Apple expands AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid feature to the UK
Image credits: Apple
AirPods Pro 2 users in the UK can now access Apple’s hearing assistance technology, offering a complete hearing health experience.
Apple’s Hearing Aid features arrives in the UK
Apple has officially rolled out its Hearing Aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 in the UK, providing users with clinical-grade, over-the-counter hearing assistance. This “first-of-its-kind” technology is now available as a free software update, making high-quality hearing support more accessible and affordable.
Millions across the UK suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss. Untreated cases of hearing loss can lead to broader health issues including overall health and wellbeing, and the risk of dementia and social isolation. Apple’s Hearing Aid feature aims to address these concerns by offering an easy-to-use affordable solution for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
How does it work?
The Hearing Aid feature uses a personalised hearing profile generated from Apple’s Hearing Test, a five-minute self-assessment that categorises a user’s hearing level and provides actionable recommendations. Once set up, the feature dynamically adjusts and amplifies real-world sounds accordingly, helping those with hearing loss to engage more effectively in conversations and their environment.
Users benefit from personalised sound adjustments across various activities, including phone calls, music, movies, and gaming- seamlessly applied across all Apple devices.
A complete hearing health experience
With this update, Apple offers UK users an end-to-end hearing health solution with the AirPods Pro 2 that is focused on prevention, awareness, and assistance:
- Loud Sound Reduction: Prevent exposure to loud noises, while preserving sound clarity and quality.
- Hearing Test: Provides a simple way to assess hearing levels and receive actionable recommendations that can enable better-informed discussions with healthcare providers.
- Hearing Aid: Assists with real-world hearing to enhance the user hearing experience.
“At Apple, we believe that technology can help people live healthier lives, and we’re delighted to bring the Hearing Aid feature to the UK, offering our users an end-to-end hearing health experience with AirPods Pro 2.”
Sumbal Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health
Global expansion and UK rollout
Apple first introduced the feature in the US in October 2024, followed by launches in France, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Romania in December. While Apple has not specified the delay in bringing the feature to the UK, the delay was likely caused because the feature requires regulatory approval before it can be offered as a health benefit to the public.
Privacy & compatibility
Apple emphasises user privacy across its health features. Health data, including hearing data, is encrypted on each device when locked and when stored in iCloud (and secured with two-factor authentication). This means Apple cannot access or decrypt this data, ensuring users’ personal information remains private.
The Hearing Aid feature is available as a free software update for AirPods Pro 2 users in the UK. To use it, devices must run firmware version 7B19 or newer. Firmware updates are installed automatically when AirPods are charging and within Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi-Fi.
With this rollout, Apple continues its commitment to using technology to enhance accessibility, making hearing health support more widely available.