Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. Oticon Reveal

Apple AirPods Pro 3 combine excellent earbud features with adjustable hearing support and up to 10 hours in Hearing Aid mode. Fit, comfort, battery life, and controls remain important limitations.

Oticon's newest receiver-in-canal hearing aid runs a dual AI system, Speech AI and Context AI, built to keep speech clear without stripping out the sounds around you.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 achieved a SoundScore of 3.3/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #49 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

Oticon Reveal 1 miniRITE achieved a SoundScore of 5.1/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 4.19/5.

The build quality is solid with a pocket-worthy portable case. AirPods 3 also have a slightly improved IP57 rating meaning they should offer better protection from debris and moisture. AirPods commonly last around 2-3 years.

Reveal offer the same excellent moisture and dust protection as Intent with an IP68 rating. The hearing aids appear well built though I found certain portions of the charger, like the lid, less robust than expected.

Airpods Pro 3 offer around 10 hours of use per charge with their Hearing Aid feature. This is an improvement over the previous generation. While this still may not be enough for all-day use, recharge time is fast with several quick-charge options.

With a battery life of up to 20 hours, longer without streaming, Reveal should last you all day. This is consistent with Oticon's previous Intent hearing aid.

I have found Bluetooth to work almost flawlessly on iPhones, offering a solid connection every time. I can't speak for Android devices though Apple reports they are fully compatible with other Bluetooth devices.

Reveal offered easy and stable wireless connection. Their audio quality while streaming music, and during hands-free calling, was good and comparable to other prescription hearing aids.

AirPods Pro 3 offer impressive and useful features to aid speech clarity. I particularly like the ability to take an app based hearing test, or directly upload hearing thresholds. While the menu system is not user-friendly, you also have other options for personalizing your experience such as active noise cancellation.

I found the Companion app easy to navigate and use. Other prescription hearing aid companies offer more in-depth apps, but there is still plenty of opportunity to customize settings from your mobile device. The HearingFitness component is also a nice feature for those who like to actively track their progress.

AirPods Pro 3 are generally comfortable, though my initial impressions favor the fit of the previous Gen 2. With that said, Apple claims to have improved the overall fit with improved ergonomics and new foam-infused ear tips.

Oticon hearing aids like Reveal differ in design from other major manufacturers; however, they were very comfortable on my ears. Your hearing care providers can make numerous physical changes to prescription hearing aids in office to improve comfort on your ears.

AirPods Pro are unmistakably Apple with their sleek, bright white, aesthetic. You will want to look elsewhere if you are searching for a discrete hearing solution. Furthermore, earbuds are commonly associated with being distracted or disconnected and people will not know that you are using them as hearing aids to stay present and engaged in conversation.

Reveal are modern looking hearing aids though their size is slightly larger than many of the latest "micro" or "mini" designs. Regardless, I found them fairly discrete and Oticon offers plenty of colors, from skin tones to deep plum purple.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 has a value score of 4.9/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Oticon Reveal 1 miniRITE has no value rating available yet.

I find Bluetooth pairing and general use exceptionally easy. However, navigating the deeper personalization features, and touch controls, could be more user friendly.

Reveal are easy to use and adjust either with the multi-function button or Oticon Companion app. I had no issues making adjustments with either.

You can receive technical support from Apple, but no audiologic support is offered at this time. You may be able to find a hearing care provider willing to assist with programming your AirPods Pro based on your needs.

Prescription hearing aids like Intent are fit by hearing care providers so you should receive quality care. The Oticon Companion app also opens the possibility for remote programming and virtual follow-up appointments.