Who would have thought that your earbuds could one day replace a visit to the ENT specialist? Yet, that’s exactly what Apple is aiming for with the new features of the AirPods Pro.
With these new features, Apple confirms its desire to establish itself as a major player in connected health. It’s the turn of the AirPods Pro to get a makeover during the back-to-school keynote.
Far from being a simple cosmetic update, the new features announced for these small wireless headphones promise to revolutionize our approach to hearing health.
Prevention, detection, correction: Apple’s winning trio
Let’s start at the beginning: prevention. Apple has equipped the AirPods Pro 2 with a hearing protection feature enabled by default. Concretely, your headphones will now permanently reduce the sounds that are most aggressive to your hearing. No more deafening concerts or construction site noise that shatters your eardrums! The H2 chip built into AirPods Pro takes care of everything, in real time.
But Apple doesn’t stop there. The Apple firm is also tackling the detection of hearing problems. Apple has developed its own hearing test, validated by doctors. In just five minutes, you will be able to assess your hearing directly from your iPhone. The principle is simple: you tap on the screen when you hear sounds. At the end, you get a nice graph that tells you if everything is okay or if you might need to consider seeing a specialist. It’s practical, quick, and it could well prevent you from missing an emerging hearing problem.
Finally, and this is perhaps where the biggest surprise lies: the AirPods Pro 2 will be able to transform into real clinically certified hearing aids. Yes, you read that correctly. Your favorite headphones could soon replace these often stigmatizing and overpriced devices.
Apple is still waiting for the green light from the FDA (the U.S. health authority) and other regulators, but the company seems confident. This feature should be available in no fewer than 100 countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan, and most likely France.
A silent revolution, but not without questions
These announcements are undeniably impressive. Apple seems to have succeeded in turning simple earbuds into real health tools. It’s as if your toaster suddenly started monitoring your cholesterol levels (okay, maybe that example is a bit far-fetched, but you get the idea).
However, this evolution also raises a few questions. For example, how will these new features integrate with the primary use of AirPods Pro, which is listening to music? Does this mean we’ll all be walking around with our earbuds in all the time, even when we’re not listening to anything? And what about the privacy of the health data being collected?
It’s also worth noting that Apple’s approach isn’t entirely altruistic. By collecting hearing data from millions of users, the company is building an unprecedented database for researchers. This is potentially a goldmine for hearing health research, but it also raises concerns about how this sensitive data will be managed and used.
A giant leap for connected health
Despite these questions, we have to acknowledge that Apple is making a major move. By normalizing the use of hearing aids integrated into everyday objects, the company could help destigmatize hearing issues. It’s an innovative approach that could encourage more people to take care of their hearing health.
Moreover, by making these technologies accessible through consumer products, Apple could democratize access to hearing aids. Considering that such devices can cost several thousand euros, the potential impact of this innovation is significant.
