing. FDA OTC hearing aid clearance requires the device to meet specific safety and performance standards for people with mild to moderate hearing loss in adults 18 and older.

What the Hearing Aid Feature Actually Does

Apple's implementation works through a combination of existing hardware and new software-enabled capabilities:

• Hearing Test — A built-in audiogram-style test (taken through the Health app) assesses your hearing across different frequencies. It requires a quiet environment and takes about five minutes per ear.
• Hearing Aid Mode — Based on your test results, the AirPods Pro 2 apply personalized amplification profiles, boosting specific frequency ranges where your hearing is weaker.
• Live Listen Enhancement — An existing feature that uses the iPhone's microphone to pipe amplified audio directly to your ears, now refined for hearing aid use cases.
• Conversation Boost — Already available before the FDA clearance, this feature focuses directional microphones forward to amplify speech in noisy environments. 🎙️

The underlying hardware — the H2 chip, the inward and outward-facing microphones, and the vent system — was already present in the AirPods Pro 2 before this feature launched. The hearing aid functionality arrived as a software update, which is why older AirPods Pro 2 units are eligible if they receive the update.

What "Mild to Moderate" Hearing Loss Means

This is one of the most important variables when evaluating whether this feature is relevant for any particular person.

Hearing loss is measured in decibels (dB HL):

The AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature is designed and cleared for the mild to moderate range. People with moderately severe, severe, or profound hearing loss are outside the intended use case — prescription hearing aids with more powerful amplification, custom fitting, and professional calibration are typically required at those levels.

How This Differs from "Sound Amplification" Products

Before OTC hearing aids became legal in the U.S. (following a 2022 FDA rule change), many products were sold as PSAPs — Personal Sound Amplification Products. These amplify sound but carry no hearing health claims and don't require FDA clearance as medical devices.

The AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid mode is not a PSAP. It's an FDA-regulated medical device feature. That distinction matters for:

• Regulatory accountability — Apple is held to performance and labeling standards
• Clinical intent — The feature is designed to address diagnosed or suspected hearing loss, not just make things louder
• Self-fitting legitimacy — The built-in hearing test is part of what enables legal self-fitting without an audiologist 🏥

Variables That Shape the Real-World Experience

Even within the eligible population, outcomes vary considerably based on several factors:

Device and software requirements The feature only works on AirPods Pro 2 with the required firmware and an iPhone on iOS 18 or later. Android users, Mac-only users, and iPad-only users cannot access the hearing aid functionality in the same way — the hearing test and configuration are tied to the iPhone Health app.

Type and pattern of hearing loss The built-in test measures hearing across frequencies but cannot replicate a full clinical audiogram performed by an audiologist. People with asymmetrical hearing loss, high-frequency loss only, or speech discrimination issues (where the problem is clarity, not volume) may find the self-fitting results less precise than professionally calibrated hearing aids.

Fit and physical comfort Hearing aid effectiveness is closely tied to how well a device seals the ear canal. AirPods Pro 2 come with four ear tip sizes (XS, S, M, L) and include an Ear Tip Fit Test. Poor seal = reduced amplification accuracy and more ambient noise leakage.

Battery life and daily use patterns AirPods Pro 2 offer roughly 6 hours of listening time per charge (with ANC enabled). For someone using them primarily as hearing aids throughout the workday, that usage pattern is different from someone who puts them in for calls or music. Battery management becomes a real consideration.

Concurrent audio use AirPods Pro 2 are still general-purpose earbuds. When used as hearing aids, the experience shifts depending on whether the person is also using them for media, phone calls, or purely as passive hearing amplification in Transparency mode.

How This Compares to Traditional OTC Hearing Aids

Purpose-built OTC hearing aids — from brands operating in the hearing health space — are also FDA-regulated, but they're designed exclusively for hearing assistance. Some differences worth understanding:

Neither category is universally superior — the right fit depends on lifestyle, severity of loss, tech comfort level, and whether the person wants a discrete medical device or a multipurpose tool.

The Part Only You Can Answer

The AirPods Pro 2 represent something genuinely new: a mainstream consumer device that legally doubles as a medical-grade hearing aid for a specific population. The technology is real, the regulatory status is real, and the feature works within its intended scope.

But whether it fits your situation — your degree of hearing loss, your iPhone setup, your daily wear patterns, whether you'd benefit from a formal audiogram first, or whether a purpose-built device would serve you better — is the piece this article can't resolve. That depends on details about your hearing, your habits, and how you're already using (or planning to use) the hardware. 👂