Will Canadians soon be able to leverage their AirPods Pro as bona fide hearing aids? The prolonged anticipation may finally be reaching its conclusion.
According to observations by iPhone in Canada, Apple appears poised to unveil its clinical-grade hearing aid functionalities for AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 across the nation.
Following a subtle update on February 10, 2026, the Health Canada Medical Device Active Licence Listing (MDALL) has incorporated critical software components necessary for a comprehensive hearing health experience.
The federal registry has introduced three new entries under Apple’s existing Class II medical device license: “AirPods Pro FW,” “iOS App,” and “macOS,” all accompanied by new device identifiers. Notably absent is an update for “watchOS,” which had been added earlier in December 2024 alongside the other entries.
Implications of the New Listings
Initially, Health Canada bestowed a broad license for Apple’s hearing features in late 2024; however, these new additions signify the crucial final technical components. The listing of “AirPods Pro FW” indicates that the firmware module responsible for delivering personalized amplified sound is now formally registered.
The inclusions of “iOS App” and “macOS” are equally pivotal, confirming that users will be able to create personalized hearing profiles across iPhones and Macs, thereby ensuring a cohesive experience whether engaged in phone calls, enjoying films, or immersing oneself in music.
Although the hearing aid feature proliferated last July in various countries, Canada was notably absent from that rollout.
The Provincial Obstacles
Despite federal endorsement, Canadians have been unable to access these features owing to provincial regulations. In regions like Ontario and British Columbia, hearing aids are traditionally limited to distribution by licensed professionals.
Given that Apple’s solution is an over-the-counter (OTC) software-based offering, it has encountered a labyrinth of regional restrictions.
The appearance of these software modules in the Health Canada registry represents the most robust indication that Apple has navigated these regulatory challenges.
By categorizing the firmware and applications as medical devices, the company is likely positioned to advance towards a public launch.
In contrast, in the U.S., consumers can readily acquire hearing aids over the counter, without necessitating a consultation with a hearing specialist.
The “Border Leap” Approach
Numerous readers have reached out over the past year, sharing that they have been utilizing the hearing aid functionality on their AirPods Pro.
This is likely attributable to the feature activating automatically upon entering the U.S. Once an iPhone connects to an American cellular network, the regional barriers frequently dissipate.
Upon activation in the United States, the feature often remains functional even after returning to Canada. Residents in border cities such as Windsor and Surrey have reported instances of triggering the feature simply by detecting a faint American signal.
Anticipated Availability
Apple has yet to disclose an official launch date for the hearing aid feature in Canada. Nevertheless, updates to the MDALL registry typically precede public software releases.
With the advent of iOS 26.4 and macOS Sequoia point releases on the horizon, the wait for Canadian AirPods Pro users may soon conclude.
Additionally, Apple is rumored to be unveiling the iPhone 17e this March. It would not be surprising if the spring event serves as a platform for announcing the expansion of these health features to additional regions, including Canada. If not in March, perhaps during this summer’s WWDC?
Source link: Iphoneincanada.ca.
