The AirPods Pro 2 introduced hearing aid functionalities with the release of iOS 18.1 in October. Users are now able to conduct a test to identify potential hearing loss and utilize the results to customize their AirPods, effectively transforming them into hearing aids. Additionally, iOS 18.2—set to launch publicly within the next few days—will expand these features to additional countries.
iOS 18.2 brings AirPods hearing health functionalities to more regions
Apple disclosed this expansion in the release notes for the iOS 18.2 Release Candidate (RC) made available to developers and public beta testers on Thursday. This update will activate the Hearing Aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 users in the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the Hearing Test feature will roll out to several new countries, which include:
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- France
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Romania
- Spain
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
These nations are now part of the over 100 countries and regions where the new hearing health features for AirPods Pro 2 are already available.
AirPods Pro 2 users can perform a hearing assessment directly from their iPhones. In locations where it’s accessible, users can convert their AirPods into clinical-grade hearing aids based on the outcomes of their hearing evaluation. This capability aids individuals in perceiving sounds and conversations around them more distinctly.
In addition, Apple offers a Hearing Protection feature for AirPods Pro 2, which automatically mitigates louder and more irregular sounds that could potentially harm hearing. However, this feature is currently restricted to the U.S. and Canada. A comprehensive list of supported countries can be found on Apple’s official website.
Apple has not yet announced the exact public release date for iOS 18.2, but with the Release Candidate now accessible to beta testers, it is anticipated to launch as soon as next week.
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