A group of tech-savvy friends in [Bangalore, India found]/news/apple-shifts-gears-boosts-iphone-production-in-india/ an ingenious way to bypass Apple's geographic restrictions on AirPods Pro 2's hearing aid features, making the technology accessible to their grandmothers and others in need of affordable hearing assistance.
When Rithwik Jayasimha discovered that the newly released functionality wasn't available in India after purchasing AirPods for his grandmother, he teamed up with friends Arnav Bansal and Rithvik Vibhu to find a workaround. Their motivation was clear - traditional hearing aids in India can cost between $600-$9,500, while AirPods Pro 2 are available for around $300.
The team's breakthrough came through creating a makeshift Faraday cage - an enclosure that blocks electromagnetic signals. They initially constructed one using a cardboard box covered in aluminum foil, placed atop a microwave oven. The microwave, operating at the same 2.4 GHz frequency as WiFi, effectively jammed local signals that could reveal the device's true location.
"We put several layers of aluminum inside and outside [the box] and we'd see some signal strength drop," explained Bansal. This setup, combined with tools to simulate U.S.-based WiFi networks, successfully tricked the iOS device into believing it was in California.
The hack worked because iOS uses multiple methods to determine location, including WiFi networks, GPS, and nearby device identifiers. By isolating the iPad in their Faraday cage and feeding it false network information, the team bypassed Apple's regional restrictions.
The impact has been immediate. Bansal shared how his grandmother, who previously struggled with traditional hearing aids and their tiny buttons, now comfortably uses AirPods. "She doesn't feel like a patient wearing it," he noted.
The team has since refined their process and built a more reliable Faraday cage. They report receiving dozens of requests for help from others in India hoping to access these features. While Apple offers the hearing aid functionality in over 100 countries, regulatory requirements still prevent official access in some regions.
As the team continues helping others unlock these features, they believe Apple may eventually bring official support to India. Until then, their creative solution offers hope for those seeking more affordable hearing assistance alternatives.
The hack highlights how determined users can sometimes find ways around geographic restrictions on technology, especially when motivated by helping family members access potentially life-changing features. While Apple hasn't commented on this specific workaround, it demonstrates the growing tension between regional technology restrictions and users' desire for accessibility.