Apple's AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 include a built-in hearing test and hearing aid features, and the company says the test can be completed in as little as five minutes. The tools are aimed at people who suspect they are experiencing hearing loss as well as those who are not. Apple describes the test as "clinical-grade."
The hearing test feature arrived in October 2024 alongside iOS 18.1. Apple had to obtain FDA authorization before releasing both the hearing test and the hearing aid features, a process that involved a clinical study of the hearing aid features specifically. The hearing test itself has also been studied since its release.
A 2026 study by an international team of researchers, published in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, found that the AirPods Pro showed "clinically acceptable accuracy and reliability" when compared with a standard audiometry test. The study also noted that Apple's hearing test is faster and easier to perform than an in-office exam, which could lead more people to take their hearing health seriously.
The test is not a substitute for a visit to a doctor. Apple's hearing test is considered a valid screening tool, but it cannot provide a diagnosis; only a doctor can do that. The screening is also more limited than what a physician can offer. The AirPods Pro test relies on pure-tone audiometry, which measures how clearly a person perceives different sound frequencies. An audiologist visit would include additional tests measuring bone conduction and eardrum health, which give a fuller picture and can identify the cause of hearing loss. The studies conducted so far have been small, so while the results are compelling, they remain limited.
The AirPods Pro test is intended only to screen for the normal hearing loss that everyone experiences to some degree with age. Apple's hearing test is positioned as a starting point before symptoms appear rather than a solution once they do. People whose hearing suddenly worsens, who have ear pain, or whose hearing is worse in one ear than the other should see a doctor as soon as possible, according to the guidance surrounding the feature.
For US consumers, the FDA authorization behind the features makes the hearing tools available as a mainstream option for iPhone users weighing whether to check their hearing at home. The evidence indicates the test can deliver accurate results under the right conditions, while the cautions around diagnosis and sudden symptoms remain in place.
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