AirPods Pro hearing test is accurate in the right conditions, studies suggest

What the hearing test does

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 include a built-in hearing test and hearing aid features. The test arrived in October 2024 alongside iOS 18.1 and takes about five minutes to complete.

According to Engadget, Apple received FDA authorisation before releasing the features. That process involved a clinical study of the hearing aid functions, and the test itself has since been examined in independent research.

What the research found

A 2026 study by an international team, published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, compared the earbuds against a standard audiometry exam. The researchers found clinically acceptable accuracy and reliability, and noted the test is faster and easier than an in-office exam, which may encourage more people to check their hearing.

The evidence is not definitive. The studies so far have involved small groups, so the results are promising but limited in scale.

Limits of the five-minute check

The test uses pure-tone audiometry, which measures how well you hear different sound frequencies. An audiologist would add further checks, such as bone conduction and eardrum health, that can reveal the cause of hearing loss.

Apple's tool is a screening test, not a diagnosis. Only a doctor can diagnose a hearing condition. It is also designed to detect the gradual loss common with age, not sudden changes, ear pain or hearing that is worse in one ear. Those symptoms call for a prompt medical visit.

Getting an accurate result

Conditions matter. The earbuds must form a full seal in the ear, and finding well-fitting ear tips can be difficult. A quiet room is also needed, since background noise affects the reading.

The test warns users when it detects too much noise or a poor fit, but Engadget notes an exam at a doctor's office will always be more reliable.

Who the test is for

The feature works best as a first step before symptoms appear. Regular screening with AirPods Pro can flag age-related loss early, giving users time to seek professional care.

Once hearing problems are noticeable, the advice from the reporting is clear: see a specialist rather than relying on the earbuds.