Apple's new AirPods Pro double as a 'clinical-grade' hearing aid

Until now, the AirPods Pro were all about keeping the noise out, but Apple's noise-cancelling earbuds are now going in the opposite direction with a new hearing aid feature.

Apple says the latest AirPods Pro 2 can be used as "clinical-grade" hearing aids by boosting sounds like voices or certain ambient noises when the feature is turned on.

Pending approval by regulatory authorities, the feature is set to be introduced in the US and Canada later in 2024, followed by other countries, Apple says. The company is also planning to integrate a hearing test into the AirPods, whereby the user taps the screen when they hear a certain frequency.

If the feature takes hold, Apple could use it to shake up the hearing aid market, where devices often cost several thousand dollars, even if they are far more minimally designed.

At Apple's annual September product launch event in California on Monday, the company also announced a new generation of standard AirPods with active noise cancelling.

The AirPods 4 also add wireless charging and a built-in speaker to help locate the charging case when you've misplaced it. The new AirPods also have a slightly modified shape, designed to better fit different ear sizes.

Meanwhile Apple's new AirPods Max are ditching the Lightning port for the USB-C, in line with EU rules aimed at limiting e-waste. Although some new colours have been added, the over-ear headphones don't appear to have changed much in terms of sound and features in their latest generation.