I strongly suspect, with nothing but circumstantial evidence, that the AirPods are the result of Apple's research into hearing aids.
The precursor for the AirPods by a few years was actually a MFi (Made for iPhone) hearing aid protocol, doing audio streaming from the phone over Bluetooth LE. This is in many hearing aids on the market today.
The medical market is not something Apple is really suited for, something they hit when they rolled out the EKG watch capability a few years ago (which is _still_ trickling out in markets due to slow regulatory approval).
Apple also typically sells high volumes of premium products and has durable differentiators (say software experience) to justify good margins. Hearing aids unfortunately would be too low volume to justify a product - typically when something is deemed to be lower volume they work with third parties to ship it. Hence, MFi hearing aids.
Because of the lower volume and high quality focus, I suspect you wouldn't save much from an Apple Hearing Aid.
The variability of people's needs typically means people need at least a test by an audiologist and many need custom fittings and support. Medical offices with ongoing support add a lot of cost, which is one reason why Costco can undercut third parties so severely.
It is a shame, because the hearing aid industry would be totally transformed by Apple's design and miniaturization talent.
The precursor for the AirPods by a few years was actually a MFi (Made for iPhone) hearing aid protocol, doing audio streaming from the phone over Bluetooth LE. This is in many hearing aids on the market today.
The medical market is not something Apple is really suited for, something they hit when they rolled out the EKG watch capability a few years ago (which is _still_ trickling out in markets due to slow regulatory approval).
Apple also typically sells high volumes of premium products and has durable differentiators (say software experience) to justify good margins. Hearing aids unfortunately would be too low volume to justify a product - typically when something is deemed to be lower volume they work with third parties to ship it. Hence, MFi hearing aids.
Because of the lower volume and high quality focus, I suspect you wouldn't save much from an Apple Hearing Aid.
The variability of people's needs typically means people need at least a test by an audiologist and many need custom fittings and support. Medical offices with ongoing support add a lot of cost, which is one reason why Costco can undercut third parties so severely.
It is a shame, because the hearing aid industry would be totally transformed by Apple's design and miniaturization talent.