Two new Apple iPad Air, AirPods Pro 2 get hearing aid mode
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is usually pretty well-informed when it comes to Apple rumors. His newsletter always provides interesting information about the products of the company from Cupertino, America, including this time. Last week, as expected, Apple announced the new MacBook Air 13″ M3 and Air 15″ M3. But there were also countless rumors about new iPads that were to be presented in spring. That obviously hasn’t happened yet, but according to Gurman there’s no reason to worry. The new iPads are instead expected to launch in either late March or early April, including a new Apple iPad Air.
The iPads in question also include a few new iPad Pros in the two known sizes. Since Apple is supposedly switching to OLED displays, the new models will be significantly slimmer. According to Gurman, two new Apple iPad Airs are also planned, one of which will have a significantly larger display than before, just like the iPad Pro. Additionally, the word “Air” will lose meaning as the new Pros will be thinner than the new Apple iPad Air.
In addition, according to Gurman, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 get a “hearing aid mode” thanks to iOS 18, which sounds a bit illogical. Normally, one would assume that a software update to the AirPods themselves will enable this feature. This suggests that the feature will also use an iPhone’s microphones in addition to the AirPods. Apple had already introduced the same thing with “Live Listen” in iOS 12. The function uses an iPhone as a directional microphone and forwards the recorded audio signals to the AirPods in real time.
In 2021, the AirPods Pro also received Conversation Boost, which boosts the microphone power directly in front of the user. This makes it easier to understand what the other person is saying. Hearing aid mode could combine all of these features into a complete package.
