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Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 makes hearing tests as easy as a few taps

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1 year ago

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Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 makes hearing tests as easy as a few taps

Millions of people are walking around with undetected hearing loss, but checking your hearing just got a whole lot easier thanks to the new hearing test feature in AirPods Pro 2. 

No more booking appointments or visiting clinics. Now, you can take a scientifically validated hearing test right from your iPhone or iPad in the comfort of your own home.
 

Hearing aid feature using AirPods Pro 2. (Apple)

A convenient and accurate hearing test

It’s pretty slick how it works. The AirPods Pro 2 use their Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation and in-ear seal to create a controlled environment, kind of like a mini sound booth in your ears. 

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Using pure‑tone audiometry built on advanced acoustic science, the test plays a series of tones that you respond to by tapping the screen. Helpful animations, tap‑back effects, and progress indicators guide you through the experience, which takes about five minutes. More than 150,000 real‑world audiograms and millions of simulations helped develop this hearing test that’s accurate, fast and easy. In about five minutes, you’ll have a personalized report on your hearing.

Test your hearing using AirPods Pro 2. (Apple)

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Steps to complete your Hearing test with AirPods Pro 2

You’ll want to find a quiet spot and follow these steps to take your hearing test. Note that this hearing test is intended for people 18 years and older.

  • Ensure your iPhone is running the latest software. Go to Settings > General > Software Update, then tap “Download and Install” if needed.
  • Next, make sure you are wearing your AirPods Pro 2.
  • On your iPhone, tap on Settings.
  • Next, click your AirPods Pro 2.
  • Then, select the Hearing Test option.
  • Now tap Get Started and follow the prompts, which include answering a few questions, confirming you are in a quiet location, and checking the fit of your AirPods Pro 2.
  • Follow the remaining prompts and tap Start Test. It should take about 5 minutes, and you can cancel it at any time.
  • The test will play unique tones at different volumes and frequencies, which, at times, you may not hear.  Each tone will pulse three times. 
  • Tap the screen when you hear a tone and wait until you hear another. The test will begin with your left ear and then proceed to the right.
  • After the hearing test is complete, you’ll get a checkmark and a message that your results have been saved.
  • Tap Show Results, and you can tap Show Details to review your results and any hearing assistance recommendations.
  • Tap done when you are finished.

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Hearing test using AirPods Pro 2. (Apple)

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Immediate insights into your hearing health

Once you’re done with your hearing test, you’ll receive immediate insights into your hearing health. Here’s how to access your hearing data, which will be saved in the Health app:

  • In the health app, tap on Browse in the bottom right-hand corner.
  • Tap hearing, and your most recent health results will appear near the top.
  • Tap Hearing Test Results to review your hearing assistance recommendations and all your results, which include a graph that shows the decibel loss for each ear, as well as averages if you’ve taken multiple tests.
  • You can tap Show More Data for additional information.
  • You can also tap Add Test in the upper-right corner of your screen if you’d like to upload data from another hearing test or audiogram, like one taken at a doctor’s office.
  • If you’d like to print or save results, scroll down, tap All Hearing Test Results, and then tap Export PDF.

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Hearing test results using AirPods Pro 2. (Apple)

Transforming AirPods into clinical-grade hearing aids

If the test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, you will be prompted to enable the new hearing aid feature. This Hearing Aid mode is pretty groundbreaking. It essentially turns your AirPods Pro 2 into a clinical-grade hearing aid. Using Apple’s H2 chip and advanced computational audio technology, it enhances sound clarity in real time. Let’s learn how to set up hearing assistance and turn on the hearing aid feature.

  • While wearing your AirPods Pro 2, tap Hearing Assistance in your AirPods settings on your iPhone.
  • You can start a new hearing test from here or select results from a test you’ve already taken.
  • We’ll tap Use a Prior Test Result.
  • Answer the questions on the Provide Some Details screen.
  • Scroll down and tap Next.
  • Now, select a compatible Hearing Test result.
  • Then, tap Next, and the results and recommendations from your selected test will appear.
  • If your test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, tap Set up Hearing Aid and follow the prompts.
  • When Hearing Aid is ready, tap Turn On Hearing Aid and tap Done.

Once the Hearing Aid feature is on, it’s saved to your AirPods Pro 2, so make sure that you don’t share your AirPods with anyone. Also, keep in mind that it might take some time to get used to the adjustments based on your personalized hearing profile. You can make additional changes in Control Center at any time. Here’s how:

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  • Tap Hearing Assistance in your AirPods settings again and customize your Hearing Assistance settings.
  • If you tap Adjustments, you’ll find options and sliders to help you further adjust the Hearing Aid feature.
  • Plus, Media Assist is on by default, which automatically improves the clarity of music, phone calls and FaceTime calls.

Advanced hearing protection

The new Hearing Protection feature is designed to safeguard your ears from loud noises in daily life. It actively adjusts to sudden loud sounds, protecting your hearing in noisy environments like concerts or even during your daily commute. What’s really cool is how Apple has packaged all of this — hearing test, hearing aid, and noise protection — into one seamless experience.

Advanced hearing protection with AirPods Pro. (Apple)

Beyond AirPods: Professional-grade hearing solutions

Now, if the test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, as we mentioned, you’ll be able to use the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid. However, if you have more severe hearing loss, you may need a product which is much better for the hearing-impaired. 

Kurt’s key takeaways

This Apple update to the AirPods Pro 2 is a pretty big deal in the world of hearing health. By making these tools so accessible, Apple’s potentially changing the game for millions of people who might have otherwise ignored their hearing health. It’s exciting to think about how this could lead to more people taking care of their ears and catching hearing issues early on.

What barriers have you encountered in addressing your hearing health, and how do you think innovations like these could help overcome them? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

4chan’s creator says ‘Epstein had nothing to do’ with creating infamous far-right board /pol/

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30 minutes ago

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February 13, 2026

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4chan’s creator says ‘Epstein had nothing to do’ with creating infamous far-right board /pol/

Epstein had nothing to do with the reintroduction of a politics board to 4chan, nor anything else related to the site. The decision to add the board was made weeks beforehand, and the board was added almost 24 hours prior to a first, chance encounter at a social event. His assistant reached out to me afterward, and I met with him one time for an unmemorable lunch meeting. This happened at a time when I was meeting hundreds of people a month while speaking and networking at tech events.

I did not meet him again nor maintain contact. I regret having ever encountered him at all, and have deep sympathy for all of his victims.

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Technology

Woman owes $3,556 for cruise she already paid for after falling victim to elaborate Zelle scam

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1 hour ago

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February 13, 2026

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Woman owes ,556 for cruise she already paid for after falling victim to elaborate Zelle scam

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A family vacation turned into a five-year nightmare. And it started with one payment.

L. Williams found a cruise consultant online who booked her family a week on Carnival Freedom. Great price. One catch. He only accepted Zelle. She sent $3,556. The family sailed the Western Caribbean. Gorgeous sunsets. Wonderful memories.

Five years later, she tried to book another cruise. Nope.

Carnival told her she was on the Do Not Sail list. Turns out her “consultant” pocketed the Zelle cash, then used a stolen credit card to book the trip. When the real cardholder disputed the charge, Williams got the blame.

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She now owes $3,556 for a trip she already paid for. Banned for life. The scammer’s phone? Disconnected. (Of course.)

The deals are real right now

Here’s what you need to know. The cheapest window for domestic spring break flights is about 43 days before departure. For late March trips, that’s this week. Wait until late February, and prices jump 20% to 25%. That’s your cash walking out the door.

Fly Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, and save up to 30% over weekend flights. Set Google Flights alerts now. Caribbean fares are down 17% from last year. 

Bundle flights with hotels through Costco, Expedia or Delta Vacations, and you can knock hundreds off the total.

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Travelers arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.  (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Scammers circling like sharks

Williams’ story isn’t a one-off. Over 38 million people are expected to cruise in 2026, and scammers know it. Here are the big cons I’m seeing.

  • The Google trap. Fake cruise line phone numbers are showing up in search results. One man called what he thought was Carnival’s customer service line and got hit with a $650 per person “docking fee.” That’s not a thing. Real cruise lines don’t charge surprise fees by phone. Always go directly to the official website for contact info.
  • The free cruise postcard. Got one in the mail? Toss it. The fine print buries you in hundreds of dollars of hidden fees and a windowless cabin with bunk beds. How romantic. One investigation found the company behind these changes its name every year so you can’t look them up.

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  • The Facebook agent. Scammers pose as travel agents in Facebook groups and collect payments through Zelle, Venmo or Cash App. Then they vanish. These apps have zero buyer protection. They’re for sending money to people you trust, not strangers selling Caribbean getaways.
  • Your three rules: Always pay with a credit card. Never call a customer service number from a Google search, go to the official site. If you want a travel agent, verify them at ASTA.org.

Book smart and you’ll be sipping something tropical in a few weeks. Book carelessly and you might end up on the Do Not Sail list, which, ironically, is the worst kind of cruise control.

TRAVELING SOON? KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS NOW

If anyone you know is booking a spring break trip, send them this first. It takes two seconds to forward and could save them thousands. One payment to the wrong person cost a woman her vacation money, her cruise line privileges and years of debt headaches.

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Technology

Tenways’ compact e-bike twists and folds to go flat

Published

13 hours ago

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February 13, 2026

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Tenways’ compact e-bike twists and folds to go flat

Tenways just launched its new CGO Compact electric bike in Europe that’s designed to fit into tight spaces like car trunks, apartment hallways, and train compartments.

To achieve this, the CGO Compact is fitted with small 20-inch wheels, folding pedals, and a handlebar fitted with a twistable stem to create a slim, wall-hugging profile. The adjustable steering column and low-step through frame also make it suitable for a wide range of rider heights, so it could be a good shareable e-bike for families. And its MIK HD rear carrier system is good for hauling up to 27kg (almost 60 pounds) around town, with mounting points for additional accessories like a crate or child seat.

Tenways might not be a household name globally, but the Chinese e-bike company headquartered in the Netherlands is making a name for itself in Europe thanks to aggressive pricing, sleek designs, and over 1,500 shops and service centers. And while the CGO Compact’s €1,999 (about $2,365) price tag isn’t cheap, it’s well below the €2,681 average for European e-bikes.

The company does sell e-bikes in the US, but the CGO Compact is only for sale in Europe as of today. It features a 250W rear-hub motor connected to a Gates Carbon belt drive for maintenance-free propulsion. It promises a range of up to 100km from its 500Wh removable battery, but its single-speed drivetrain produces only 45Nm of torque so it’s best suited for relatively flat cities. If your commute does stray from asphalt then the suspension seat post should help absorb bumps. There’s also an integrated torque sensor to ensure the smooth delivery of pedal-assisted power, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes should keep any sudden stops under control.

The CGO Compact lives up to its name regarding size, but it’s not all that lightweight. Stripped down it weighs 19.8kg (almost 44 pounds), or 22.1kg (almost 49 pounds) with all the accessories you’ll want in wet urban environments. That makes it heavier than many full-sized e-bikes, even from Tenways, and less versatile than the excellent 20-inch Brompton G foldable which also weighs less but costs more than twice as much.

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