Audien Hearing Atom X vs. Oticon Zeal

A clever touchscreen charging case and long battery life modernize Audien's budget lineup—but speech clarity (especially in noise) still trails many OTC rivals.

Oticon Zeal is an instant-fit, nearly invisible, rechargeable prescription hearing aid with AI-driven processing and modern Bluetooth LE Audio connectivity for Android and Apple iOS.

Audien Atom X achieved a SoundScore of 3.3/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #54 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

Oticon Zeal achieved a SoundScore of 4.7/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #6 of 39 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 4.19/5.

Audien Atom X hearing aids lack an IP rating, so they might not be the best against moisture or dust. While using them they feel decently built and they do come with an excellent portable charging case.

Zeal offer excellent moisture and dust protection with an ingress rating of IP68. Both the hearing aids and case are well build and ready for daily use.

Atom X offer up to 12 hours of battery life, which is less than many of Audien's hearing aids. Recharging will take roughly 3-4 hours, with the case offering several additional full charges.

With a battery life of up to 20 hours, Zeal should last you all day.

Atom X offer wireless control and streaming for both iOS and Android. This is the key new addition for Atom X and I found it to work very well.

I found Zeal to offer 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.

Not yet rated by our experts

I found the Companion app easy to navigate and use. Other prescription hearing aid companies offer more in-depth health features, 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.

I found Atom X more comfortable than Atom Pro 2, though other hearing aids will likely offer you a better fit and overall comfort.

Oticon Zeal were extremely comfortable and lightweight in my ears. In general, hearing care providers can make numerous physical changes to prescription hearing aids like Zeal to improve comfort.

The design of Atom X falls between a custom hearing aid and wireless earbud. They are only available in a medical beige color, which is meant to match skin color, but will not suit everyone.

Zeal are sleek, easy to use, in-the-ear prescription hearing aids. They are nearly invisible in the ear which is extremely impressive given their battery life and wireless capabilities.

Audien Atom X has a value score of 4.2/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Oticon Zeal has a value score of 3.4/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Atom X is the most user friendly hearing aid I have tried from Audien Hearing to date. The physical buttons are large and the bright touchscreen feature is a great addition.

Zeal are easy to use and adjust with the Oticon Companion app. I had no issues making adjustments while testing them.

Like many OTC products, Audien does not offer remote assistance from hearing experts, support is limited to email and phone customer support.

Prescription hearing aids like Zeal 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.