The world’s most valuable company just turned its top-selling headphones into low-cost hearing aids—and it’s quietly a huge moment.

The main difference between AirPods and traditional OTC or prescription hearing aids is that AirPods Pro uses a system called the Hearing Aid Feature (HAF), which is a software-only mobile medical application. Traditional hearing aids are full devices rather than an added software.

It's nice to remember that Big Tech can sometimes make our lives better. Apple Hopes Its AirPods Pro II Hearing Aids Could Jumpstart Medical Device Revolution

Existing features for the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds have already worked to enhance listening, but Apple's official entrance into hearing aids marks a new chapter.

Apple announced the feature as it unveiled its latest iPhones, the iPhone 16, which feature a dedicated camera button for taking photos and include artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as finding reviews and menus when pointing the camera at a restaurant, or identifying animals and plants.

If you're in the market for hearing aids, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 are now FDA-authorized OTC hearing devices, and they're much less expensive than most other similar OTC devices.

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 have received FDA approval to function as over-the-counter hearing aids. This update will allow users with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to enhance real-time sound without needing traditional hearing aids.