Can AirPods Help You Hear the TV Better?

With Apple promoting hearing features in AirPods Pro, you might wonder: can I just use my AirPods to hear the TV better? It's a fair question, especially if you already own a pair. Here's the honest answer.

The Short Answer

AirPods can technically work for TV listening in some situations, but they're not designed for it and come with significant limitations that make them a poor choice for most people.

The Apple Ecosystem Requirement

The first major hurdle: AirPods require Apple devices.

To use AirPods with your TV, you typically need:

Apple TV 4K - AirPods pair directly with Apple TV, but not with most regular TVs
iPhone or iPad - You can route TV audio through your phone, but this is clunky
Mac - Works if you watch on a computer

If you have a Samsung, LG, Sony, or other brand of TV without an Apple TV box, AirPods won't connect directly. Period.

For many Canadians - especially seniors - this is a dealbreaker. Not everyone is in the Apple ecosystem, and buying an Apple TV ($179+) just to use AirPods for TV listening doesn't make sense.

Battery Life: The 4-Hour Problem

AirPods Pro offer about 4-6 hours of listening time per charge. That might seem reasonable until you consider:

The average Canadian watches 4+ hours of TV daily
A movie marathon easily exceeds battery life
Playoff hockey can go 3+ hours with overtime
You need to remember to charge them

Compare this to dedicated TV listening devices with 15-30+ hours of battery life, and the inconvenience becomes clear. Nothing ruins a movie like your audio dying in the third act.

Comfort for Extended Wear

AirPods are designed for music, calls, and workouts - not hours of sitting on the couch. Many users report:

Ear fatigue after 1-2 hours
Earbuds falling out when lying down or reclining
Pressure discomfort during extended use
Difficulty finding a secure fit

TV watching is a relaxed activity. You want something you can forget you're wearing, not something you're constantly adjusting.

The Connection Hassle

Even with an Apple TV, using AirPods for TV watching involves:

1. Making sure AirPods are charged

2. Opening the case near the Apple TV

3. Waiting for them to connect

4. Hoping they connect to the TV, not your phone

5. Dealing with occasional disconnections

Every time you want to watch, you repeat this process. Compare that to a dedicated TV listening device that turns on and works, every time.

What About AirPods Pro "Hearing Aid" Features?

Apple introduced hearing health features in iOS 18, including a "hearing aid" mode for AirPods Pro 2. However, there's a critical issue for Canadians:

The hearing aid features are not available in Canada. As of late 2025, Apple's clinical hearing aid functionality is only approved and available in the United States. Canadian AirPods Pro users cannot access the hearing aid mode, hearing test, or hearing profiles.

Even if the features eventually come to Canada, they have significant limitations:

Requires a clinical hearing test through your iPhone - Not everyone wants or can do this
Only works with iPhone 12 or newer - Excludes many older iPhone users
Designed for mild to moderate hearing loss - Not a TV-specific solution
Still has all the other AirPods limitations - Battery, comfort, Apple ecosystem

The hearing features are impressive technology where available, but they're designed to make AirPods work better as hearing aids throughout the day - not specifically to help you hear TV dialogue better. And for now, Canadians can't use them anyway.

The Transparency Mode Myth

Some suggest using AirPods Pro "Transparency Mode" for TV watching. This mode lets outside sound through while wearing the earbuds. The problems:

It amplifies all room sound, not just TV audio
It doesn't enhance dialogue or reduce background noise
You're still dealing with battery and comfort issues
It doesn't give you personal volume control for TV

Transparency mode is great for staying aware of your surroundings while listening to music. It's not a TV listening solution.

What Actually Works for TV Listening

If your goal is hearing TV dialogue better, you need something designed for that purpose:

Dedicated TV Listening Devices

Connect directly to any TV - No Apple ecosystem required
Long battery life - 15-30+ hours on a charge
Designed for comfort - Built for extended couch sessions
Simple operation - Turn on and it works
Voice clarity technology - Specifically enhances dialogue

The TVListener Advantage

TVListener is designed from the ground up for one purpose: helping you hear your TV clearly. That means:

Works with any TV, not just Apple devices
Comfortable for hours of watching
Simple enough for anyone to use
Dialogue enhancement that makes speech clear
All-day battery life

When AirPods Might Work

To be fair, AirPods can work for TV listening if:

You have an Apple TV or watch on a Mac/iPad
You only watch for short periods (under 2-3 hours)
You already own AirPods and just want to try it
You're comfortable with the connection process
You don't need dialogue enhancement, just volume

But even then, you're using a device not designed for the task. It works, but not well.

The Bottom Line

AirPods are excellent products - for what they're designed to do. But they're designed for music, calls, and portability. They're not designed for sitting on the couch for four hours watching TV.

If you want to hear your TV better, get something built for TV listening. It will be simpler to use, more comfortable, and actually enhance dialogue rather than just making everything louder.

TVListener ships free across Canada with a 30-day guarantee. Try it with your setup - if it doesn't help, send it back. No need to buy into Apple's ecosystem or deal with AirPods limitations.