Lexie B2 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose Now Stream Phone Calls from iPhones

Lexie Hearing has announced that on May 11 it will launch firmware updates to its Lexie B2 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, enabling voice call streaming capabilities for iPhone users.

HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop explains how those currently in the trial period (45 days) of the Lexie B2 Powered by Bose can get a free update for streaming voice calls from iPhones; those outside the trial period can upgrade for $50. Closed captions are available on this video. If you are using a mobile phone, please enable captions clicking on the gear icon.

As one of the first and most popular OTC hearing aids, the Lexie B2 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose are rechargeable receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices that offer good sound quality, on-device volume control, directional microphones, noise reduction, smartphone app control sound customization, and free, remote expert support from Lexie. HearingTracker rated Lexie Powered by Bose as one of the top-10 best OTC hearing aids of 2023. However, until now, the B2 lacked the ability to stream audio from a phone directly into the hearing aid.

Starting May 11, Lexie B2 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose wearers with iPhones (iOS v 13 or later) will be able to conduct voice calls via Bluetooth using their aids for added convenience and an elevated user experience, says Lexie. However, hands-free calling will not be available yet; in other words, users will be able to receive audio from their iPhones, but they'll still need to speak into the receiver to be heard by the person on the line.

“With hearing loss affecting tens of millions of people in the United States, it is important for us to create a convenient and elevated experience for our wearers,” says Brian Maguire, senior vice president for Lexie Hearing and head of its North American operations. “For hearing aid users, being able to hear phone calls is one of the most important and requested features, and our latest update for the Lexie B2 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose enables this for iPhone users. The update makes it easy for wearers to conduct voice calls on their iPhone, helping them stay connected to their loved ones.”

New Lexie B2 Hearing Aids Powered by Bose will include the update. Existing wearers who are still in the trial period (first 45 days) will be able to update their hearing aids at no additional cost. Current Lexie B2 wearers who have exceeded the trial period may update their hearing aids for a small fee of $50. In the latter two cases, wearers will need to ship their hearing aids directly to Lexie for the update. To update your device, call (800) 499-1336.

The new update is compatible with iPhone iOS version 13 and later, and the company plans to extend the feature to Android users in the future. While the update will allow any audio content streamed on an iPhone to play through the Lexie B2 Hearing Aids, it was not designed or optimized for music or video content streaming.

For more details about Lexie B2 Powered by Bose, visit the Lexie Hearing website.