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Apple’s AirPods can already function as makeshift hearing aids, but according to a new report, Apple’s AirPods appear to be getting even more useful health features.
Serial Apple leaker Mark Gurman claims the Cupertino-based company plans to “upgrade its true wireless earbuds in the next two years to become a health tool,” adding “the ability to somehow collect hearing data to get”.
While the AirPods already offer features such as Live Listen and Conversation Boost for the hearing impaired, these features have not been officially approved by an international health regulatory body such as the FDA.
Apple has never explicitly promoted the AirPods as possible hearing aid replacements, but Gurman claims in his Power On blog that the company plans to have the features recognized “more officially” in the near future.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen reports that Apple wanted to extend the usefulness of AirPods beyond audio playback and into the realm of a health monitoring device.
In 2020, there were rumors that future AirPod designs would include ambient light sensors that could measure blood oxygen levels.
Apple’s recent patent filings, meanwhile, also described an earbud-based fitness monitoring system that would use a biometric sensor to detect temperature, heart rate, perspiration levels, and more, through skin contact and built-in motion sensors.
Analysis: Future features could bring a healthy benefit to all AirPod users
From offering help to improve your yoga poses, to cardio monitoring, if the succession of leaks and pending patents are any indication, the venerable AirPod could soon rival the Apple Watch for health features.
Gurman isn’t speculating what hearing data the new features might collect, but we suspect the earbuds could be used in conjunction with an iPhone for some sort of standardized hearing test.
What’s also encouraging about these rumored new features is that they may not be limited to upcoming AirPods. Current models are already equipped with speakers and microphones, meaning these new smart health features can be added to existing earbuds via a firmware update.
