Last month, my grandson excitedly told me that my AirPods Pro 2 could now be used as a hearing aid. I was surprised — I’d been using them only for music and videos. And honestly, my Audien Atom Pro 2 had been performing flawlessly so I wasn’t looking for anything else.
But I was curious — could the AirPods Pro 2 hold up against the Audien Atom Pro 2? To find out, I put both devices to an extensive comparison test. After days of side-by-side testing, here’s what I found and everything you need to know before choosing between them.
Best Sound Experience: Audien
The first thing I tested was the sound quality — easily the most important factor for me. Right off the bat I noticed two key differences between the AirPods Pro 2 and Audien Atom Pro 2.
First, the Audien Atom Pro 2 produced a clearer sound, free from background noise like paper crinkling or running water. Second, the AirPods Pro 2’s amplification wasn’t as strong. The sound felt a bit weak even at maximum volume — unlike the Atom Pro 2, which is so powerful that I don’t even need to use it at full volume.
We will note, the AirPods Pro 2 did have cool functionality for taking a hearing test and customizing the device based on your results. But even then, we found the Audien Atom Pro 2 to have better sound quality and stronger amplification.
To us, the clear winner here is Audien Atom Pro 2.
Best Battery Performance: Audien
Next, I wanted to see which device would last longer on a single charge. Based on my experience with Audien Atom Pro 2, I can confidently say it lasts an entire day without issue. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 2 only lasted about 6 hours — my biggest disappointment with the device.
While I only need to charge my Audien Atom Pro 2 overnight, the AirPods Pro 2 requires multiple charges throughout the day. So, for the longest battery life, my vote goes to Audien Atom Pro 2.
Easiest To Use: Draw
Early last year, when I got my Audien Atom Pro 2, I remember setting it up in just a few minutes — without any help. My experience with the AirPods Pro 2 was no different. My grandson had already told me I needed to upgrade my iPhone to the latest OS to use the hearing aid feature.
Once I completed the upgrade, I took Apple’s hearing test on my phone, turned on the hearing aid mode, and fine-tuned the sound to my liking in under five minutes. For this category, I’d call it a draw — both are easy to use.
Best Discrete Design: Audien
One of the things I love most about my Audien Atom Pro 2 is its small size. Unlike other hearing aids I’ve tried, the Atom Pro 2 sits in my ear without anyone noticing. Plus, they’re so comfy that sometimes I forget I’m even wearing them.
Although small, AirPods Pro 2 aren’t as discreet as Audien Atom Pro 2. When I wore them during conversations, people sometimes assumed I was listening to music or something else rather than speaking to them. Additionally, I didn’t find them as comfortable as my current hearing aid — though this could be because I’m already used to my Audien Atom Pro 2.
For the best discrete design, Audien Atom Pro 2 gets my vote.
Money Back Guarantee: Audien
One of the main reasons I decided to try the Audien Atom Pro 2 last year was its 45-day money-back guarantee. Knowing I could get my $289 back if I didn’t like the product made the decision much easier.
I checked the AirPods Pro 2 warranty and found it only offers a 14-day risk-free trial. That’s significantly shorter than what Audien offers. So, in terms of guarantee, Audien Atom Pro 2 wins.
Final Thoughts
After trying both the Audien Atom Pro 2 and Apple AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids, I’ve decided to stick with the Atom Pro 2 for my hearing aid needs. I prefer Audien’s superior sound quality, longer battery life, and more discreet design.