Since the Apple Watch was released people with hearing aids have been hoping to be able to take calls through their hearing aids (as can be done with an iPhone).
There doesn't appear to be a mention of thIs in the latest Apple Watch models - or have I missed something?
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch supports Bluetooth and Air Pods Pro are Bluetooth 5.3 They do work great together. Phonak hearing aids do support Bluetooth and will pair to the Apple Watch. I am not sure if there are other brands of hearing aids that are Bluetooth compatible.
Apple Watch supports Bluetooth and Air Pods Pro are Bluetooth 5.3 They do work great together. Phonak hearing aids do support Bluetooth and will pair to the Apple Watch. I am not sure if there are other brands of hearing aids that are Bluetooth compatible.
Update: The frustrating thing is that the Airpods Pro support this capability:
Make and answer calls with AirPods Pro (all generations) – Apple Support (AU)
This includes advice on using an Apple Watch.
I just tried powering off my iPhone and connecting the Airpods Pros to the Apple Watch. I then used the Phone app on the watch to make a call. It failed first time but on the second try it successfully made the call.
So it seems the technology is there to support HFP.
Thank you for the confirmation.
Looks like the only option at present is to acquire Hands Free Protocol (HFP)/MFi hearing aids and carry an iPhone with me. And hope that Apple eventually brings out an Apple Watch with that capability.
Thank you again. As I understand it, the issue is not Bluetooth compatibility - it is that the Apple Watch currently does not support Hands Free Protocol, as used by high-end hearing aids and many other devices. My point above is that Airpods Pros do work hands free with the Apple Watch but apparently using an Apple in-house protocol.
No, you have not missed anything. The Apple Watch is not an i-device. There is not MFi compatibility but hearing aids that are Bluetooth, not MFi Bluetooth LE, will pair with the Apple Watch via Bluetooth.
Using Apple Watch to answer phone calls with hearing aids
