Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Audien Atom X

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.6/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing, ranking #27 of 63 devices in the OTC Hearing Aid category. At $249, it represents an accessible entry point for consumers exploring hearing amplification through a familiar consumer electronics form factor. In our testing, the AirPods Pro 2 demonstrated notable strengths in music streaming, scoring 4.4/5—a strong result that sits 2.47 points above the category average of 1.93/5. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, meaning users can expect stable performance without whistling during normal wear. Speech understanding showed meaningful improvement with tuning: speech in quiet rose from 1.8/5 to a solid 3.8/5, while speech in noise improved from 0.8/5 to 2.6/5—above the category average of 1.13/5, though still mixed in absolute terms. The most significant limitation is own-voice comfort, which scored 1.9/5—below the category average of 2.49/5 by 0.59 points. Users may notice their own voice sounds unnatural or boomy. The device shows a substantial performance gap between initial and tuned configurations, with the normalized score jumping from 3.3/5 to 4.5/5 after optimization, suggesting that taking time to adjust settings meaningfully improves the experience. The AirPods Pro 2 is best suited for consumers already invested in the Apple ecosystem who want hearing support alongside premium music streaming and hands-free functionality. Those prioritizing speech clarity in challenging listening environments or natural own-voice perception may want to explore alternatives.

The Audien Atom X is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.0/5 in our lab testing, ranking #9 among 63 OTC devices tested. At $389, it sits in the entry-level price tier while delivering mixed performance across key listening scenarios. In our testing, the Atom X showed a notable split in capabilities. Its standout strength is excellent feedback handling, scoring a perfect 5.0/5—well above the category average. Music streaming also performed solidly at 3.3/5, measuring 1.37 points above the OTC average, making it a reasonable choice for users who prioritize phone audio. However, speech clarity metrics were considerably weaker: speech in quiet scored just 1.5/5 (1.14 points below average) and speech in noise scored 0.3/5 (0.83 points below average). Own-voice comfort was mixed at 2.3/5, slightly below the category norm. The Atom X uses a visible-in-ear design with rechargeable batteries and an integrated receiver. It's worth noting that several alternatives in the same price range scored higher overall, including the Elehear Beyond (4.35/5) and JLab Hear OTC (3.68/5), which may offer better speech performance for similar or lower cost. This device may suit users who prioritize stable, feedback-free wear and music streaming over speech understanding in challenging environments. Those needing stronger speech clarity—particularly in noisy settings—should consider higher-scoring alternatives in this price tier.