Apple’s new hearing aid feature in the AirPods Pro 2 has just received Elon Musk’s approval. The billionaire entrepreneur, who is set to head the Department of Government Efficiency in US President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, praised Apple’s affordable hearing aid solution, calling it “awesome” in a viral post on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The innovative feature, highlighted in a beautiful family-friendly ad by Apple CEO Tim Cook, uses personalized sound profiles to help users hear important moments, effectively turning AirPods into assistive listening devices – at significantly lower prices than traditional hearing aids.
Apple has found a way to use the existing AirPods Pro 2 to help users create their own “hearing profile” after a five-minute hearing test, and then use this data to amplify certain sounds and personalize the sound to enhance conversations, phone calls, and media playback accordingly. The ease of use and the fact that anyone can do it at home for free makes this solution so irresistible.
Developed to address the growing problem of hearing health, this software is the result of “years of collaboration between different teams,” according to Apple. It was first announced at the iPhone 16 presentation in September. With iOS 18, it became available to users as a free update.
Musk’s comment sparked a wide discussion among fans and critics alike, both about the feature itself and the advertisement. Supporters applauded Apple’s attention to inclusive design. Many users noted that this feature could democratize access to hearing aids, which are otherwise tied to expensive medical devices.
However, it is important to note that this feature is not yet available globally. Currently, users in India cannot access the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features. This is likely due to regulatory approvals and local market considerations.
“The hearing test and hearing aid features are regulated medical features that require approval and will be offered once approval is received,” the company’s support page says.
That Apple is doubling down on health-focused innovation is commendable. With Musk’s endorsement, the conversation about integrating healthcare technology into consumer devices has gained even more traction. We hope that Apple will soon expand the availability of this technology so that users in India and other regions can also benefit from this advancement.
