I Couldn't Tell These Glasses Had Built-in Hearing Aids - And You Likely Couldn't Either

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Nuance Audio proceeding glasses are disposable successful 2 styles and colors for $1,200 astatine participating retailers.
• They supply a stylish and discreet measurement to assistance mild to mean proceeding loss.
• However, they supply six to 8 hours of artillery life and a three-hour charging period, which mightiness frustrate powerfulness users.

Since nan US Food and Drug Administration approved a class of proceeding immunodeficiency that tin beryllium sold to consumers without a doctor's prescription, companies person recovered caller ways to supply group pinch over-the-counter (OTC) proceeding aids. 

Also: These XR glasses gave maine a 200-inch surface to activity pinch - now I'm wondering why I still request monitors

In an effort to make proceeding devices much accessible and stylish, EssilorLuxottica, nan shaper down eyewear brands specified arsenic Ray-Ban and Oakley, introduced Nuance Audio, a brace of glasses that tin reside show issues and mild proceeding loss.

I've followed Nuance Audio since I demoed nan merchandise astatine CES successful January and tested nan glasses much thoroughly complete nan past 2 weeks to measure their performance. Although I don't person a test for proceeding loss, I tin show you my experience. Here's what you should know.

Wait, those are proceeding aids?

Nuance Audio's ngo is to supply wearers pinch an all-in-one instrumentality that immunodeficiency eyesight and proceeding corrections successful a stylish and discreet design. These glasses don't look for illustration proceeding aids. I wore nan Panthos 48 style successful Shiny Burgundy, and they look almost identical to nan Ray-Bans I deterioration each day. 

The Nuance Audio glasses weren't arsenic dense connected my look arsenic my Ray-Ban Meta, but they were heavier than my regular glasses, apt because they person speakers and microphones wrong that adhd to nan weight. The arms of nan glasses are thicker for nan mics and speakers. After a fewer hours, I felt immoderate discomfort down my ears.

How good do they work?

According to nan FDA, OTC proceeding immunodeficiency are intended to beryllium utilized by adults pinch perceived mild to mean proceeding loss. OTC proceeding immunodeficiency deficiency personalization, but they tin thief alteration nan costs associated pinch trips to audiologists aliases nan creation of civilization proceeding aids. Hearing nonaccomplishment is simply a spectrum, and everyone affected experiences it differently.

Therefore, OTC proceeding immunodeficiency are designed to thief group pinch mild proceeding loss, and nan Nuance Audio glasses are nary different. To trial their performance, I wore them to nan market store, a networking event, a engaged outdoor bar, a restaurant, and a Sunday family dinner.

Also: I wore Google's XR glasses, and they already hit my Ray-Ban Meta successful 3 ways

As personification without diagnosed proceeding loss, I kept nan glasses' measurement debased to extremity being overwhelmed by extraneous noise. However, they excelled successful moderately noisy environments, for illustration conversing pinch nan cashier astatine nan market shop and having a group meal pinch my family. I didn't person to attraction arsenic difficult to perceive group complete inheritance noise.

At a edifice connected a engaged Friday evening pinch inheritance euphony and chatter, I could perceive nan waiter and my hubby intelligibly done nan glasses erstwhile they said to me. The glasses besides prime up your sound and reproduce it done nan speakers, which is awesome for group who can't gauge really large they're speaking.

The microphones connected nan Nuance Audio frames lucifer nan ornamental accents connected my Ray-Bans.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

In nan noisy bar, I had much problem proceeding a personification speaking to me, moreover aft toggling audio, microphone, and measurement settings. The glasses picked up nan bartender taking orders and clinking glasses, nan mates having a speech down me, and nan postulation sounds from nan street. All nan sounds were amplified, but nary were peculiarly clear, meaning I was quickly overwhelmed.

In each environment, I asked group if they could perceive nan sounds coming from my glasses. Each time, nan personification said no, unless they put their receptor to mine. At a normal distance, others shouldn't perceive your amplified audio, adding to nan glasses' discretion.

Also: Meta's caller Oakley smart glasses hit its Ray-Bans - and you tin preorder them starting today

Overall, noisy environments challenged nan Nuance Audio glasses, truthful wearing them successful a engaged barroom pinch large music, astatine a concert, aliases to a sporting arena whitethorn inhibit your expertise to attraction connected 1 circumstantial personification aliases sound. 

However, group who person trouble participating successful group conversations during family gatherings aliases dinners retired pinch friends owed to their proceeding nonaccomplishment whitethorn find nan Nuance Audio glasses helpful. They could make societal gatherings easier to navigate.

How's nan app experience? 

The Nuance Audio glasses link to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and nan Nuance Audio app is disposable connected Android and iOS. In nan app, you tin toggle inheritance sound levels, nan glasses' volume, audio presets, and whether nan microphones should prime up sound from successful beforehand of you aliases each astir you.

The Nuance Audio app and proceeding glasses successful Burgundy.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

A multifunction fastener connected nan correct temple allows you to rhythm done measurement levels and move nan glasses connected and off, and a touch power connected nan framework lets you rhythm done audio presets.

Also: I've worn nan Meta Ray-Bans for half a year, and these 5 features still amaze me

Nuance Audio's artillery lasts astir 8 hours, but powerfulness users whitethorn only get six. A afloat complaint connected nan glasses' charging pad takes astir 3 hours, and a position ray connected nan glasses indicates artillery levels.

Availability

The Nuance Audio frames tin beryllium purchased from nan company's website for $1,200. If your imagination security is in-network pinch Nuance Audio, you tin usage it during nan online checkout. You tin besides schedule Nuance Audio demos and appointments astatine Walmart Vision Centers, LensCrafters, For Eyes, Target Optical, Pearle Vision, and different participating retailers.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Nuance Audio proceeding glasses could beryllium a awesome action for adults pinch mild proceeding nonaccomplishment who want an unassuming and stylish replacement to accepted in-ear proceeding aids. The glasses' companion app is easy to navigate, and they're wide disposable successful astir section optical retailers.

If accepted in-ear OTC proceeding immunodeficiency aren't to your style, you should springiness these a shot. The only drawback is their short artillery life, arsenic astir group deterioration their corrective lenses for much than six to 8 hours a day.