Philips HearLink 9050 Hearing Aids at Costco

The HearLink 9050 miniRITE (also known as HearLink 50) is Philip's latest flagship rechargeable Bluetooth Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE) hearing aid sold at Costco for $1,499 per pair. As it is based on technology found in Oticon Intent and offered at this price, HearingTracker believes the HearLink 50 miniRITE represents an exceptional value. This new hearing aid has a slightly shorter but thicker redesigned exterior and push-button than the previous HearLink 9040 and employs a new chip with enhanced artificial intelligence. It also has new motion sensors to give it both tap controls and more data to inform its decision-making when processing speech in noise.

In this article we'll tell you everything you need to know about the Philips 9050 hearing aids at Costco so you can see if they're right for you.

What HearAdvisor lab data suggests about the Philips HearLink 9050 miniRITE

HearLink 9050 should be a top-quality hearing aid with excellent value. Denmark-based Demant, the world's second-largest hearing aid manufacturer, makes Costco's Philips-branded hearing aids and is well known for its Oticon and Bernafon brands.

At this writing, the independent HearAdvisor lab has not yet tested the Philips HearLink 9050. Although it's possible (and even likely) there are some significant differences, the HearLink 9050's chip, features, and design closely align with and in many cases are the same as the Oticon Intent hearing aids—Demant's pinnacle of hearing aid technology from its flagship brand.

And, if you're interested in purchasing the HearLink 9050, you'll be pleased to know that Oticon Intent is one of the best hearing aids HearAdvisor has analyzed to date, holding a prominent place near the top of the HearAdvisor Leaderboard for prescriptive hearing aids and receiving the lab's Expert Choice Award. Again, while it's quite possible some significant differences could emerge in later testing—particularly relative to the Deep Neural Network (DNN) artificial intelligence used in the devices—we think these two aids should perform similarly to each other when fit by a Costco hearing aid specialist or audiologist who uses best practices .

And that's great news. Here's how HearAdvisor Audiologist Steve Taddei, AuD, summarized Oticon Intent: "In the tuned fit condition [i.e., what you'd receive from a good audiologist], the Oticon Intent performed well above average on speech in quiet, well above average on speech in noise, above average on feedback handling, below average on occlusion results, and well above average on music streaming quality. The overall fit score in the tuned condition for the Oticon Intent was well above average."

For reference, below is HearAdvisor's summary of Intent's performance scores across 10 variables (scores based on 1 to 5 ratings, with 5 being the highest). Again, we caution that there are some distinct differences between Oticon Intent and HearLink 9050; it's unlikely HearLink has all the features of Intent, so performance scores may differ. As one experienced hearing aid user (Volusiano) who contributes regularly to the HearingTracker Forum writes, "They are similar, equivalent even, but not the same. They might share most, if not all, of the hardware, but the firmware and some of the features are definitely different.” We'll update this section when we get the specific data on the HearLink 9050.

Note that only the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio has a higher tuned fit score than Oticon Intent, but Sphere's price tag is 3 to 4 times higher than the HearLink 9050 sold at Costco. The bottom line: Even if it differs substantially from and lacks many of Intent's bells and whistles (i.e., performs slightly worse), HearLink 9050 should be a really good-performing hearing aid with exceptional value.

Real user reviews of the Philips HearLink 9050

Philips HearLink 9050 is fairly new at Costco, so there are not many user comments yet.

Johnzonie of Texas writes on the HearingTracker Forum:

"I upgraded from 9030’s to the 9050’s and the difference is huge to me. I had an excellent fitter at Costco who was meticulous on the REM and frequency tuning. She told me I wouldn’t need all the programs I had with the 9030’s (she put them in for me anyway) and would stay with the General program and she was pretty much right. Very pleased with the 9050’'s."

In the same forum post, PeteTab of Manchester in the UK writes (in two separate posts):

“I had my first fitting of the 9050’s today. While it’s only the first day, they seem to be doing a great job. I can confirm that I have hands-free functionality and also have the press button and double tap function to answer working fine (Pixel 8 Pro and Hearlink firmware 1.1.0). So far, so good...

“Considering it’s only my first full day with them, it’s difficult to give an informed view of [performance in noise and the motion sensors]. I did spend some time in a busy supermarket and was in a three-way conversation, and all I can say is that I understood all of the conversation and also with the lady at checkout. Whatever the aids were doing they were doing it well and any transition they may have done was seamless.”

Key technology highlights of Philips HearLink 9050

Here's a look at some of the main product upgrades and highlights of this hearing aid.

SoundMap 3

The Philips HearLink 50's SoundMap 3 sound processing software uses Demant's AI Noise Reduction (AR-NR) and advanced directionality to remove noise and prioritize speech in noisy environments. Along with the motion sensors, this allows the hearing aids to recognize and adjust to different sound environments better, so speech is easier to understand—particularly in noisy environments.

LE Audio and revamped connectivity; Auracast available with firmware update

Connectivity has been completely reconfigured in HearLink 50 so that the hearing aid features the latest Bluetooth^® LE Audio technology—making these devices Auracast-ready with a firmware update.

At HearingTracker, we're excited about the prospects of Auracast broadcast technology, which will revolutionize how people connect with PA systems and access audio from TVs, lecturers, places of worship, etc. Currently, we're hesitant to state that HearLink 9050 meets the exact definition of “Auracast-ready,” but, like Oticon Intent, it uses the latest LE Audio and LC3 codec—two of the major criteria for compatibility with this new technology. A spokesperson told us, “When ready, support for Auracast will be available through a firmware update” which essentially makes it "Auracast-ready."

The downside is almost no venues currently offer Auracast. But we think that should start to change in 2025 when more audio devices become Auracast-ready. For current utility, the hearing aid also has a built-in telecoil.

With the HearLink 50 and its new LE Audio capabilities, music, phone calls, and other audio are facilitated by better streaming links to Apple iOS, compatible Android devices, and Windows PCs. Hands-free calls can be made with both iOS and now Android phones with LE Audio.

Always make sure to check the compatibility of your phone with the hearing aid. Philips offers an easy-to-use compatibility guide.

One small limitation is that HearLink 50 hearing aids only allow for one active connection at a time. That is, while you can pair numerous compatible Bluetooth products, only one active connection is allowed. This isn't a problem for many people, but if you enjoy using multiple electronic devices or have more than one cell phone (work and home for example), this may be a bit frustrating. However, we'll note this isn't unusual for many hearing aids on the market.

Recharging and battery life

With HearLink 9050 (and Intent), Demant has moved in a different direction than its competitors, emphasizing faster recharging over extended (e.g., 24+ hours) use times. Based on average use patterns, you can place these hearing aids in the charger for only an hour, and they should give you a full day of use time. You'll get 4 hours of hearing with 15 minutes of recharging. A full charge of 2 hours gives you 24 hours of usage. This means if you forget to recharge the aids overnight, you can do so while you eat breakfast and get ready for the day.

The "premium" Charger Plus is now included with your purchase of the hearing aids; however, you can opt for the Standard Desktop Charger upon request. The main advantage of the premium portable charger is that it's smaller and allows for 3 hearing aid charging cycles before needing to be plugged in again. This makes it more useful when traveling, camping, or if you live in an area where power may be inconsistent (e.g., remote regions, places prone to hurricanes or violent storms, etc.).

AI-powered processing

Demant's descriptions of HearLink 9050's AI processing are opaque. Oticon was among the first to use an onboard chip with a Deep Neural Network (DNN) to drive its hearing aid's decision-making when it introduced Oticon More in late 2020. You can think of DNN as a mimic of a brain. In this case, Demant engineers fed hundreds of thousands of sound scenes into the DNN so the system learns to recognize the sound situation and adjust the hearing aids accordingly. Demant likely employs some level of DNN in HearLink 9050, but it may not be as powerful as that found in Intent.

For interested readers, the HearingTracker Hearing Aid Forum has an extensive discussion of AI and sensor-driven sound processing in relation to Oticon Intent and HearLink 50.

Using Philips HearLink 9050 hearing aids

Beyond the above technical highlights, you'll find a number of other useful features in the HearLink 9050.

For example, SoundProtect is a wind noise and transient noise reduction system introduced with HearLink 9040. While most hearing aids on the market have wind-noise and transient noise reduction, Philips says it has improved upon these types of noise reduction systems to maintain speech clarity while at the same time improving wearer comfort.

Generated to give you a heads-up to possible problems, HearLink's Notify Me voice alerts are just that: voice alerts generated by the hearing aid that let you know when the battery is getting low and should either be changed or recharged. The spoken alert is available in 9 languages, including English, Spanish, German, Chinese, and others.

Controls for HearLink 50

You can control the HearLink 50s using the onboard push button and tap controls or by using the HearLink 2 app on your smartphone. There is also a small remote control device that is sold separately as an accessory (see below) which is particularly useful for people who prefer not to use apps or who may have dexterity issues.

The push buttons allow you to increase or decrease the hearing aid's volume, change programs, and accept, reject, or end phone calls. Similarly, you can double-tap your ear or the hearing aid to accept or end calls, although our experience is that, while handy, hearing aid tap controls can take a little time to master. There are also options for your hearing provider to customize the button's functionality for ease of use.

It's important to note that using the HearLink 2 app is optional for those who don't like cell phones or apps; however, we strongly recommend that you install the app on your phone—even if it's just for the "Find My Hearing Aid" feature—in the event you ever lose or misplace your devices.

HearLink 2 app

Available for free from the Apple App Store^® and Google Play™, the HearLink 2 App turns your smartphone (or Apple Watch^®) into a remote control for your hearing aids. You can adjust volume, switch programs, check battery levels, and even locate lost devices. The app also includes a library of helpful resources for hearing aid orientation, use, care and maintenance, and troubleshooting.

HearLink 2 features a streaming equalizer for adjusting the frequency response of streamed audio, improving clarity and sound quality, especially for music. Since mid-2023, the app has offered a sound equalizer and a journal feature. The equalizer lets you fine-tune streamed audio (but not amplified listening/speech sounds), while the journal helps you and your provider set and track wearing goals.

The remote care feature lets you connect with your provider through video or audio chat for real-time hearing aid adjustments. To access this service, you’ll need an invitation from your provider, and in-person fitting is required for the initial setup. Remote care is convenient for those with transportation challenges or who prefer virtual appointments, but availability can vary between Costco stores.

The HearLink 2 app’s overall rating is currently 2.6 and 4.1 stars out of 5 on Google Play and the Apple App Store, respectively. It's not uncommon to find hearing aid apps with low ratings (2-3), as many users report issues related to connectivity and stability that are not always the fault of the hearing aid manufacturer (phone updates frequently don't account for hearing aid connectivity, causing problems). We're hoping the move to the new LE Audio gives a boost to the Android user ratings; the 4.1 rating for iOS devices is very good for a hearing aid app.

Philips HearLink 50 accessories

While not generally required, hearing aid accessories can significantly improve hearing enjoyment and satisfaction with the devices. Most of these accessories cost about $200.

AudioClip – This small clip-on remote microphone allows you to hear one-on-one conversations in noisy environments or listen to someone speak from a distance, such as a presenter or worship leader. The person speaking only needs to clip the device to a lapel or blouse and the microphones pick up their voice and transmit it directly to your hearing aids. The AudioClip can also double as a solution for providing hands-free calling for some otherwise non-compatible smartphones.

TV Adaptor – Provides a cleaner, direct signal from your TV to your hearing aids and allows others in the room to listen to the TV at their preferred level while you can adjust the volume independently. It even allows you to listen to the TV while the sound is completely muted for others in the room.

Remote Control – A simple but handy remote that allows you to change the volume or programs.

Should you buy Philips 9050 HearLink hearing aids at Costco?

The HearLink 9050 series is Demant's latest Philips-branded premium hearing aid, a miniRITE featuring advanced technology similar to what you'll probably find in the Oticon Intent and other quality Demant products. Given this and the fact that it's professionally fit and offered for about $1,500, we think this hearing aid is an exceptional value—even though some of the features from Intent may be missing.

Like other hearing aid brands at Costco, including Jabra Enhance Pro and Rexton, the HearLink 9050 offers premium technology at a competitive price. However, the warehouse dispensing model may not be ideal for everyone, especially if you have more severe hearing loss, need tinnitus treatment, or have more complex hearing needs. In these cases, we strongly recommend you see an audiologist who can perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation and can spend the necessary time to help you find the right hearing solution.

It's essential to consult with your hearing care professional to ensure the technology suits your hearing loss, symptoms, and lifestyle needs. Many options are available, so choose one that fits your specific requirements. We also offer the caveat that the hearing provider should adhere to best practices for you to get the optimal outcome with the hearing aids; as with any hearing care network, the staff's expertise and/or available time for your needs is crucial and can vary from location to location.

A note for our international readers

In the United States, Costco exclusively offers only the HearLink 9050 model, the "90" series being the highest-tech option in the Philips 50 series. Internationally, however, you may have access to lower-tier models like the 7050 and 5050.