Apple is working on a number of new health features for future AirPods models by incorporating new hardware sensors, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
Gurman outlines a future timeline of new features expected to be added to AirPods. He reports that Apple is working on a new feature that would allow users to test their hearing by listening to a few specific sounds emitted from their AirPods. The planned feature will work in addition to another separate hearing aid mode, in which Apple will have to seek the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory approval to position AirPods as a true hearing aid device.
The company is working on a new hearing test feature that will play different tones and sounds to allow the AirPods to determine how well a person can hear. The idea is to help users screen for hearing issues, not unlike how the Apple Watch ECG app checks for heart problems.
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Mark Gurman
To help Apple with its hearing-aid ambitions, the company has reportedly hired multiple engineers from established hearing-aid companies. Apple also hopes to make use of the FDA’s new relaxed hearing-aid purchase rules, in which some hearing aid devices can now be purchased over the counter with no prior prescription.
Apple is also developing a new body temperature sensor for upcoming AirPods models, adds Gurman. The new sensors will measure body temperature through the user’s ear canal, which is considered more reliable than relying on the user’s wrist temperature as is currently being done on the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra. Body temperature recording is currently only used for fertility tracking, but Apple hopes to be able to alert users if they have the flu or other temperature-related illnesses via the more accurate ear canal temperature recording, adds Gurman.
AirPods with USB-C charging port
The planned health features are reportedly “several months or even years away,” adds Gurman, but Apple is working on new changes to be released soon. The AirPods Pro charging case will reportedly switch to a USB-C port just like the iPhone 15 lineup later this year. Gurman also reports that Apple is planning to release “other audio products” equipped with a USB-C port. For example, the AirPods Max still relies on Lightning to charge its internal battery, but a future refresh will likely see the over-the-ear headphones switch to the more standard USB-C.
