Apple made headlines with FDA-registered hearing aid functionality. Here's what that actually means — and whether it's enough.
In 2024, Apple introduced a Hearing Aid feature for AirPods Pro 2, making them the first consumer earbuds to receive FDA registration as an OTC hearing aid. The AirPods Pro 3 carry this feature forward with hardware improvements.
Here's how it works: the AirPods Pro 3 include a built-in hearing test in the Health app that takes about 5 minutes and tests your hearing at multiple frequencies in each ear. Based on the results, iOS applies a custom hearing profile — essentially a frequency-specific EQ that amplifies the sounds you're missing. This is fundamentally different from just turning up the volume. It's the same core concept that separates a hearing aid from a sound amplifier.
The feature is called "Hearing Aid" in iOS settings and is available on iPhone with iOS 18 or later. Android users cannot access it — this is an Apple ecosystem feature only.
HearAdvisor — the same independent audiologist-run lab whose scores I reference throughout this site — has tested AirPods Pro 3 as a hearing aid. The results are genuinely interesting and more competitive than I expected.
The AirPods Pro 3 score respectably — 3.5/5 for speech in quiet and 2.7/5 for speech in noise. These are above the Audien Atom X on noise performance and genuinely competitive for mild hearing loss in everyday situations. Their music streaming score of 4.3/5 is exceptional — the best in the entire OTC category.
| Feature | AirPods Pro 3 | ELEHEAR Beyond Pro | Audien Atom X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $599 | $389 |
| FDA Status | ✓ Registered OTC | ✓ Registered OTC | ✓ Registered OTC |
| In-app hearing test | ✓ iOS only | ✓ iOS & Android | ⚠ Basic only |
| Speech-in-noise | 2.7 / 5 | Top 5% lab grade | 0.3 / 5 |
| Music quality | 4.3 / 5 — best OTC | Good | Average |
| Tinnitus masking | ✗ | ✓ 20+ sounds | ✗ |
| Battery (hearing mode) | ~5–6 hrs | 20 hrs | 12 hrs |
| Android compatible | ✗ iPhone only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Designed as hearing aid | ✗ Primary use: earbuds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trial period | 30 days (Amazon) | 45 days | 45 days |
| Best for | Mild loss, iPhone users, music lovers | Active lifestyle, noisy environments | Mild loss, simplicity |
I want to be fair here — the AirPods Pro 3 are a genuinely good option for a specific type of person. That person is:
An iPhone user with mild hearing loss who listens to music or podcasts regularly, is in reasonably quiet environments most of the day, doesn't have tinnitus, and wants one device that handles entertainment and hearing assistance together. At $249, they're significantly cheaper than most dedicated OTC hearing aids and the music experience is genuinely better than anything else in the category.
The battery limitation is the most important practical constraint: 5–6 hours in hearing aid mode means most full-day wearers will need to recharge mid-day. For a dedicated hearing aid, this would be a dealbreaker. For someone using them primarily for work meetings, TV, and calls — not all-day wear — it's manageable.
The AirPods Pro 3 fall short in four specific situations — and they're common ones.
Full stop. The hearing aid feature requires iOS. Android users get standard Bluetooth earbuds and nothing else. If you're on Samsung, Google Pixel, or any non-iPhone device, don't buy AirPods as a hearing solution.
5–6 hours in hearing aid mode is half a working day. Most hearing aid wearers need 12–20 hours between charges. The ELEHEAR Beyond Pro's 20-hour battery and 15-minute fast charge handles this without anxiety.
The AirPods Pro 3 score 2.7/5 on speech-in-noise. The ELEHEAR Beyond Pro scores in the top 5% of all devices tested. If restaurants, family gatherings, and meetings are your primary difficulty, that gap is real and audible.
AirPods Pro 3 have no tinnitus masking feature. The ELEHEAR Beyond Pro has 20+ masking sounds with independent volume control. If ringing is part of your daily experience, this matters.
The AirPods Pro 3 are a legitimate hearing aid for the right person — not marketing hype, not a gimmick. Apple did something real here, and the independent lab scores back it up.
But "legitimate for mild loss on an iPhone with short wear sessions" is a narrower category than Apple's marketing implies. The battery alone disqualifies them for most people who need hearing aids for full daily wear. And the noise performance gap between 2.7/5 and the ELEHEAR's top-5% score is exactly the gap that matters most to people who are frustrated in restaurants, meetings, and social situations — which is most hearing aid wearers.
My recommendation: if you're an iPhone user with mild loss who primarily wants help with TV, calls, and music in quiet environments — AirPods Pro 3 are worth trying. Their 30-day Amazon return window makes it a low-risk experiment.
If you need all-day hearing aid performance, noise processing, tinnitus masking, or Android compatibility — the ELEHEAR Beyond Pro at $599 with a 45-day trial is the more complete answer.
Check AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon ($229) → Check ELEHEAR Beyond Pro on Amazon → Check Audien Atom X on Amazon →Get the Free OTC Hearing Aid Cheat Sheet
7 things to check before you buy — plus honest picks at every budget. No spam, ever.
ZipHearing connects you with licensed audiologists at pre-negotiated rates — the right next step for significant hearing loss.
Find Local Audiologists via ZipHearing →