Skip to main content

Why the AirPods Pro’s best new feature is forbidden in over 100 countries

An Apple iPhone 14 showing the limited hearing protection options available in Canada under iOS 18.1.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Guess what Canada, France, Spain, China, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and 100 other countries have in common? None are able to take advantage of the Apple AirPods Pro 2‘s best new hearing health features.

Sitting in my home office in Toronto, I learned this the hard way: After upgrading my iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 to the latest software this week, I was offered the hearing protection feature, but I still couldn’t see the hearing test and hearing aid options slated to arrive with iOS 18.1.

Recommended Videos

When Apple announced these AirPod Pro 2 features, I had a feeling that something like this might happen. “Apple is still waiting on clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulators,” we noted, “but after that the AirPods Pro should serve as a more proper hearing aid.” Apple eventually received FDA clearance (and approvals from regulators in 103 other countries), but authorities in other major markets have yet to rubber-stamp Apple’s hearing health claims.

Part of the reason could simply be resource-based. For some jurisdictions, the FDA’s green light is considered sufficient as proof of efficacy and safety. In countries that prefer to test product claims independently, it can take time for the necessary evaluations.

An Apple iPhone 14 showing the limited hearing protection options available in Canada under iOS 18.1.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The case of the AirPods Pro is further complicated by Apple positioning of the device, with its new powers, as an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid. The OTC hearing aid category (which is intended for those with “mild to moderate” hearing loss) is relatively new in the U.S. The FDA approved it in 2022, but many countries, Canada included, do not recognize this class of medical device.

In fact, in some Canadian provinces, like Ontario, where I live, it’s illegal for someone to sell you any kind of hearing aid without a prescription from an authorized medical professional.

Canada is widely expected to follow the United States’ lead on OTC hearing aids, but Health Canada (the Canadian FDA equivalent) hasn’t said when or if that will happen.

Given the regulatory frameworks, it’s entirely understandable that Apple has withheld the hearing test and hearing aid options in countries like Canada. It certainly can’t market the AirPods Pro as OTC hearing aids if doing so would place the company in legal jeopardy.

And normally, I’m very much in favor of this approach. When implemented with the necessary checks and balances, regulations can act as an independent verification of health claims, while also reducing the likelihood of harm. However, the AirPods Pro are already owned by millions of people. It should be possible for those in Canada and elsewhere to try the hearing health features on a provisional basis — with the understanding that their country’s respective regulator hasn’t verified or approved the use of the wireless earbuds for these purposes.

In preparation for what I assumed would be an opportunity to try the new features, I had my annual hearing test on October 22. I don’t see why I can’t at least try Apple’s hearing test to see how closely the two results match.

Alas, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. It’s possible that if you live in one of the regions that doesn’t have access yet, you may be able to get around the restriction by changing the country associated to your Apple ID, but that’s not a recommendation — in fact, it can come with a whole host of headaches you probably want to avoid.

Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
Apple lets AirPods Pro owners upgrade to USB-C
Apple AirPods Pro Second Gen charging case with USB-C.

Apple now sells the USB-C version of its AirPods Pro Gen 2 charging case on its own, which is good news for anyone who wants to switch to USB-C charging for their existing second-gen AirPods Pro. However, the switch from lightning to USB-C will come with a hefty premium: Apple is asking $99 for the , as noted by the Verge, or half the price that's currently advertised on Amazon for a new, complete set of AirPods Pro second-gen with USB-C.

Apple AirPods Pro second-gen charging case with USB-C (left) and the second-gen charging case with Lightning. Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

Read more
What we want from the AirPods Pro in 2024
Apple AirPods Pro 2 sitting beside iPhone 14 and charging case.

It’s not that easy to criticize the Apple AirPods Pro. Apple’s iconic white wireless earbuds get a lot of things right. If you’re an iPhone user, they’re one of the easiest products to recommend, even though there are plenty of competitors at the same or lower price.

Still, there are a few areas where Apple still has room for improvement. Here’s what we’d like to see in 2024.

Read more
New AirPods teased for 2024, to little surprise
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C and MagSafe buds on a table with case in the background.

It's been a little while since we've seen a proper refresh of Apple's AirPods line. And given that we're in the back quarter of 2023 it should come as no surprise that word is starting to trickle out about new products potentially coming in 2024. Those words come by way of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who cites unnamed sources detailing changes ahead in the new year.

On tap include:

Read more