Mark my words: In a few years, Apple’s AirPods Pro will be the most important consumer-level medical technology of the decade. On September 9th, Apple launched its AirPods Pro 3, showcasing its enhanced sound and noise cancellation paired with a myriad of new health sensors and monitors, all at your fingertips (or ear tips, I should say). This follows the updates they made to their preexisting AirPods Pro 2, which allowed them to be used as hearing aids. Apple’s focus on health-related features on their phone, accompanying devices such as the AirPods and the Apple Watch, has made it seem foolish not to purchase these items because your health could be at risk.
One of the more prominent upgrades is the implementation of heart rate monitoring by way of a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor integrated into the ear. This sensor has a greater accuracy than even the Apple Watches, as the ear has substantially more blood flow and therefore is less subject to error. The PPG senses slight variations in blood flow by projecting an infrared light through the ear canal. In addition to heart rate monitoring, the AirPods include a gyroscope and accelerometer, which give them the ability to monitor the burning of calories and tailor exercise modes to you. This multifaceted use enables them to be more than just an entertainment device, but also a trustworthy exercise partner for the day-to-day user and a vital tool for maintaining health, especially for those at risk.
Even as auditory devices, the AirPods are also doing phenomenally in that regard. Apple now provides a complete hearing care experience using the AirPods Pro 3. They can conduct a hearing test and use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost certain frequencies and clarify speech for people who are hard of hearing. Also included, however in previous models as well, are the passive noise cancellation and foam-tipped ends that decrease harmful, unnecessary noises to the ear.
Along with some standard improvements, such as better ear tips, an IP57 rating for water and sweat resistance, and increased ruggedness for exercise and outdoor use, the AirPods Pro 3 are a substantial and significant upgrade to the previous model, which begs the question: what is next? I suspect Apple will continue on this track of adding health features to their AirPods, and these refinements make the health functions work best for a wide array of users, and still allow for general use, of course. With the integration of heart monitoring, hearing assistance, and wellness monitoring in a common device, Apple envisions the AirPods more as a daily health device rather than merely headphones, and one with profound potential in the coming consumer medicine.
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