- Kyle Chua
Apple Working on Ear Health Features, Temperature Sensor for AirPods Pro
Updated: Dec 19, 2023
Apple wants the AirPods Pro to be more than just a device for listening to music.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Cupertino tech giant is working on adding new health features to the audio device.
The first of which would be to enable the AirPods to conduct hearing tests. The feature would allow wearers to set audio profiles that tune the device to their personal hearing capabilities. The AirPods already support the creation of these profiles but it's done via a third-party app called Mimi. That means if Apple were to move ahead with the feature, it could render Mimi irrelevant.
Gurman adds that Apple is planning to market the AirPods Pro as hearing aids after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the over-the-counter medical devices more accessible last year. The iPhone maker has reportedly already hired engineers with experience working on traditional hearing aids to help it with its plan.
Another feature that could debut on the AirPods Pro is temperature scan. Apple is supposedly considering adding a sensor to the audio device that can measure the wearer's body temperature, similar to the Watch Series 8 and the Watch Ultra. The advantage of the AirPods Pro over the aforementioned devices is that temperature readings from the ear canal prove more accurate than those from the wrist.
But as to when these features could come to the AirPods Pro is yet uncertain. Gurman said that both are possibly "several months or even years away," meaning there's a chance they won't be on the next AirPods Pro.
What's coming with the next release, however, as the Apple insider points out, is a USB-C charging case. The change is part of Apple's plan to shift audio devices from Lightning to USB-C to comply with the European Union's new common charging standard. Then again, it seems unlikely for the tech giant to release new AirPods Pro in 2023 as it just refreshed the audio device last year.
The AirPods will at least get new software features with the roll out of iOS 17, which includes a mute button for calls and more seamless device switching.
Apple is working on adding new health features to the AirPods Pro.
The first of which would be to enable the AirPods to conduct hearing tests which would later enable wearers to set audio profiles that tune to their personal hearing capabilities.
The tech giant is also considering adding a sensor to the audio device that can measure the wearer's body temperature.
But as to when these features could come to the AirPods Pro is yet uncertain.