How AirPods Pro 3 Perform as Hearing Aids Compared to Other OTC Devices

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 offer an FDA-authorized Hearing Aid feature for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. But while they can amplify sound, how well do they actually help you understand conversations?

We put AirPods Pro 3 to the test, and compared how their performance stacks up against top OTC hearing aids from manufacturers like Yeasound and Sennheiser. We examined everything from speech understanding and sound quality to battery life, comfort, connectivity, and overall value.

Find out where the AirPods Pro 3 hold their own, where dedicated hearing aids have the advantage, and whether the price difference is worth it.

How do AirPods Pro 3 compare to other OTC hearing aids?

AirPods Pro 3 deliver impressive audio technology for $249, but our laboratory testing shows that dedicated OTC hearing aids generally have the advantage when it comes to hearing performance.

When compared to nine of the best-rated OTC hearing aids (see table below), they tied for the highest scores in music streaming and feedback handling, yet ranked close to last for speech understanding and tied for last in battery runtime, lasting up to 10 hours per charge (i.e., the same as Cearvol Wave and JLab Hear).

The takeaway? AirPods Pro 3 excel at delivering sound directly to your ears and are relatively inexpensive, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into helping you understand conversations.

Below, we break down the results to show where AirPods Pro 3 excel, where dedicated OTC hearing aids have the advantage, and what those differences mean for everyday use. But before we dive in, let’s address some important questions, so the results become easier to understand.

Are AirPods Pro 3 really hearing aids?

Yes, AirPods Pro 3 are considered OTC hearing aids, but technically, it’s Apple’s software that’s classified as a medical device, not the earbuds themselves.

In September 2024, the FDA authorized Apple’s Hearing Aid feature, making it the first OTC hearing aid software of its kind. Initially introduced for AirPods Pro 2, the feature is also available on AirPods Pro 3.

Unlike traditional OTC hearing aids, which are manufactured specifically as medical devices, AirPods Pro 2 and 3 are consumer earbuds that can function as hearing aids using Apple’s authorized software.

What hearing assistance features do AirPods Pro 3 offer? 

AirPods Pro 3 combine several hearing-health features with the capabilities of premium wireless earbuds, offering an alternative to traditional OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

Their key features include:

• Personalized hearing amplification: Apple’s FDA-authorized Hearing Aid feature adjusts environmental sounds based on an individual’s hearing profile.
• Built-in hearing test: Users can assess their hearing at home or import an existing audiogram to personalize their settings.
• Adjustable hearing settings: Amplification, tone, balance, and ambient noise reduction can be adjusted to suit different listening needs.
• Media Assist: Applies personalized hearing adjustments to streamed music, videos, and calls.
• Active noise cancellation and hearing protection: Additional features help users manage unwanted environmental noise and reduce exposure to loud sounds.

These features overlap with those offered by self-fitting OTC hearing aids; however, many OTC devices may offer longer battery life, specialized speech-processing technology, and professional hearing support.

Importantly, the AirPods 3 Pro's hearing performance can vary substantially depending on how they’re configured and tuned, as we explain in the tuning section below.

For a closer look at Apple’s features and setup instructions, see our complete AirPods Pro 3 review.

How does HearAdvisor measure sound performance?

HearAdvisor tests every hearing aid in its acoustic lab on a KEMAR manikin, using recordings of real places such as restaurants and offices. Each device is programmed for the same standardized hearing loss: a moderate, sloping loss typical of age-related hearing loss.

SoundScore: A summary of lab sound performance, scored out of 5, that combines the five metrics below. It reflects sound only, not price, comfort, or features.

1. Speech benefit in quiet: How much the device improves speech understanding in quiet and moderately noisy settings, such as a quiet office or a conversation at home. This is the largest part of the SoundScore.
2. Speech in noise: How much the device improves speech understanding in loud, complex noise, such as a busy restaurant.
3. Feedback handling: How well the device resists whistling or squealing, tested with sound sources held close to the ear.
4. Own-voice quality: How natural your own voice is likely to sound while wearing the device. Low scores mean your voice may sound boomy or plugged up.
5. Streaming music quality: How faithfully the device reproduces music streamed from a phone or other device.

Overall Sound Performance: How AirPods Pro 3 Compare 

When looking at SoundScore, which accounts for speech understanding in quiet and noisy settings, music streaming quality, feedback handling, and own-voice quality, Apple’s earbuds earned 3.31 out of 5, ranking 25th among the 34 current OTC hearing aids HearAdvisor has tested. That’s below the overall category average of 3.71/5.

The Yeasound RIC800 led the group with a 4.73/5, followed by the Audicus Omni 2 (4.59/5), Sennheiser All-Day Clear (4.42/5), and Elehear Beyond (4.34/5).

Speech Understanding With Apple AirPods Pro 3 Fell Short 

The largest gap appeared in speech understanding in quiet settings. The AirPods Pro 3 averaged 1.6/5 for speech in quiet across initial and tuned fits, compared with 3.9/5 for our four core devices (not including the Cearvol Wave). Even the AirPods Pro 3's tuned score of 2.3/5 (not shown in the graph below) trailed every dedicated device.

In noisy settings, the gap narrows. The AirPods Pro 3 averaged 1.5/5 for speech in noise, while our core devices ranged from 1.9/5 to 2.4/5. That reflects a category-wide limitation: No current OTC hearing aid in our database scores higher than 2.5/5 for speech in noise, the score of the category leader, the Elehear Beyond Pro.

These findings echo many of the experiences shared by AirPods Pro 3 users in our Facebook group consisting of nearly 70,000 members. One member wrote, “I don’t really find the AirPods hearing aid feature to be much use outside of a quiet one on one situation, compared to my actual hearing aids.” Another said, “They don’t approach the [Oticon] Intents* for difficult areas like cafes or shopping centres but work fine for one on one interaction.”

*The Oticon Intent is a prescription hearing aid.

Streaming and Connectivity Is Where Apple AirPods Pro 3 Excel 

Without a doubt, AirPods Pro 3 take the cake when it comes to seamless Bluetooth connectivity and streaming music. They earned 4.3/5 for music streaming, tying the Yeasound RIC800 for the highest score among our core devices. Only one current OTC device scored higher: The $100 JLab Hear OTC (4.6/5). Its speech scores show why streaming quality alone doesn’t make a good hearing aid, though: 2.1/5 for speech in quiet and 1.0/5 for speech in noise.

Among users across our HearingTracker forums and Facebook hearing-loss communities, personalized music streaming emerged as one of the most consistently praised features, with several users reporting better experiences listening to music, podcasts, and TV through their AirPods Pro 3 than through their prescription hearing aids.

One HearingTracker Forum member described rediscovering the joy of music after using Apple’s Media Assist feature: “I’ve been listening back to old favorites, even exploring new music in a way I haven’t for years.”

Active Noise Cancellation

Beyond hearing assistance, Apple AirPods Pro 3 offer Voice Isolation for clearer phone conversations, personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and advanced active noise cancellation (ANC). According to Apple, the Pro 3 cancels up to twice as much noise as the previous generation.

This feature received enthusiastic feedback from HearingTracker forum members, particularly those who use AirPods Pro 3 for commuting, traveling, and listening to music.

One member who also wears Phonak prescription hearing aids praised AirPods Pro 3, saying, “nothing I’ve tested or used comes close to their ANC.”

Fit, Comfort, and Battery Life

Sound performance is only part of the equation. For people who rely on hearing assistance throughout the day, comfort, fit, and battery runtime can be just as important.

Comfort and Fit

AirPods Pro 3 earned 4.0/5 for comfort in our hands-on assessment, compared with an average of 4.7/5 among the five dedicated OTC hearing aids in this section. The Yeasound RIC800, Sennheiser All-Day Clear, and Jabra Enhance Select 50R each earned perfect 5.0/5 comfort ratings.

Feedback from our online hearing-loss communities revealed similar concerns. Several users reported discomfort after extended wear, while others struggled to keep their AirPods securely in place.

One user, who has both a hearing aid for single-sided deafness and AirPods, described the tradeoff: “No doubt, AirPods offer a richer sound one-on-one. But they are also more uncomfortable and don’t last nearly as long.”

Battery Runtime

Apple advertises up to 10 hours of continuous use with the Hearing Aid feature enabled. That’s a substantial improvement over AirPods Pro 2 (up to 6 hours per charge), but still shorter than most dedicated OTC hearing aids in our comparison.

The Yeasound RIC800 leads with up to 31 hours per charge, followed by the Jabra Enhance Select 50R at 30 hours, Sennheiser All-Day Clear at 24 hours, and Elehear Beyond at 18 hours. However, not every dedicated device lasts longer: Cearvol Wave also offers up to 10 hours.

Interestingly, AirPods Pro 3 earned a 4.6/5 battery rating in our broader assessment, which factors in charging speed and portable charging convenience.

Still, continuous battery runtime remains a practical limitation. Several community members reported needing to recharge their AirPods throughout the day, with some alternating between AirPods Pro 3 and their prescription hearing aids.

For someone who needs amplification from morning until bedtime, longer-lasting dedicated hearing aids may be more practical. But for occasional hearing assistance, the AirPods Pro 3’s portable charging case and relatively quick recharging can help offset their shorter runtime.

Price, Professional Support, and Value

At around $250, AirPods Pro 3 are one of the most affordable options in our comparison. But spending more doesn’t always mean getting better hearing performance.

For example, the $549 Yeasound RIC800 earned our highest SoundScore (4.73/5), beating the $1,698 Audicus Omni 2 (4.59/5). And for just $49 more than the AirPods Pro 3, the Elehear Delight scored much higher for sound quality (4.28/5 vs. 3.31/5).

Still, AirPods Pro 3 earned a perfect 5.0/5 for value, thanks to their low price and wide range of features, including their ability to work as hearing protection.

Another factor to consider is professional support. Apple can help with technical problems, but it doesn’t provide hearing care. AirPods earned just 1.0/5 in this category.

Some dedicated OTC hearing aids, including the Senneiser All-Day Clear, Elehear Beyond, and Audicus Omni 2, offer access to hearing professionals who can help with fitting and adjustments. However, not every dedicated hearing aid provides that benefit. Yeasound RIC800 also received a 1.0/5 for professional support, despite earning the highest SoundScore in our comparison.

The Tuning Effect: How much can adjustments improve AirPods Pro 3?

One of the most interesting findings from our testing is how much AirPods Pro 3 improved after additional tuning.

As outlined above, HearAdvisor tests hearing aids in two ways: Initial Fit, which follows the manufacturer’s standard setup process, and Tuned Fit, which involves further adjustments to better match a standardized hearing-loss profile.

For AirPods Pro 3, those adjustments made a noticeable difference:

• Speech in quiet and moderate noise: Improved from 1.0 to 2.3/5, a gain of 1.3 points.
• Speech in loud noise: Improved from 1.1 to 1.8/5, a gain of 0.7 points.

AirPods Pro 3 and the Jabra Enhance Select 50R gained the most from tuning for speech in quiet, about 1.3 points each. Both start from low Initial Fit scores, so the gains say as much about their out-of-the-box setup as about their potential. For speech in noise, AirPods Pro 3 improved by 0.7 points, more than any dedicated hearing aid in our comparison.

However, tuning didn’t close the gap in quiet settings. Even after tuning, AirPods Pro 3 scored lower for speech in quiet than every dedicated hearing aid in our comparison: 2.3/5, compared with 3.1/5 for the next-lowest device, Cearvol Wave. In noise, the picture is closer. Tuned AirPods Pro 3 scored 1.8/5, roughly level with Sennheiser All-Day Clear (1.9/5) and ahead of the Jabra Enhance Select 50R (1.0/5), but behind the Yeasound RIC800 (2.4/5).

AirPods Pro 3 Compatibility: Device and Country Restrictions 

For Android users, compatibility is likely a dealbreaker. AirPods Pro 3 work with Android phones for basic Bluetooth features, including music streaming and hands-free calls. But you need a compatible iPhone or iPad to set up Apple’s Hearing Aid feature.

Unlike many dedicated OTC hearing aids, AirPods Pro 3 don’t have a separate hearing aid app. Instead, you take a hearing test, upload an audiogram, and adjust settings like amplification, tone, and balance through Apple’s built-in Settings menu.

Once set up, AirPods save your hearing settings, so amplification continues even without an Apple device nearby. However, Android users can’t adjust those settings directly from their phones.

This limitation came up in our HearingTracker forums, with one Android user saying he liked AirPods Pro 3 enough to purchase an iPad specifically to configure them.

Hearing Test and Hearing Aid Feature Availability

Apple’s Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features aren’t available in every country, and in some countries, they aren’t available everywhere. Canada is a good example.

Should you get AirPods Pro 3?

Our lab testing and community feedback suggest AirPods Pro 3 work best as a situational or occasional hearing aid, or as a backup to traditional hearing aids, rather than a full-time replacement.

One of the most interesting findings from our online community is that many users value their AirPods Pro 3 for what their prescription hearing aids don’t do as well. Even when AirPods Pro 3 fall short in challenging listening environments, users appreciate them for music, TV, travel, exercise, hearing protection, and occasional hearing assistance.

• If you’re an Apple user: AirPods Pro 3 are worth considering, especially if you have perceived mild hearing loss and want convenient, affordable hearing assistance.
• If you struggle with speech in noise: Dedicated OTC hearing aids perform somewhat better, but none excel in loud settings. If noisy environments are your main challenge, consider a hearing evaluation and prescription hearing aids.
• If you use Android: AirPods Pro 3 are less practical because you need a compatible Apple device to set up and adjust their hearing features.

The bottom line: AirPods Pro 3 offer excellent versatility for the price, but they’re best suited to people who want situational hearing assistance alongside premium audio features, not necessarily a replacement for dedicated hearing aids.