Apple has just introduced a new option called EN 352 Protection on iOS 26 for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, applied in some countries.
According to Apple, when this feature is enabled, AirPods Pro will limit the maximum volume of feedback to 82 dBAs, ensuring compliance with European Hearing Protection Standard EN 352.
Users can activate or turned off this option in the Settings app, by selecting AirPods, go to Hearing Protection and remove the EN 352 Protection switch.
It is not yet clear whether Apple is making this choice according to mandatory regulations or is a proactive step. iOS 26 will be widely released on September 15, while AirPods Pro 3 has opened pre-orders and will officially ship on September 19.
In addition, the overall hearing protection feature on AirPods Pro 2 and 3 also helps reduce exposure to loud noise in noisy environments, limiting the risk of hearing damage.
The addition of the EN 352 Protection option shows that Apple is increasingly focusing on user health, especially hearing. This could be the first step for the company to expand similar safety features to many other markets in the future.
