The Bernafon Alpha 3 CIC in review
Die Technik dieses Gerätes wurde vom Bernafon Alpha XT abgelöst und ist daher nicht mehr ganz aktuell. Wir haben deshalb eine Abwertung in der Gesamtnote vorgenommen.
Here we take a look at a hearing aid at a reasonable price from the upper mid-range that is worn in the ear. It is called Alpha 3 CIC and comes from the manufacturer Bernafon. It can be used by anyone with mild to severe hearing loss who desires a small mini hearing aid. Thanks to its natural, cleverly chosen fit directly in the ear canal, it has very good sound qualities.
Hearing comfort
Hearing aids are meant to not only bring speech to the ear but also sound pleasant. So, let's first look at the comfort features. What types of noise does the hearing aid recognize? Are they dampened or transmitted unchanged? Is the hearing aid suitable for a vibrant everyday life? Here with this test device, the manufacturer provides the customer with comprehensive noise management. As in every hearing aid, it also includes the typical background noise suppression. It aims to reduce uniform, noisy ambient sounds to the point that they no longer dominate. In the Alpha 3 CIC, ambient noise is reliably detected but only moderately reduced.
In this model, a wind noise management feature can be omitted. The hearing aid sits so far in the ear canal that wind noise does not become a problem. Quick, explosive sounds are indeed detected here but are only moderately reduced. With 14 frequency bands, one can already achieve quite a good sound. A passionate musician may not be entirely satisfied, but this number is completely sufficient for normal hearing and sound needs. In spatial hearing, the Alpha 3 CIC showcases its full strength: Due to its deep positioning just before the eardrum, sound capture occurs like with an ear without a hearing aid. The outer ear naturally directs sound into the ear canal, and the existing head shadow effects are further utilized. Such good 3D hearing could probably not be created artificially.
Interestingly, artificial intelligence also plays a role in signal processing here. The sound is not only analyzed based on typical frequency patterns. Specifically, intense, noisy situations are experienced as more realistic and pleasant.
Rating Hearing comfort: 2,2
Operation & connectivity
The majority of features are activated automatically by this Bernafon model. However, it can be very useful to have the option to expand the functionality a bit further. In our tests, we found out what options we have here. The simplest way to operate is always a button directly on the hearing aid. This model has one as well. It can be programmed according to your preferences. Do you want a manual volume control? No problem, the button allows for gradual volume adjustment. Or do you need different special programs for your professional everyday life or your hobbies? These can also be activated via the button. Those who want to keep everything in automatic mode can simply ignore the button or even have it deactivated. Remote controls for hearing aids are actually common today, but Bernafon has not provided one for this device.
Voice commands are a quite new way of operating hearing aids. However, we do not have this option in this model yet. That's not a big deal - the main thing is that you can hear well. In addition to buttons or remote controls, some hearing aids also have a tap control. This means you can simply tap your ear briefly, which then switches the device. However, we do not have this feature at Bernafon, as it would require very specific sensors.
We missed an app for the Alpha 3 CIC during testing. If operating via smartphone is important to you, you should look for another model. A connection option to other audio sources is not provided here. That's a shame because a wireless streaming function would have offered real added value.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 3,5
The best alternatives to the Alpha 3 CIC
Our database contains 70 reviews of hearing aids with similar technical features to this one (i.e., In the ear (ITE) in sehr kompakter Bauform in Size "", not rechargable, geeignet für Hörverlust-Grad leicht, mittel & stark). Here are the top 3 (Redaktionsstand 02.10.2025):
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Starkey Genesis AI 24 CIC Wireless | Rating: 5 / 5 |
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Starkey Signature Series 24 CIC NW | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
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Starkey Genesis AI 20 CIC Wireless | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Simplicity & security
Now let's take a look at how the usage is designed in everyday life. Is the handling easy? Do I get a safe device? Typical hearing situations that everyone experiences in their environment are reliably recognized and adjusted by automatic settings. However, for more specific, recurring requirements, one cannot avoid using the manual hearing programs. A great bonus in this hearing aid is the automatic acclimatization. Especially when someone has been hearing poorly for a long time and then wears a hearing aid for the first time, it is a tremendous relief. The volume does not have to be turned up all at once. One can start at a lower level, and gradually and almost imperceptibly, the amplification approaches the target.
The Alpha 3 CIC gets its energy from small disposable batteries that need to be changed every few days. While this is not rocket science, it should be taken into consideration if there are any motor issues. A rechargeable battery would be much easier to handle.
The Alpha 3 is almost dust- and waterproof and, with its IP 68 classification, is certainly well protected against external influences.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,3
Extras
Everyone appreciates a few extra features, so let's see if we can find some here: We noticed the tinnitus option. Anyone who wishes can set up a special tinnitus program. If needed, it generates a gentle noise to help distract from the annoying tinnitus. The sounds can be tailored to personal hearing preferences.
An online contact with the audiologist through the app would be very useful. This is quite common today and helps with minor adjustment issues. Unfortunately, Bernafon does not offer this and therefore does not earn extra points.
A new trend in the hearing aid industry is integrated sensors that can track personal health data, for example. However, the Alpha 3 CIC does not offer this. Other hearing aids already have a few extended options such as a fall alarm or reminder functions. We do not find this here, and that is not too dramatic since the standard hearing functions are still the most important.
Rating Extras: 3,3
Conclusion: Bernafon Alpha 3 CIC
In the overall result, this test device ranks in the lower positions and lacks some features. We give it a grade of 3.81. For less demanding listeners, this is acceptable, but for a very active lifestyle, we recommend a hearing aid with more extensive comfort features.
What is the difference between the different construction types? Are there mini hearing aids available with batteries? Or with Bluetooth? Read our extensive in-ear hearing aids comparison, which contains this and many more interesting information for you.
Top alternatives in the same price range
Which devices in a comparable price range currently show the best technical performance? Here are the current top 3:
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Philips HearLink 3050 MNR T R | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
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Audio Service G8 8 Mood R LI T 8 | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
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Audio Service G8 8 Mood R LI 8 | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Our Bernafon Alpha 3 CIC review was created on June 2, 2023 and lastly updated on June 25, 2024. The overall rating of 3,81 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 4 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 2.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 4 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 3 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
Is the Alpha 3 CIC from Bernafon suitable for me?
The fitting range of this hearing aid is "mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss." A local hearing acoustics specialist can quickly assess whether your hearing deficit falls within this range.
How much does the Alpha 3 CIC from Bernafon cost?
The approximate price range in which the Bernafon Alpha 3 CIC is currently offered in Germany is between €2,000.00 and €2,500.00. When considering the price, one should also look at the overall rating: The overall test score in the HörShop test is 3.8 (satisfactory). Details are also important for categorizing the hearing aid price: The star rating for "noise suppression" in the test shows 3 out of 5 stars.
What size is the Bernafon Alpha 3 CIC?
We have categorized this in-ear hearing aid in the size class XS. This means it is relatively small. You can compare it with other hearing aids of this size class: Hearing Aid Comparison.
How well can one hear with the Bernafon Alpha 3 CIC?
The Alpha 3 CIC from the manufacturer Bernafon is equipped with 14 separately adjustable equalizer bands (for context: current top devices have 25 bands). The evaluation of noise suppression for this device reaches 3 out of 5 stars. It receives the label 'natural' because it takes advantage of the natural shape of the ear, which minimizes wind noise. If you summarize the entire area of "hearing comfort," the overall score in the test is 2.2 (good).
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