AirPods Pro are getting a new feature in iOS 18 (and it's very useful)

The iPhone is getting a huge update this year, but iOS 18 is also bringing a new feature to the AirPods Pro. This is going to change!

AirPods Pro are getting a new feature in iOS 18

It was already clear that iOS 18 would be a huge update for the iPhone. According to rumours, this is the biggest phone update ever, with Apple mainly introducing several new AI functions. This makes Siri smarter and almost all Apple apps get better integration with AI. Now it turns out that iOS 18 also brings a useful new feature to the AirPods Pro.

Read also: AirPods Pro 2 as hearing protection during parties – will it work?

According to usually reliable Apple expert Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a new listening mode for the earbuds. This feature is coming to the AirPods Pro with iOS 18 and is supposed to turn the earbuds into a kind of hearing aid. According to Gorman, this will be an addition to Live Listen, a feature that came to the AirPods with iOS 12. This means the AirPods Pro could become a full-fledged hearing aid.

More health features for AirPods

This wouldn't be the first time Apple has added useful accessibility features to the earbuds. In 2018, Apple introduced Live Listen, a feature that turned the iPhone into a microphone for the AirPods. Call amplification was added in 2022, so the earbuds display sounds more clearly during a conversation. With iOS 17, Apple also added call detection.

In iOS 18, we can expect new functionality for the AirPods Pro, where the earbuds can then officially function as a hearing aid. In 2022, new guidelines were established for the category of hearing aids that do not require a medical examination. With the new iOS 18 feature, the AirPods Pro will likely fall into this category.

No new AirPods Pro in 2024

It's not yet clear what exactly the new functionality will add to the AirPods Pro. There's a good chance the earbuds will be able to pick up sound better in the new listening mode. Conversations are then amplified, while distracting and annoying sounds are better filtered out. This should make the AirPods Pro more accessible in iOS 18. It appears that the feature will only be available on the Pro models.

Read also: Apple will launch new AirPods in 2024 – you need to know

According to rumours, Apple is mainly making changes to the earbuds' software. We can't expect new AirPods Pro this year, as the third generation will likely not appear until next year. There will be a new version of the “regular” AirPods this year, because the AirPods 4 are coming. Interested in knowing what pro features are coming to your earbuds? Then read all about AirPods 4 here!