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Apple’s 2024 holiday advertisement “Heartstrings” follows a father who struggles to hear his daughter during a Christmas family gathering, then highlights the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2. The commercial is real, but its emotional before-and-after is an idealized advertisement—not a promise that every listener will experience the same improvement.
What is Apple’s “Heartstrings” ad?
Apple released “Heartstrings” on November 28, 2024, as its annual holiday-season advertisement. The story centers on a father and daughter during a Christmas gathering. He appears to miss parts of his daughter’s performance or conversation, and the soundtrack shifts into a muffled, subjective perspective that represents his difficulty hearing.
After he uses AirPods Pro 2, the sound becomes clearer and he is able to participate more fully in the family moment. The commercial’s message is therefore about connection and inclusion, not simply better audio: hearing assistance helps the father share an important moment with his daughter.
Watch the official “Heartstrings” video on YouTube.
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- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
Which AirPods feature does the ad show?
The advertisement highlights Apple’s Hearing Aid feature, not ordinary volume amplification alone. Apple describes the feature as a clinical-grade hearing function for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. It uses hearing-test results or an audiogram from a hearing professional to personalize amplification.
The feature works with the AirPods’ microphones and Transparency mode, allowing environmental sound to be processed and amplified for the wearer. Apple’s terminology matters: AirPods Pro 2 are not automatically a hearing aid simply because they contain microphones or an amplification setting. The regulated Hearing Aid function must be set up and activated on compatible hardware and software.
Apple’s current documentation covers Hearing Aid on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. AirPods Pro 3 is now the latest Pro model on Apple’s product page, but it is not the model shown in this 2024 commercial. See Apple’s Hearing Aid support documentation for current requirements.
How AirPods Hearing Aid works
The feature is personalized rather than a single universal “make everything louder” switch. Apple’s setup uses either a Hearing Test or an audiogram supplied by a hearing professional. The resulting settings can adjust how sound is amplified for the wearer’s hearing profile.
Apple’s current setup path is:
- Charge the AirPods and pair them with a compatible iPhone or iPad.
- Open Settings and tap the connected AirPods.
- Tap Hearing Assistance.
- Tap Set Up Hearing Assistance.
- Take a Hearing Test or choose Use a Prior Test Result.
- Select an existing result or add an audiogram from a hearing professional.
- Tap Set Up Hearing Aid, then Get Started, Next, and Turn On Hearing Aid.
Apple says the Hearing Aid settings are stored on the AirPods. As a result, the AirPods can continue using their most recent settings even when the paired iPhone or iPad is not nearby.
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Controls for speech and everyday listening
Available controls include amplification level, left-right balance, tone, Ambient Noise Reduction, Conversation Boost, and Media Assist. Hearing Aid amplification and ordinary media volume are separate controls.
Conversation Boost is intended to focus on the person speaking directly in front of the wearer, making it most useful for one-to-one conversations. It should not be treated as a guarantee of clear speech in a crowded room or during a large family gathering.
Media Assist is different from Hearing Aid. It applies hearing-test-based adjustments to supported music, videos, and calls across supported noise-control modes. It does not replace Hearing Aid’s function of amplifying environmental sound in Transparency mode.
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The related Hearing Test and Hearing Protection features are also distinct. A hearing test helps create or inform a hearing profile, while hearing protection is designed to reduce exposure to excessive sound. Neither should be confused with diagnosis or treatment by a hearing professional.
Who is the feature intended for?
Apple says Hearing Aid is intended for people who are 18 or older and have perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. “Perceived” hearing loss means the user notices difficulty hearing; it is not the same as a professionally diagnosed condition.
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- Active Noise Cancellation reduces unwanted background noise
- Adaptive Transparency lets outside sounds in while reducing loud environmental noise
- Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
- Multiple ear tips (XS, S, M, L)
- Touch control lets you swipe to adjust volume, press to direct media playback, answer or end calls, and press and hold to switch between listening modes
This distinction is important. The feature is not presented as a solution for every degree or type of hearing loss, and the commercial does not establish that it will work equally well for every wearer. People with severe or profound loss, rapidly changing hearing, asymmetric or one-sided loss, unexplained symptoms, or troublesome tinnitus should seek professional evaluation rather than assuming AirPods are sufficient.
AirPods can be attractive to someone who wants one device for hearing assistance, music, calls, and video. They may also make sense for an existing AirPods Pro 2 owner who has compatible Apple equipment and meets the feature’s intended profile. Professionally fitted hearing aids remain better suited to many complex cases because they involve individualized clinical assessment and fitting.
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When “Heartstrings” was released, reporting identified these launch-era requirements for AirPods Pro 2:
- AirPods Pro 2 with firmware 7B19 or later.
- An iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later.
- A compatible device and an approved country or region.
Those details describe the 2024 rollout. They should not be treated as the definitive requirements in September 2026. Apple’s current support guidance tells users to install the latest AirPods firmware and current device software, and its product documentation now covers both AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3.
Availability is also geographic. Hearing Test and Hearing Aid are regulated health features, so authorization is handled market by market. Check Apple’s regional feature-availability page before buying, importing, or troubleshooting the product.
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- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
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- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
What the commercial leaves out
“Heartstrings” communicates the potential emotional benefit in a few seconds, but real-world use involves practical compromises:
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- Fit: ear-tip fit affects microphone performance, comfort, and the perceived quality of processed sound.
- Charging: AirPods must be charged regularly, unlike many conventional hearing aids designed around different battery systems.
- Region: approval is not worldwide or automatic.
- Individual response: the dramatic clarity change in an advertisement is not a clinical result for every person.
- Scope: the feature is aimed at a defined level of hearing loss and is not a universal replacement for audiology care.
Common problems and practical fixes
The Hearing Aid option does not appear
Check that the AirPods model is supported, the AirPods are properly connected, and the iPhone, iPad, or Mac has current software. Confirm that the AirPods firmware is current and that Hearing Aid is authorized in your country or region. A hearing-test result may also need to be completed or selected before activation is offered. Apple’s support page provides the current compatibility and setup guidance.
The sound is harsh, too loud, or unnatural
Start with modest amplification and make small changes to tone and Ambient Noise Reduction rather than immediately increasing volume. Check the ear-tip fit and try Conversation Boost for a one-to-one conversation. Louder is not always clearer. If listening remains uncomfortable or speech is still difficult to understand, stop treating the setting as a self-contained fix and consult a hearing professional.
AirPods Pro 2 in the current product context
The ad remains specifically a story about AirPods Pro 2 and the 2024 introduction of Apple’s hearing-health features. It should not be read as a current announcement or as evidence that AirPods Pro 2 is still Apple’s newest Pro earbud. As of September 2026, Apple’s current product page centers on AirPods Pro 3, while Apple’s support documentation lists Hearing Aid compatibility for both generations.
Before purchasing, confirm the exact model, current software requirements, regional availability, and whether the intended user falls within Apple’s stated 18-plus, perceived mild-to-moderate hearing-loss group. A professional hearing evaluation is the safer starting point when the cause, severity, or pattern of hearing difficulty is uncertain.
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“Heartstrings” is a genuine Apple holiday advertisement released on November 28, 2024. Its father-and-daughter story highlights a real Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2, personalized through a Hearing Test or audiogram and used through Transparency mode. The feature may be useful for some adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, but regional authorization, Apple-device compatibility, fit, charging, and individual hearing needs all matter. The commercial shows a compelling possibility—not a substitute for professional hearing care or a guarantee of the same result for everyone.
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