Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Ahead of Hearing Aid Feature Launch

Thursday October 24, 2024 11:43 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, with the software available for both the USB-C and Lightning models. The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 firmware has a build number of 7B19, up from the 7A305 firmware released in September.

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature
The new ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 firmware comes just ahead of when Apple plans to launch Hearing Health features in iOS 18.1. Hearing Health includes a hearing test that mimics an audiologist's test, and hearing aid functionality should that test sense mild to moderate hearing loss.

Release notes for the update are as follows:

When used with an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later, AirPods Pro 2 with firmware update 7B19 enable three new features—a Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection.

The Apple Hearing Test feature provides scientifically-validated hearing test results from the comfort of home (intended for users 18 years or older).

The Hearing Aid feature provides personalized, clinical-grade assistance that is automatically applied to sounds in your environment as well as music, videos, and calls (intended for users 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss)

The Hearing Protection feature helps users minimize exposure to loud environmental noise across listening modes (available in the United States and Canada)

Features require AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or later. All features may not be available for all countries or regions.

Apple has approval for the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 to function as an over-the-counter hearing aid in the United States. The hearing aid capabilities will boost conversations and other environmental sounds for those who have hearing loss issues.

The update also includes a Hearing Protection feature that will continuously monitor the wearer's environment to reduce the impact of loud sounds. This functionality will be limited to the U.S. and Canada at launch.

Hearing Health will be introduced in iOS 18.1, which is set to be released next Monday.

Apple doesn't have a way to manually upgrade AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or Mac.

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Top Rated Comments

Nathan King

11 months ago

I rarely post on news articles but genuinely feel that I have something to add here. I have moderate to severe hearing loss with Tinnitus. My over-the-ear hearing aids cost slightly over $6,500. I set up the AirPods using the audiogram from my last professional hearing test. Here are a few observations, beginning with the positives:

* This is a game-changer at the gym and between Zoom meetings. I wear the AirPods at the gym because audio streaming with the hearing aids is a poor experience. Unfortunately, this meant that if anybody asked me if I was done with the weights, I couldn’t understand them. Now I can.
* Likewise, if I have a few minutes between meetings. I was previously unable to understand questions asked by team members nearby without switching back to my hearing aids for a minute before the next meeting. This is a major quality of life improvement.
* It’s clear that Apple doesn’t have experience in this market segment. All audio is amplified, even background noise. My hearing aids are far better when I’m in a space with background noise or crowded spaces with multiple people talking.
* No features for people with ugly side-effects of hearing loss, such as Tinnitus. My hearing aids play fractal tones, which conditions my brain to ignore the ear-splitting ringing I hear 24/7. Apps like Dark Noise help, but they’re not a substitute.

I’m extremely pleased with this feature despite some shortcomings. It has already made an improvement in my quality of life. I hope Apple continues to improve these features.

Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)

phenste

11 months ago

Thats been a lot of ANC downgrades for 2024.

Airpods Pro 3 definitely imminent 2025!

usually don’t respond to petty **** like this bc it’s not worth it. I’m just curious, do you know anyone with hearing loss? have you ever met someone born with 50% hearing loss? do you have any older relatives who are so deaf that they can’t even participate in a two-person conversation in a quiet environment without having their hearing aids in?

have you witnessed firsthand the kind of isolation and pain that level of deafness causes?

hearing loss is a serious ****ing issue. more serious than it seems like anyone wants to take it. Apple is trying to do something about it when they sell the #1 pair of wireless earbuds in the world. go buy some Bose earbuds if you care that much about Apple drastically lowering the bar for access to hearing aids. can’t imagine anyone else reading this who’s been personally affected by hearing loss cares for this insanely tasteless comment but maybe that’s just me

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

tipoo

11 months ago

Just ran it twice, with the stock silicone tips, and some nicer foam ones. Little to no loss in both tests. I'm a bit stunned by this, as I don't consider myself to have good hearing at all.

They (well, wives) say a lot of hearing issues are actually attention issues lol

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

xraydoc

11 months ago

Just ran it twice, with the stock silicone tips, and some nicer foam ones. Little to no loss in both tests. I'm a bit stunned by this, as I don't consider myself to have good hearing at all.

Hearing test tones in a quiet environment with noise-cancelling earbuds and hearing/understanding speech and other sounds in a crowded or noisy environment are two very different things.

Source: I wear audiologist-prescribed and programmed hearing aids but have otherwise normal isolated audiograms (and <5dB loss in each ear per Apple's test that I gave myself last night). Still can't understand what anyone is saying in a restaurant or at work, for example, without my hearing aids in place. I will, however, have to see if the AirPods Pro actually function anywhere as well in real-world usage as my hearing aids.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

BB1970

11 months ago

That’s weird. I have 7B13d
I don’t even see that version in the firmware history.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)