Apple's AirPods to offer health tracking features in future releases

• Apple may enhance AirPods with health-related features, including obtaining hearing-related data.
• Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst, previously suggested that biometric health monitoring capabilities will be added to future AirPods models, while Kevin Lynch hinted at additional health data from AirPods.

According to well-known Apple leaker Mark Gurman, AirPods, already capable of serving as a substitute for hearing aids, may soon receive additional health-related features. Gurman’s latest Power on Newsletter suggests that the Cupertino-based company intends to enhance its wireless earbuds to function as a health tool in the next one or two years, potentially including the capability to obtain certain types of hearing-related data.

Despite not being marketed as a replacement for hearing aids, Apple's AirPods have gained a reputation for serving this purpose. However, Gurman's recent post on his Power On blog suggests that Apple intends to officially recognize this functionality and potentially enhance it in the near future.

Gurman highlights that AirPods currently include a feature known as Live Listen, which was introduced with iOS 12 in 2018. This feature allows an iPhone to function as a directional microphone, transmitting live audio to AirPods. Gurman speculates that regulatory approval for this feature may be forthcoming.

Leaks and patents hint that AirPods may offer health-related advantages for all users

Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst, indicated that the company plans to integrate biometric health monitoring capabilities into upcoming AirPods models. According to Apple patent filings, the company is exploring an earbud-based fitness monitoring system that uses advanced biometric sensors to measure physiological metrics such as temperature, heart rate, and perspiration levels, among others, by using skin contact and motion sensors. Additionally, Kevin Lynch, Apple's Vice President of Technology, has hinted that AirPods could provide additional health-related data in the future.

What's particularly exciting about these rumored features is that they may not be limited to future iterations of AirPods. The current model is already equipped with speakers and microphones, so that these new health features could be added to existing models via a firmware update.

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