Apple AirPods Pro to get free upgrade that can help millions

The popular wireless earbuds look set to get a really useful new feature

Apple AirPods Pro review
(Image credit: Future)
Quick Summary

Rumours suggest a killer new feature could come to the Apple Airpods Pro this year.

The news comes from Mark Gurman – a respected source on Apple devices – and could be seen as soon as this summer.

If you're a fan of top tier audio, a pair of the best wireless earbuds on the market is a must-have. These days, they offer incredible sound quality, but also give users top notch noise cancellation and more.

If you're an iPhone user, chances are you use the Apple Airpods Pro. These are a really great option, offering Apple's signature integration in a way no other product can.

Now, they look set to get even better. That's according to popular Apple insider, Mark Gurman. He enjoys a fantastic reputation in the space, and is renowned for his insight into the Cupertino-based company.

According to Gurman's latest Power On newsletter, the Airpods Pro will gain a 'Hearing Aid mode' this year. While further details on the matter aren't yet clear, the new feature is expected to be different to the Live Listen and Conversation Boost modes already employed.

The latter in particular offers an experience which is similar to that of a traditional hearing aid. Interestingly, the FDA created guidelines back in 2022, which would allow those kinds of devices to be sold over the counter. While there is no guarantee that the update in question is intended as part of that, it certainly seems like it may have been a catalyst.

According to the report, the update will come as part of iOS 18. Based on historic release schedules, that would give us an early look at the WWDC event in the summer, before beta testing and a full release in the Autumn.

That leaves us with around three months to wait for early details, and about six months until the feature should be live. We'll certainly be keeping an eye out for other leaks or information before then, though. When it comes to new updates which could make a meaningful difference to people's lives, this looks set to be one of the best.

Sam Cross
Staff Writer

Online news writer at T3.com, Sam has five years of experience in online and print journalism, with work featured in publications like Metro and Last Word on Sports. After years writing about music and football, Sam now turns his hand to bringing you news about new phones, smart home products, smart watches, laptops and TVs. Sam is a longtime fan and user of Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches.He’s also T3’s resident football expert, bringing you everything you need to know about the big games, including how to watch them. In his spare time, Sam is a keen guitarist, watch lover and (very) amateur golfer.