At Apple’s Audio Lab in Cupertino, named Fantasia Lab, Apple has developed a comprehensive hearing health experience that is centered around the AirPods Pro 2, creating a significant leap in the software.
This software allows users to access a range of hearing tools, including Hearing Protection, an at-home Hearing Test, and even a clinical-grade Hearing Aid, powered by “Apple’s acoustic expertise.” These features are launching on Tuesday with Apple’s iOS 18.1 update.
Apple’s Fantasia Lab is widely known for its acoustic engineering that has enabled its suite of devices to have exceptional audio capabilities. Their technology includes anechoic chambers that eliminate reflective sounds and isolated environments designed to test how sound interacts with the human ear.
They test the products in various environments to optimize the auditory experience on a personal level and provide exceptional sound quality.
Apart from the precise sound modeling, Apple’s engineers also employed a battery of tests to simulate daily auditory challenges. This integration required expertise across Apple divisions. The team conducted thousands of clinical-grade audiometry tests and collaborated with audiologists to verify the software’s accuracy.
Hearing issues affect over 1.5 billion people, but the ability to address these impairments remains unevenly distributed. Apple plans to target this discrepancy and integrate advanced hearing features directly into the AirPods Pro 2 to bridge the gap between hearing aids and consumer technology.
Apple’s vice president of Health, Dr. Sumbul Desai, says this hearing software aims to “democratize access to solutions for hearing loss.”
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, says, “Hearing is a vital part of our health. Apple’s new end-to-end hearing health experience with AirPods Pro 2 allows customers to improve, protect, and better understand their hearing. We’re excited for these new features to have an impact on people’s lives. They’re available today,”
