The Apple AirPods Pro 2, known for their game-changing hearing aid features, are now available at their lowest price ever. You can buy them for just $153.99 on Amazon. That’s a 38% discount off their original retail price of $249.
The AirPods Pro 2 are also available at slightly higher prices from retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Meanwhile, Apple is still selling them at their full retail price.
Game-Changing Hearing Aid Features
Released in 2022, the AirPods Pro 2 aren’t the latest AirPods. Apple launched the AirPods 4 this September.
But the AirPods Pro 2 are the only AirPods that can function as FDA-approved over-the-counter hearing aids — thanks to a firmware update last month.
The AirPods Pro 2 are powered by Apple’s Hearing Aid Feature (HAF) software, which amplifies sounds and enhances speech clarity through a self-fitting hearing test.
The FDA cited positive results from a clinical study in which “subjects who used the HAF self-fitting strategy achieved similar perceived benefit as subjects who received professional fitting of the same device.”
In October 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids, allowing consumers with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without a medical exam or prescription.
Who Are the AirPods Pro 2 For?
The AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid capabilities are designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. Those with more advanced hearing loss are better suited for medical-grade hearing aids.
Medical-grade devices, however, can cost thousands of dollars. Moreover, Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover the cost of hearing aids. For many, Costco’s Hearing Aid Center provides a cheaper source of medical-grade hearing aids, starting at $1499.99.
It’s also important to note one other difference between medical-grade hearing aids and Apple’s OTC device: battery life. While the AirPods Pro 2 lasts up to six hours per charge, rechargeable medical-grade devices can last 18-30 hours on a single charge. Additionally, hearing aids with disposable batteries can last for several days on one set of batteries.
Bottom Line
- Pros: AirPods Pro 2 offers improved hearing for those with mild to moderate hearing loss — at a comparatively modest cost.
- Cons: Battery life is limited to six hours. Insufficient for those with more advanced hearing loss. Not covered by Medicare Parts A and B.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 can be purchased on Amazon for an all-time low of $153.99.
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