Apple has secured the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) first-ever approval for Bluetooth earbuds to be sold as over-the-counter hearing aids. Beginning this fall, AirPods Pro 2 users with hearing loss can leverage companion software to adaptively amplify sounds from their environment in real time.

The FDA has cleared Apple's AirPods Pro 2 to function as OTC hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The AirPods Pro 2 include a clinically validated hearing test and personalized hearing settings.

The AirPods 4 excellent sound quality and optional ANC make them some of Apple’s best earbuds yet, but they’re not the ideal option for everyone.