A Close Look at Ceretone Core One Pro Hearing Aids

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Rating: 5/10

The original Ceretone Core One, emerging via Indiegogo, impressed with its remarkably diminutive and lightweight design, weighing merely 0.96 grams each. The price tag of $349 per pair also made them quite economical.

However, these initial models fell short as effective hearing aids. Lacking the ability to be adjusted, they suffered from sporadic feedback and interference, controllable only through a basic mobile app. After over a year, Ceretone has introduced the Core One Pro, which feels like a fresh start, bearing little resemblance to its predecessor.

Outdated Aesthetic

The Core One Pro is an in-ear device, mirroring the original in its smallness and light weight but now weighs 1.17 grams per unit. Unfortunately, the new model's dated industrial brown look is less visually appealing than the sleek white design of the Core One.

The eartips have transitioned from closed to a hybrid style and are now clear, making the right-left distinction less obvious. Besides the pair installed, the package contains three extra sets of tips in varied sizes. The maximum battery sustainment is an impressive 20 hours per charge, though there's no battery status indicator on either the hearing aids or case. Like its predecessor, Bluetooth streaming isn't supported.

Functionality-wise, Ceretone has revamped the operational method. The mobile app is redundant, as it’s incompatible with these aids. The only controls available are for volume and environment programs, both operated differently.

Limited Impact

Similar to the original, these aids offer limited effectiveness. Without customizable tuning, they uniformly enhance all sound frequencies. My testing highlighted that low-frequency sounds were excessively boosted, turning ordinary noises offensively loud, especially above volume setting three of six. Additionally, a constant hiss persisted, alleviated only at the lowest volumes. Overall, beyond volume level one, they tended to distract rather than assist, displaying their sheer power at high volumes but not their usability.

Comfort-wise, they fall short of the original Core One, likely due to the rougher eartips rather than the device's design.

At a cost of $390—much less than the list price of $700—it's unclear who the ideal users for these hearing aids are. Lacking adjustability features offers users a crude auditory boost instead of enhanced sound precision.