Apple has announced the launch of AirPods 4 and a new hearing health experience with AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods 4 feature an open-ear design available in two models, one with active noise cancellation (ANC).
We’re incredibly proud to introduce a first-of-its-kind Hearing Aid feature, coming this fall with AirPods Pro 2, plus an innovative way to detect signs of sleep apnea with Apple Watch. These life-changing tools will help people connect more deeply & live healthier.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 10, 2024
They offer improved sound quality, long battery life, personalized Spatial Audio, Voice Isolation for clearer calls, and new control options using Siri and a force sensor on the stem.
The AirPods 4 with ANC bring noise cancellation to an open-ear design for the first time. They use upgraded microphones and the H2 chip to reduce environmental noise.
AirPods Pro 2 adding a clinical grade hearing aid functionality: Awesome
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 9, 2024
Additional features include Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio that blends Transparency and ANC based on the user’s surroundings, and Conversation Awareness which lowers media volume when the user starts speaking to someone nearby.
AirPods Max are now available in five new colors: midnight, starlight, blue, orange, and purple. They also gain the convenience of USB-C charging. AirPods Pro 2 introduce a groundbreaking hearing health experience.
Next up: AirPods 4 redesign
(the case also is also USB-C) pic.twitter.com/7RxPGTdKzs— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 9, 2024
Apple debuts AirPods 4 with ANC
Apple is taking a significant step to help the approximately 1.5 billion people globally living with hearing loss. The AirPods Pro 2 offer an end-to-end experience focused on prevention, awareness, and assistance.
Key hearing health features in AirPods Pro 2 include:
– Hearing Protection: Active noise reduction helps prevent exposure to loud environmental noise while preserving audio quality. – Hearing Test: Users can check their hearing at home using a scientifically validated test based on pure-tone audiometry. – Hearing Aid: Clinical-grade hearing aid functionality assists users with hearing loss.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, said “With AirPods 4, customers can enjoy Active Noise Cancellation and the most advanced audio experience ever in an open-ear design. And with a revolutionary update to the world’s best-selling headphones, AirPods Pro will deliver groundbreaking new capabilities — including Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features — to help more than a billion people affected by hearing loss.”
The new AirPods and hearing health features will be available starting in September and the fall. New Apple Music subscribers can get three months free with the purchase of select AirPods models.
Full functionality requires pairing with an Apple device running the latest software.
