Audien Atom X: First Hearing Aid with Full Touchscreen Controls on Charger

Audien Cofounder and CEO Ishan Patel and his colleagues are on a mission, one that has led the company to introduce the Audien Atom X, the first in-the-ear hearing aid that can be fully controlled by a touchscreen embedded into the charging case. Priced at $389, Atom X is a pre-set over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid that allows users to control volume, switch between listening modes, toggle Bluetooth, and monitor battery life—all on the portable charging case, without fumbling with tiny buttons or downloading an app.

Patel told HearingTracker, “The Atom X was created not just to add another option to our lineup, but to redefine how the world approaches hearing care. This is about eliminating every excuse someone might have for not getting help— cost, complexity, comfort—and proving that better hearing can be simple, elegant, and within reach. Everything you need is right at your fingertips—literally—so you can focus on reconnecting with the world around you.”

As this is a brand-new hearing aid, HearingTracker and the independent HearAdvisor lab have not yet had a chance to evaluate the Atom X, but hope to publish a review on it soon.

Tackling Common Barriers to Hearing Aid Adoption

For many people with hearing loss, the complexity of hearing aids can be a major barrier to purchase and success. These include small onboard buttons, unfamiliar apps, and confusing adjustments. Audien’s CaseControl touchscreen was built to simplify the experience.

“When we first explored this concept, we asked: How do we make a hearing aid that my grandfather could operate without a manual?” Patel told HearingTracker. “This device is our answer. From volume control to streaming to switching listening modes, it’s all done on the charging case display.”

Upon opening the portable charger's cover, the front display is activated, showing you the battery status of each hearing aid, as well as that of the charger. Once the aids are taken out and inserted in the ear, you see three menu options for Volume, Mode, and Bluetooth:

1. Volume control: Left and right hearing aid controls from 10% to 100% in 10 increments.
2. Bluetooth: A simple button that pairs the hearing aids to your cell phone. This also brings you to a menu that allows adjustment from 0 to 3 in transparency (i.e., the mix of your ambient sound environment versus streamed audio).
3. Mode: A choice of 4 listening modes offer different gain and noise reduction to address common listening environments and types of mild to moderate hearing loss.

The Atom X is a “preset” OTC hearing aid that relies on these four listening modes to match your hearing loss. This approach differs significantly from a “self-fitting” hearing aid, which relies on a hearing test or audiogram to match and compensate for your unique hearing loss profile.

According to Audien, one of the main reasons people abandon hearing aids early is the shock of amplified sound. Atom X tackles this challenge with its Comfort Mode, a setting that softens high-frequency sounds and lowers overall intensity to help new users gradually adjust. The three remaining listening modes include:

• Conversation Mode: Boosts consonants and speech clarity.
• Crowd Mode: Reduces background noise while focusing on voices in busy settings.
• TV Mode: Enhances dialogue and reduces distractions for easier listening during broadcasts.

Atom X users can toggle through each mode to find the one that best compensates for their hearing loss and listening environment.

The charging case carries 48 hours' worth of total listening time and features a built-in UV cleaning system. According to Audien, you'll get over 12 hours of use-time on a single charge, and over 3 hours with continuous Bluetooth audio streaming.

Bluetooth Streaming with Adjustable Transparency

Atom X also supports optional Bluetooth streaming for calls and music with universal compatibility. Transparency control lets users adjust how much ambient sound they hear while streaming — from full awareness to nearly closed-off immersion. This ensures spatial awareness and safety during walks, conversations, or daily routines.

“This was an important feature for us,” Patel said. “Whether you’re walking outside or talking to a friend while streaming music, you can decide how much of the world you let in with a simple swipe on the screen.”

Designed for Comfort and Simplicity

Audien conducted extensive ergonomic testing and multiple 3D-printed iterations to create a discreet, in-ear device comfortable enough for all-day wear. The Atom X includes three sizes of closed domes and three sets of tulip domes.

Although Audien refers to the Atom X as a completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid in some of its literature, it protrudes considerably from the ear canal during wear, making it more similar to what the hearing industry calls an in-the-canal (ITC) style device.

Positioned as Audien’s Most Advanced In-Ear Option

At $389, Atom X now becomes Audien’s flagship in-ear model, positioned above Atom Pro 2 ($289) and Atom ONE ($98), but still below its higher-priced behind-the-ear ION line ($689). Patel said the company works hard to deliver advanced functionality at a price point accessible to more households. Previous HearAdvisor test results of Audien's in-ear devices have resulted in a "C" SoundGrade, and we're hopeful that the slightly higher-priced Atom X will score better.

Patel emphasized that successful OTC hearing aids must deliver on three key elements in order to help the huge global population of people with hearing loss: affordability, accessibility, and ease of use. “When we think about pricing, we don’t ask how high we can go; we ask how low we can go without sacrificing quality,” Patel said. “This is about helping the greatest number of people possible, and Atom X is designed to do exactly that.”

Each Atom X package includes the two hearing aids, touchscreen charging case, USB-C cable, power adapter, cleaning tools, replacement tips/domes, and a wax guard kit. There are several instructional booklets, including a Setup Guide, User Manual, and Weekly Maintenance primer. It also includes a free setup appointment with a hearing aid specialist, as well as instructions on how to get help for replacement parts and troubleshooting.

Audien hearing aids come with a relatively restrictive 45-day money-back guarantee, and the hearing aids are covered under a 1-year limited warranty against manufacturer defects.

Atom X is available now via Walmart (in stores and online), Amazon, and AudienHearing.com, with Walgreens adding the product to shelves and online in November.

For more information, please visit the Audien website.