Apple Highlights Using AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aid in Heartwarming Holiday Season Ad
Apple today shared its annual holiday season ad, and it's a tearjerker. The video is titled "Heartstrings" and highlights the new hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 with a heartwarming father-and-daughter moment on Christmas morning.
"For so many of us, sound and how we hear shape how we connect to the world around us," said Apple, in the video description. "Yet, people with hearing loss wait an average of 10 years before getting their hearing tested and fitted for hearing aids. Leaving millions unaware they're living with hearing loss and without the assistance they need."
Apple's clinical-grade hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 is still rolling out around the world. It is currently available in the U.S., Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and select other countries. The feature requires AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or newer, paired with a compatible iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later.
AirPods Pro 2 also gained hearing test and hearing protection features in select countries.
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