I have worn HAs for 40 years and will give my take. HAs are better, especially the new ones with AI built in. However, if you already own AirPods Pro, it's straightforward to take the test and give yourself a boost if needed. And it's an excellent way to introduce people to the idea of HAs, without breaking the bank. I've even used old pairs of them for my parents. Of course, battery life isn't sufficient for all-day use, but if you need it for a recital or one-on-one talks, and the like, it's the best bang for your buck on the market.
I posted this standalone, but replying to you since you specifically asked about HAs in noisy environments.
The newest HAs have AI that helps in noisy environments. The ones I have are the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio I90s. I've worn HAs for 40 years. It's truly unbelievable in noisy environments. I know it's easy to think it's all marketing garbage, but some great demos on YT of the technology. I keep them in AI mode all the time when I have them on, and charging them for an hour at lunch is enough to get me the necessary runtime.
The newest HAs have AI that helps in noisy environments. The ones I have are the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio I90s. I've worn HAs for 40 years. It's truly unbelievable in noisy environments. I know it's easy to think it's all marketing garbage, but some great demos on YT of the technology. I keep them in AI mode all the time when I have them on, and charging them for an hour at lunch is enough to get me the necessary runtime.
The most alarming thing I have seen recently in regards to the push for Real ID, is in the Election EO that came out recently, either a passport or Real ID will be required to vote in federal elections.