Eargo 7 vs. Sony CRE-E10

Eargo 7 provides clear speech for those with mild hearing loss, especially in quieter settings, but lacks wireless streaming.

Sony’s CRE-E10 is one of the strongest true self-fit OTC options we’ve tested, combining an earbud-like, comfortable in-ear design with excellent speech enhancement, strong feedback control, and genuinely impressive streamed audio quality and battery life, though it’s expensive for OTC, streaming is iPhone-only, and the lack of physical controls means you’re locked into the app for adjustments.

Eargo 7 achieved a SoundScore of 3.4/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #38 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

Sony CRE-E10 achieved a SoundScore of 4.7/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #3 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

Eargo 7 hearing aids appear to be well build with an IPX7 rating, making them sufficiently durable against moisture which is important given their deep ear canal placement. The portable charging case is also a nice addition and should protect Eargo well when not in use.

With an ingress rating of IP68, CRE-E10 offer excellent resistance to moisture and debris. They also feel well-built in hand and come with a sturdy charging case.

Eargo are extremely small making their 16 hour rechargeable battery life impressive. The case offers additional on-the-go power and I found the magnetic charging bays a nice easy to use addition.

CRE-E10 offer an impressive battery life of up to 26 hours. I also liked the portable charging case which offers you Qi wireless charging.

Not yet rated by our experts

While CRE-E10 offers high quality audio streaming and hands-free calling, it only works with iOS devices. You may want to look elsewhere if you use an Android device.

I found Eargo's app to be packed full of useful features like the Sound Match hearing assessment and automatic noise reduction controls. You have plenty of options for personalization though adjustments are not always reliable as Eargo relies on phone speaker commands instead of Bluetooth.

Sony's Hearing Control app is not as elaborate as some other OTC hearing aids. However, the on-ear hearing test is a nice addition and it offers you all basic adjustments you will likely need.

Comfort will vary by individuals depending on your tolerance to a deeper fitting hearing aid. Overall, I found them moderately comfortable through they can cause a tickling ear sensation due to their fit.

CRE-E10 are comfortable and fit like other earbud-like hearing aids. They were surprisingly lightweight and offered high quality audio without completely plugging my ears.

Eargo's instant-fit, completely-in-the-canal, style is unique discrete. If you are interested in a nearly-invisible OTC hearing aid you will love their design.

CRE-E10 have a modern earbud-like look which may be undesirable depending on your preferences. Unlike other hearing aids, CRE-E10 are all black and very visible in your ears.

Eargo 7 has a value score of 2.4/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Sony CRE-E10 has a value score of 4.1/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Handling can be challenging with Eargo 7 due to the small size and reliance on tap controls. Furthermore, Eargo relies on acoustic indicators for wireless communication, which is less reliable than Bluetooth and caused me several problems.

I had no issues wearing or adjusting CRE-E10 though it is worth mentioning that they do not have physical buttons, you must use Sony's Hearing Control app for programming changes.

Eargo is one of the first direct to consumer hearing aids, but support is unfortunately limited to to their Client Care team and personal hearing professionals. While Eargo claims they work alongside audiologists, it is not the same as direct professional hearing care.

Sony does offer consultations with their product experts though this is not the same as hearing care from a licensed provider. You may want to look elsewhere if you would like assistance from a hearing care provider.