Best Hearing Aids in 2023 - Picking the Perfect Hearing Aid
A lot happened in the world of hearing aids last year, with all major manufacturers releasing new innovative products. The class of 2023 offers superior sound processing, excellent wireless connectivity, and pandemic-friendly telehealth capabilities. But each product has its strengths and weaknesses, and we’ve waded through the options to find the very best hearing aids on the market for 2023.
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We’ll be sure to update this page when the new products are released, so check back often, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
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Best RIC hearing aids
Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aids are by far the most popular type of hearing aids on the market—four out of every five hearing aids sold in the United States are RICs. RICs are small, lightweight, comfortable, and offer rechargeability and wireless connectivity. Every year, the major hearing aid brands challenge each other to produce the world's greatest RIC hearing aid, and every year, we pick our favorites. Tune in now to see a breakdown of 2023's top RIC hearing aids, including the pros and cons of each.
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Best rechargeable hearing aids
To find the best rechargeable hearing aids on the market, I considered the following four criteria:
- Longest-lasting battery - When fully-charged, which hearing aid provides the highest number of hours of continuous use?
- Fastest charging - Which hearing aids charge the fastest?
- Battery replacement - How often do batteries need to be replaced? And, what is the process like?
- Charging case options - Are the chargers well designed? Are they portable? Do they provide additional charges on the go?
My Pick: ReSound Omnia
Released in August 2022, ReSound Omnia offers the best rechargeability solution on the market. On a full charge Omnia provides 30 hours of operating time (24 hours with heavy wireless streaming). That’s a full 6 hours more than their closest competition!
In terms of fast charging, ReSound really isn’t ahead of the pack. Omnia takes about 3 hours to fully recharge from a flat battery, and this is more or less in line with every other rechargeable lithium-ion hearing aid on the market. But, considering you get an extra 6 hours of battery life with the same amount of charge time, it seems like ReSound wins on fast charging too.
In addition, I love ReSound’s Premium Charger. It’s a well-designed, and rugged, charging case that offers 3 on-the-go charges. It’s also easy to slot the hearing aids into the charger, which is a huge win for anyone with dexterity issues.
In terms of battery replacement, it’s hard to find a winner here. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are relatively new in the world of hearing aids, and manufacturers are saying to expect anywhere from 4-6 years from the rechargeable cells. We’ll be reporting back as soon as we get reports of batteries needing replacing!
Replacing a rechargeable battery will require your audiologist to send your hearing aids to the manufacturer for an off-site servicing. This will mean some hearing down time unless you can secure a hearing aid loaner. Oticon is currently the only brand that allows rechargeable battery replacement at the audiologists office, so if that’s an important consideration for you, check out the Opn More family from Oticon.
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
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*Via Made For iPhone and Android ASHA protocols on select smartphones.
Runner Up: Oticon More
More is the latest hearing aid from Danish company Oticon. More is in the second tier of rechargeable hearing aids when it comes to battery life, offering 24 hours of use time. Oticon also provides something unique — your hearing aids won’t need to be sent back to the manufacturer when it’s time to replace the built-in lithium-ion batteries. We want to encourage more manufacturers to follow suit!
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
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*Via Made For iPhone and Android ASHA protocols on select smartphones.
**According to research from Oticon
Best Bluetooth connectivity
To find the best Bluetooth connectivity on the market, I considered the following five criteria:
- iPhone streaming - Can the hearing aids stream audio from iOS devices?
- Android streaming - Can the hearing aids stream audio from Android phones?
- Laptop streaming - Are the hearing aids able to stream audio from laptops and other Bluetooth-enabled devices?
- Accessory requirement - Is an accessory required to stream audio from certain devices, or to enable hands-free calling?
- General connectivity - Do the hearing aids offer stable multi-device connectivity? How easy is the pairing process?
My Pick: Phonak Lumity
While most hearing aid companies went down the path of providing “Made For iPhone” hearing aids (starting with the ReSound LiNX back in 2014), Phonak lagged behind, not launching their first Bluetooth-connected hearing aid until early 2018. For many, the wait was worth it. Because it was the first hearing aid to offer universal Bluetooth connectivity, Phonak Marvel was a raging success. And after a few generations of Bluetooth products, the new Phonak Lumity is a stellar performer.
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Phonak was slow to jump into the world of Bluetooth connectivity, but ended up stealing the crown this year with Lumity, which supports up to 8 Bluetooth devices and 2 active Bluetooth connections. This means going back and forth between a phone and laptop, etc, is now as seamless as any other modern true wireless earbud. Connection stability and ease of pairing is as you’d expect too.
Other than good universal Bluetooth connectivity, Phonak is also the only brand to offer true hands-free calling for iOS and Android—and in stereo. There have been some reports of sound quality issues related to the hearing aid user’s own voice on the other end of the call, but for the most part, it seems that the convenience outweighs this limitation for most.
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
Product Highlights
Drawbacks
*Via Made For iPhone and Android ASHA protocols on select smartphones.
**According to research from Oticon
Runner Up: ReSound Omnia
ReSound was the first hearing aid company to offer support for both Made For iPhone and Android ASHA Bluetooth protocols, and Resound promises Omnia will support the upcoming Bluetooth LE Audio protocol through a future firmware upgrade.
You can get high-quality hands-free calling for the ReSound Omnia with iOS devices. For Android, you’ll need to purchase the ReSound Phone Clip+ and pair it to your phone. The microphone on the Phone Clip+ — which can be worn on a lapel — is used to pick up your voice and send it to the caller. For those looking at Oticon More, you’ll need the ConnectClip to accomplish hands-free calling with Android (a 2022 update added hands-free support for iOS).
Best discreet hearing aids
To find the best discreet hearing on the market, I considered the following two criteria:
- Visibility - Is the hearing aid visible to those around you?
- Reliability - Does wax and moisture cause performance issues?
- Comfort - Is the hearing aid comfortable in your ear?
My Pick: Phonak Virto M Titanium IIC
Phonak started manufacturing 3D-printed titanium hearing aids back in 2017 with Virto B. My mind was blown at the time, because I didn’t even know it was possible to “print” metal. Apparently printed metal is a thing, and Phonak saw an opportunity to bring the technology into the hearing aid manufacturing process.
In a press release, Phonak stated that their titanium shells were “15x stronger and 50% thinner” than traditional acrylic hearing aid shells. This meant “deeper placement in the ear canal” and a “more discreet fit.” In 2023, Phonak is still ahead of the pack when it comes to hearing aid visibility — no other manufacturer is producing printed-titanium shells that compete on size or “invisibility.”
In terms of comfort, the new Virto M is about as comfortable as any other “invisible in canal” (IIC) hearing aid on the market — which is to say, pretty comfortable for most people. Most people prefer open-fitting hearing aids over custom-fitted in-canal style hearing aids.
In terms of reliability, the Virto M Titanium is as reliable as any IIC can be. It’s the only one that I’m aware of that has an IP68 for moisture and dust protection. Having said that, ear canals are a hostile (warm, damp, waxy) environment for even the most robust of hearing aids, so if you are someone who perspires a lot or produces a lot of wax, you might want to consider going with a thin-tube style hearing aid that doesn’t put any electronic components deep in your ear.
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
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Runner Up: Phonak Lyric
The absolute most invisible hearing aid in the world is the Phonak Lyric 4. It’s so small, and goes so deep into the ear canal, that it has to be surgically inserted by an ENT specialist or specially-trained audiologist. And while it would probably win on both visibility and comfort, there have been reports about poor reliability for some people. While many people have absolutely no problems, those with heavy wax production (or who sweat a lot) can experience issues. And this can be a real nuisance if a dead hearing aid means a trip back to the specialist for extraction and re-insertion!
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
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Best hearing aids for general health
To find the best hearing aids for general health, I looked at the following factors:
- Usage reinforcement - Do the hearing aids encourage consistent usage?
- Activity reinforcement - Do the hearing aids encourage you to stay physically active?
- Fall monitoring - Do the hearing aids detect falls and alert your loved ones?
My Pick: Starkey AI
The winner in this category should be obvious to anyone familiar with the hearing aid industry. Starkey is the front-runner on taking a holistic approach to general wellbeing—the Thrive Hearing Control app tracks physical activity (steps, exercise time, and stand time) and hearing aid “engagement” to provide a single “Wellness Score” that gives the wearer continuous feedback on how well they’re doing.
 "Thrive Wellness")
The Thrive Hearing Control app works seamlessly with sensor-enabled hearing aids to provide a Wellness Score.
Starkey’s new Evolv AI hearing aids work seamlessly with the Thrive app—motion sensors onboard the hearing aids provide a constant stream of data to the app about physical activity. The onboard motion sensors are also able to detect falls (mild hearing loss can triple the risk of a fall in older adults). If and when a fall is detected, the Thrive app will send notifications to specified contacts from your phone book to alert them of the incident.
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
Product Highlights
Drawbacks
*Via Made For iPhone and Android ASHA protocols on select smartphones.
Runner Up: Bose
Lexie Powered by Bose is a direct-to-consumer hearing aid that is purchased for $849 (or on a $47/m subscription plan) on the internet, and shipped right to your front door. While Lexie doesn’t come with any onboard sensors, they do have a novel app that monitors hearing ability and provides subscription discounts for those who wear their hearing aids regularly. While there are plenty of other hearing aids that provide usage monitoring, Lexie is the only company willing to pay you to wear your hearing aids. And since Starkey is the only company with activity monitoring and fall detection, Lexie is receiving my runner-up win for this category.
Listed prices are for a pair of hearing aids in US dollars unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and may vary by region.
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Hearing Aid Discounts Delivered to Your Inbox
The best hearing aids for tinnitus
And if you’re specifically in the market for hearing aids that have special tinnitus-masking features, be sure to check out our comprehensive review of the best hearing aids for tinnitus relief.
Top hearing aid brands, rated by 500 audiologists
We surveyed five hundred audiologists in Q4 2020 to find out which hearing aid brands are the best on the following metrics:
- Best sound quality
- Best battery life
- Best value for money
- Best reliability
- Best connectivity
- Best rechargeability
- Best aesthetics
- Best ease of fit
- Best ease of use
- Best product support
Disclaimer
Survey results reflect the attitudes of audiologists, who may or may not be familiar with all hearing aid brands. For better or worse, each audiologist has their brand preferences, and our survey results reflect those preferences. Take the results with a grain of salt. Infrequently selected brands not included in the charts below.
How do I choose the best hearing aid?
Before trying to pick your own hearing aid, watch this video from our partner Doctor Cliff, AuD. You might be surprised by how complicated the process is.
Don’t have time to watch the video?
Here are Cliff’s notes 😉 on what to consider when purchasing a hearing aid. Keep in mind that your hearing professional should be helping you understand the options:
- Your hearing loss severity - You need a hearing aid that is capable of providing adequate amplification. If you have a severe or profound hearing loss, you’ll need a device that can produce higher sound levels.
- Your ability to hear speech in noise - Speech in noise testing should be performed at every hearing evaluation. If you perform well on the test with amplification, hearing aids are likely to help you in noisy environments.
- Brand accessibility - Certain brands may not be accessible in your area. This may limit your options.
- Important features - Your hearing professional should get to know your listening needs and goals and suggest hearing aid features that can give you the most satisfaction and benefit.
- Your lifestyle - More advanced hearing aids are geared towards meeting the needs of those with the most active lifestyles. If you find yourself in more complex listening environments you should consider purchasing higher technology.
- Best practices - Does your hearing care provider follow best practices? If you aren’t receiving real ear measurement testing, you probably won’t get the most out of your hearing aids, even if they are top-of-the-line!
Looking to understand the available hearing aid features? Check out Hearing Tracker’s hearing aid matching engine.
How much do hearing aids cost?
We recently conducted a survey – with the help of the Hearing Loss Association of America – to learn more about the cost of hearing aids in the United States. Our survey showed that the overall average price paid for a single hearing aid was $2372. For a breakdown of hearing aid prices by brand, please read more on our page about the cost of hearing aids.
Looking to pay for hearing aids with healthcare insurance? Medical insurance coverage is available for some consumers.
Where to purchase hearing aids
Hearing aids are typically purchased from a local hearing healthcare practice. When shopping for hearing aids, we recommend working with a local practice that offers critical services like Real-Ear Measurements (REMs). You can search our database of local practices and filter by services using our Hearing Aids Near Me map.
Most hearing clinics offer an array of different hearing aid models (and should work with multiple brands). Depending on your specific needs, and budget, you may pay anywhere from $1,500 - $8,000 (or more) for a pair of hearing aids. If you want to know the cost ahead of time, check out HearingTracker’s local discount program, where you’ll be able to search over 5,000 discount offers.
There are also a few trusted online retailers, like ZipHearing, that work with local clinics to offer fixed price hearing aid + service bundles. We know that ZipHearing works directly with reputable hearing aid manufacturers, which is important because some online retailers sell “grey market” products that have dubious product warranties. The company also has a good reputation within the audiology community.
If you’re considering purchasing from an online retailer, be sure to do a comprehensive investigation of the business before sending them your credit card details. There have been many fly-by-night operations, like BuyHear.com, which left customers in the lurch after shutting down operations. We typically do not recommend direct-to-consumer hearing aids like those you can buy on Amazon, but there are a couple of companies, like Lexie and Lively, that offer legitimate products and services.
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This is a very easy to understand and informative breakdown of consumer trends. Thank you!
If you have a profound hearing loss, Esteem would not be the right solution. For more information
https://esteemhearing.com
I've used one or another of the hearing aids you recommend over the last 15 years. They all ******. THEN I tried a NEW ONE from BOSE called a HearPhone. Amazing! 10 times better than any hearing aid I used before and just $500 and you don't need an audiologist. Battery recharges overnight. Go to a Bose Store and give it a try. You'll probably be blown away with their "aid". You can also buy it from Amazon and check out the customer comments.
Curious. Did you use any of the models recommended by Cliff? They were all released within the last year or two. Also, Cliff did a great Hearphones review. Check it out.
I agree with both you and Abram. I've been using Starkey Halo since they came out, and currently have the Phonak Marvels on order. I hope to have them soon.
In the meanwhile, I purchased the Bose Hearphones, and found them SO MUCH BETTER than my Starkey Halos, that they became my everyday "go-to" aids, even with the annoying and funky YOKE around my neck. I liked them so much, that I purchased a second pair so that I can wear one while the other charges.
I have great hope for the Phonak Marvels, and plan to post what I think after I receive them and have a little time to evaluate.
It is now 4 years later, but just to say--Hearphones are no longer manufactured. They were a wonderful product; I wore them continuously for about 3 years and am only now considering returning to 'traditional' hearing aids. Hearphones can sometimes be purchased (new ones) on eBay, if one wants to risk that. --M. Stuart 3/2023.
The results from Q3 2018 were from 411 audiologists (and HIS). Q4 is a larger sample of 500, and we are expecting that data to be available within a week or two. This article will be updated with the new data. The responses above are inclusive of the entire sample.
You only surveyed audiologists??
If so, LOTS of survey bias, since hearing people think WAY differently about hearing aids than do deaf/hh people.
Good survey would disclose who is surveyed, how many surveyed, how many responses received per question...there are books written about how to create and conduct scientifically valid surveys.
Take *everything* in this survey with several grains of salt. (And maybe some cayenne pepper too.)
Unfortunately, I can't share much more than that. More detail is available to institutional investors who has access to UBS Evidence Lab data.
I'm another HA wearer and forum participant, not an audi. There is no way to objectively rate hearing aids based on a survey of any group of people. Whether users or audiologists, we can only rate what we've experienced, as consumers or vendors. None of us has tried everything out there. And there can be all kinds of reasons that one person's opinion about a brand or model is subjective. It goes with the territory. My suggestion is to take *all opinions* with a grain of salt, but nonetheless, listen/read. The audiologist perspective can be revealing, as can the customer's, and there are plenty of opportunities to get customer reaction on hearingtracker.com. Maybe you find a brand that's worth a try that you hadn't considered.
I appreciate Dr. Abram Bailey's diligent efforts to make information about hearing aids freely available on his website. It's not wrong to question the survey. But it's not right to not see value in it and appreciate the effort.
I agree that a survey of audiologists is pretty useless to HA wearer’s. Audiologists have a huge financial interest in the products they sell so of couse the products on their shelves will be ranked highly.
A survey of HA wearer’s is almost as useless as even the most seasoned user has probably only had 3-4 different makes over the past 20 years. And you cant compare a model from today to one 29 years ago. Plus the old “you don’t know what your missing if you’ve never had it” comes into play as well. One that hasn’t heard birds chirping for 20 years will be impressed when Brand A hearing aid lets them hear the birds for the first time but Brand B actually amplifies the birds even louder and clearer. Bit if one never tried B over A the survey respondent would rate Brand A higher than B.
I'm lucky enough to have insurance that pays up to 10k for hearing aids every 3 yrs. The problem i find is that who ever you deal with they try to sell you a hearing aid that their store sells. They won't sell a variety of manufacturers products just certain ones. I dont know if it's because they have the best profit margin or what. All I want is the best hearing aid I can get for 10k which my insurance pays. Why can't I find someone who will accommodate me??
Are there any superpower aids that are suitable/or can anyone suggest, for a long term analogue user with a severe-profound sensorineural loss (across all frequencies)? Am considering the Signia Motion 3px SP or the new Unitron Max that is due for release early 2019 with Classic mode (minimal sound processing, linear type set up) for people like myself. Would be very interested to hear from anyone else who has struggled to go from analogue to digital.
Also, my Audi believes I need an aid with adjustable knee points for compression as I get a lot of speech warble in my Unitron Max E SP, this improved once feedback canceller and all other 'features' were switched off, however it is still quite tinny/robotic sounding and I am absolutely struggling with speech clarity.
Hi
As an audiologist, one needs to be aware that the vast majority of clinics are owned by manufacturers. Guess which brand those clinician's are going to be selling ( vs their competitors) and guess which brand they are going to favor??
Sorry, but this survey of manufacturer owned clinic owners' is very biased!!
Has there been that much advancement of hearing aids over the last 3 or so years? While I am intrigued by the Android integration of the Phonac Marvel and it's streaming capabilities would there be much of a quality difference with my Oticon Alta2 Pro Ti aids? They work fine except in really noisey situations. I know fitting is really important.
Thanks from Garland Texas.
Despair! Barely a mention here of MUSIC. The audiogram on the home page says it all - 250 to 8k.
Never mind Bluetooth: at a live concert, not wired up like some Droid, we endure a rotten low end, bent and warbling pitch because of anti-feedback. Eventually we Google up enough knowledge to tactfully 'nudge' our audiologist into activating Music option, taking away the pitch scramble, reducing the ruinous compression.
In UK, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as well as audiologist-training colleges are still cruelly unaware of MUSICAL needs - recreational and occupational.
Thank you for this information. I’m looking at new hearing aids and the new technology that is available. I have Signia Pure 13 right now. Doesn’t seem that Signia is rated well. Phonak which was the brand I was leaning towards when my AuD recommended Signia. I dint believe it was based on my hearing status. I’ve been happy with these, but the frustrating area for me is the AuD doesn’t seem to know the workings of the HAs. I’ve had HISs fit me and I ‘thought ‘ going to an AuD would make a difference which it did not. The bottom line is based on what the HIS or AuD knows past the computer adjustments.
I’m thinking of looking at the Phonak Marvels and maybe a different HIS. Any suggestions to help me find a competent one TIA
There are never more than 100 units in a chart that depicts percentages. The reason the number is sometimes less than 100 is that we excluded less popular options in some charts.
The last few surveys were of 500 hearing professionals. Small sample as it may be generally, it is one of the largest of it's kind in our industry ...
I'm thinking of buying a Phonak Marvel for long streaming from a computer .
Please answer my questions :
1) Is it true that there will be a noticeable delay in sound when streaming via Bluetooth 5? Will there be a sound delay when streaming via a TV-connector?
2) Will the battery consumption of hearing aids be different when streaming via Bluetooth or a TV-connector?
3) How many hours of continuous streaming will battery 312, battery 13, rechargeable version?
4) How many years does the rechargeable version work until battery degradation?
I have had a hearing aid or hearing aids for about 15 years now. Started with one then switched to two. I find it to be the biggest scam in the medical field i.e. what you get for what you pay. A captive audience and a lot of us are not covered by insurance.
You go into a sound booth and they check for what tones you can hear and what words you can recognize. They then show you the charts and tell you why you need hearing aids. Once the hearing aids arrive they fit them for you, check to see if you can hear and understand what they are saying and then send you on your way. Their objective has been met -- they sold you an overpriced set of hearing aids.
I said why don't you put me back in the booth and checks the tones and words again. They said "Oh no, we don't do that." I said why don't you have a TV in here and set it to what you consider a reasonable level and see if I can hear it and understand the words that are being spoken. They said "Oh no, we don't do that". I said I know, you have met your objective -- you sold me a set of hearing aids. Whether I can hear or understand is secondary.
I find that the thing that the aids are really good at is amplifying the sound of tires on pavement. That sound comes through loud and clear. Even when I hit the button to reduce background noise. If it was even half as good at reproducing the human voice as it is on tires on pavement I might be happy but clarity of speech would likely still be a problem. I'm not sure why some outfit like Apple or Samsung don't get involved in the business with wireless buds and wearable mics. I-Phones are so much more complex for a fraction of the cost.
Having already spent many thousands on hearing aids I cannot get excited about trying to find more funds to buy another set. Some day these ones will quit and I will have to get others. In the meantime I avoid social gatherings and listen to my TV with my Bose headphones and tolerate the tire sounds from the busy street about 400 yards from my condo - still loud and clear. Just don't ask me what my neighbour said. Just a summary of life's experiences from an older guy. My apologies for being a little negative.
Quick question. Did your provider ever perform Real Ear Measurements (REMs)? If so, there is no need for further verification of benefit, as there is a relationship between audibility (which is established through REM testing) and benefit (ability to hear speech again). If your provider did not perform REMs, and did no other form of verification (like testing for improvements in speech recognition post-fitting), then you probably have not been fitted properly, and should shop around next time for someone who does things the evidence-based way.
How do I find that provider?
Iam 85 years old--100% disabled for hearing Loss--Started wearing hearing aids about age 40--12 years ago got my first CI and 7 years ago went Bilateral CI. I have been active for 12 years in a weekly hearing loss peer discussion group.
What is well established is that only about 30 percent of hearing aids sold are properly fitted to the prescriptive level. The best way to find a good provider is to check the state licensing board complaints. Find a professional that sells at least two brands of aids--the more the better. There is no such thing as a "Best Hearing Aid for Everyone". Do they use Real Ear Measures--REM---This is the only way to insure you have been properly fitted. Be sure the provider understands your lifestyle needs and wants. My friends all believe a telecoil is essential. No Hearing aid will work well that is not properly fitted. If you have not been wearing properly fitted hearing aids--and then start you will need one or two re-testings and refittings in the first year as your brain learns to underrated speech. If you have trouble tell your provider-- they have no way of knowing unless you tell them. Most Hearing aids in US are sold bundled. Know what is in your bundle.
I am trialing the Cosco version of ReSound Omnia--the Jabra Enhance Pro 10, which uses the same charger and presumably behaves similarly in regard to rechargeability. I have the M&RIE receivers and I do not stream a lot, though maybe 3-4 hours a day. Unfortunately, I am only getting about 15-17 hours per charge, and the left aid (despite the left needing a bit less amplification) is getting depleted more quickly. (Does the left use more power, control Bluetooth, etc.?) This length of charge is enough for my needs most days but is a bit worrisome, since it will only decline over time. I've got a followup appointment scheduled and may need to ask that one or both HAs get serviced/replaced. Anyway, I'm wondering if the 30-hour charge claim is based on laboratory tests alone or verified by users. It might be a good idea to qualify your strong praise for the length of charge if others are also having these problems.