Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 and finally acknowledge the hearing protection capabilities of AirPods Pro. It’s about time, isn’t it?
For seven years, I rode a Harley-Davidson with modifications that made it louder than usual. The noise, not the bike itself, posed a risk to my hearing. Without earplugs, just 30 minutes of riding left me with ringing ears.
One day, I decided to try using my AirPods Pro instead of earplugs. I was impressed by their active noise cancellation and wanted to see if they could make my ride more enjoyable.
To my amazement, the AirPods Pro significantly reduced the noise from my Harley. It felt like they halved the volume or more, outperforming any earplugs I had used before.
While I initially worried about trading one form of hearing damage for another, an audiologist reassured me that anti-noise technology does reduce the decibels our ears are exposed to.
Recent tests by The Wirecutter in 2023 revealed that ANC mode on AirPods Pro can reduce sounds by 23dB. This difference can make listening safe for up to 40 hours, a significant improvement.
With iOS 18, Apple is now providing concrete numbers on the ANC capabilities of AirPods Pro 2, as reported by The Verge.
Although I no longer ride my Harley and have a quieter bike now, I will continue using my AirPods Pro for the added hearing protection. Some things are worth keeping, like my hearing.
