Does the iPhone 17 support Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast for Hearing Aids

The Apple representatives in the Accessibility Department say that Apple has no plans that they are aware of for using anything other than MFi. I bought an iPhone 17 Pro Max hoping that the LE Audio would be supported, because nobody could tell me that before I purchased it. It was no better than my 16 Pro Max and I turned it back in the next day.

rtpftguy wrote:

The Apple representatives in the Accessibility Department say that Apple has no plans that they are aware of for using anything other than MFi. I bought an iPhone 17 Pro Max hoping that the LE Audio would be supported, because nobody could tell me that before I purchased it. It was no better than my 16 Pro Max and I turned it back in the next day.

Apple publishes the technical specifications for all new iPhones. A good clue iPhone doesn't support Bluetooth LE Audio wouldn't have been hard to figure out before you bought it if you checked the published specifications.

Pete_ml wrote:

I'm considering buying new hearing aids and a new iPhone 17, the latest hearing aids support Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. Does the iPhone 17 support Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast or are you stuck with MFi mode for the hearing aids.

My existing MFi hearing aids cut out frequently on my iPhone 13 Mini, I'm hoping the extra range of LE Audio will resolve this issue.

LE, yes. Auracast, no. Typically, however, it's up the maker of the Bluetooth device to support Auracast. Or as WheelieNick suggests, use a 3rd party app. My Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 do support Auracase nativel.

The equivalent of Mfi (and ASHA for Android phones) in Bluetooth LE audio is not Auracast that if only the marketing name for the new broadcast functionality added to the Bluetooth LE audio standard, but the unicast services of the new TMAP and HAP-HAS profiles that replaces both the HFP and A2DP profiles of Bluetooth classic.

You're asking us to guess why no one you spoke with knew the answer? No way we can guess why. But when I'm going to buy something, I look it up and read the technical specifications and nowhere does Apple suggest Bluetooth LE Audio is supported. That's the best any of us users on this user to user only forum can give you.

I just purchased a 17 Pro Max. Yes, it has Bluetooth 6.0 which has the LC3 Codec to support LE audio, BUT Apple has still chosen to use their MFi protocols. I have an agent with the Apple Accessibility Support team trying to find out more information now about why they haven't allowed LE audio.

Then why were neither sales representatives, technical support representatives, nor accessibility representatives able to answer that question? All they were able to say was that Bluetooth 6.0, which has the LC3 Codec that supports Bluetooth LE Audio, was in the technical specs. They were NOT able to say whether Apple would support this feature with the software. Believe me, I tried to do due diligence.

iPhones dont have native support for auracast

But you can use third party apps to set up your iPhone as a bridge for auracast

I am using MFI and that is working well for me though

Any update from Apple?

I find the MFI disconnects fairly regularly, and the streaming/calls on hearing aids is poor.

Being able to use LE Audio instead of MFI could be very beneficials.

NicholsSR204 wrote:

Any update from Apple?

I find the MFI disconnects fairly regularly, and the streaming/calls on hearing aids is poor.

Being able to use LE Audio instead of MFI could be very beneficials.

Apple doesn't participate here, nor ever comment here. From my research, it doesn't apple that iPhone 17 support Bluetooth LE Audio. Since this something you'd like Apple to consider, you can provide feedback to Apple here --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple