Sennheiser Sonite Rise Review: Costco's Latest AI-Driven Hearing Aid

Quick Take

Sonite Rise, launched by Sennheiser in early 2026, is a professionally fitted, receiver-in-canal (RIC) prescription hearing aid sold exclusively through Costco Hearing Aid Centers. It is the successor to the earlier Sennheiser Sonite R, which marked Sonova’s return to Costco after a two-year absence. HearingTracker reported in October 2024 that Sonova—the parent company of Sennheiser, Phonak, and Unitron—had resumed supplying Costco with the Sonite R, and it had previously supplied the warehouse retailer with the Kirkland Signature 10.0 (KS10).

Our quick take: Sonite Rise looks like one of Costco’s most interesting current hearing aid offerings, largely because it combines familiar, tried-and-true Sonova hearing aid technology with hands-free Bluetooth calling, rechargeability, and automatic AI-driven sound and hearing-in-noise adjustments, all at an appealing Costco price of $1,600. This includes personalized fitting by a state-licensed hearing care professional, two premium rechargeable hearing aids, and a portable Charger Go that provides three additional full charges (prices can vary by state, and custom earmolds are sold separately).

Because the Sennheiser Sonite Rise is relatively new, the HearAdvisor lab and HearingTracker have not yet had the opportunity to formally test it. We hope to have an opportunity to do so in the future.

What Is Sennheiser Sonite Rise?

Sennheiser Sonite Rise is a rechargeable RIC hearing aid available exclusively through Costco—the second-largest distributor of hearing aids in the United States (the Veterans Administration is the largest). In a RIC hearing aid, the main electronic body sits behind the ear, while the receiver—or speaker—sits inside the ear canal, connected by a thin wire. RICs are the most popular hearing aid style (about 80% of the market) because they are relatively discreet while still offering room for features such as directional microphones, Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable batteries, physical controls, and multiple receiver power options to suit most types of hearing loss.

Sonite Rise checks most of the boxes consumers now expect from a premium Costco hearing aid: rechargeable power, Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calls, automatic sound classification, app control, tele-audiology remote support capabilities, some excellent wireless accessories, and a portable charging case. In practical terms, we think Sonite Rise is a close cousin but not identical to the Phonak Infinio Audéo R Ultra (“non-Sphere" version). If this is correct, it means Rise has exceptional hearing-in-noise capabilities but lacks the Deep Neural Network (DNN) capabilities enabled by Sphere’s DEEPSONIC chip. It is also slightly larger than some of its closest competitors.

Sennheiser highlights Sonite Rise’s “AI smart sound,” automatic adaptation, EasyGuard domes, 20-channels, and portable rechargeable power. It has built-in lithium-ion batteries that provide up to 31 hours of use and comes with the Charger Go, which provides 3 full charges on the go. It has four receiver options and a variety of domes, including EasyGuard, SlimTip, and cShell, so the device can be fitted with a range of acoustic couplings depending on hearing loss, ear anatomy, comfort, and feedback needs.

Sennheiser Sonite Rise Product Specs at-a-Glance

Style: Receiver-in-canal prescription hearing aid
Availability: Costco Hearing Aid Centers only
Price: Starting at $1,599.99 per pair at Costco (prices may vary by location)
Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Charger: Sonite Rise Charger Go with internal battery and 3 additional full charges
Charge time: Up to 3 hours for a full charge, with partial charging times of about 2 hours to 70%, 1 hour to 40%, and 15 minutes for a quick charge
Battery life: Sennheiser advertises up to 31 hours, while the technical datasheet lists 20 hours expected operating time depending on features, hearing loss, battery age, wireless use, and sound environment
Bluetooth: Compatible with iOS and Android. Pairs with up to 8 Bluetooth devices and connects with up to 2 devices at the same time
Hands-free calling: Supported through Bluetooth-enabled phones, with the hearing aid microphones picking up the user’s voice
App: Easy Line Remote app for volume, programs, speech focus, Find My Hearing Aids, and remote support (where available)
Controls: Multi-function button plus tap/touch control for selected functions
Durability: IP68 water and dust resistance (highest possible Ingress Protection rating for a hearing aid)
Fitting range: From mild losses to severe, with UP receiver, into the severe-profound range
Earpiece options: Domes, EasyGuard vented domes, SlimTip, and cShell (custom) options
Colors: Sand, Sandalwood, Silver Gray, and Velvet Black
Accessories: Easy Line TV Connector, Easy Line PartnerMic, Easy Line Remote Control, and Roger wireless microphone compatibility.

AI Sound Processing and Speech in Noise

The strongest selling point for Sonite Rise is that the hearing aid uses AI-driven automatic processing to adapt to the user’s listening environment without constant manual adjustments. The system was trained with more sound environments than the previous generation Sonite R and is designed to improve speech understanding in noise while maintaining sound quality.

Sonite Rise includes automatic programs for car, loud noise, music, comfort, noise, quiet, streamed speech plus microphone, and streamed music plus microphone. It also supports up to four additional programs, including car, loud noise, speech direct, noise, quiet, comfort, music, acoustic phone, and custom programs.

For speech-in-noise, Rise features directional microphones, Speech Manager, Speech Boost, Narrow Speech Focus 2.0, Dynamic Noise Manager, Motion Sense, Noise Manager, and Binaural Sync. In plain language, this means the hearing is designed to detect the listening environment, use directional microphone strategies when appropriate, reduce competing noise, and preserve access to speech from the front or other directions depending on the situation.

Rechargeability and Battery Life

Sonite Rise uses a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Sennheiser advertises “up to 31 hours” of hearing aid battery life, while the technical datasheet lists an expected operating time of 20 hours across receiver configurations. Fully charging the hearing aids takes 3 hours before first use, and if you’re using them and get a low-battery warning, it means you have about 60 minutes before the hearing aids need to be charged (though that timing can vary depending on settings).

The Charger Go is a strong, portable, practical feature of Sonite Rise. Instead of requiring users to plug in every night or carry only a basic desktop charger, the Charger Go includes an internal battery that provides 3 additional full charges when fully charged, making it helpful for travel, weekends away, or users who worry about forgetting to plug in at night.

Bluetooth, App, and Accessories

Sonite Rise offers a broad Bluetooth approach for both Android and Apple iOS devices (you can check your device on the compatibility page). Sennheiser says the hearing aids can pair with up to eight Bluetooth devices and stay connected to two at the same time—the same as all Sonova-made wireless hearing aids.

The Easy Line Remote app functions as the main smartphone control center. It can adjust volume, split left/right volume, mute the hearing aids, select programs, and modify settings such as equalizer presets, noise reduction, speech focus, and dynamic control when available. Sennheiser also lists Find My Hearing Aids and remote support through the app.

Accessory support is strong. Sonite Rise can be paired with the Easy Line TV Connector, Easy Line PartnerMic, and Easy Line Remote Control as compatible accessories. It also has TV Connector and Roger wireless microphone connectivity—both tremendously useful accessories. Please see the bottom of this page for more detailed information about Rise’s accessories.

Fit, Receivers, Domes, and Custom Earmolds

Sonite Rise is not a one-size-fits-all hearing aid. The S, M, P, and UP receiver options means fitting ranges that extend from mild losses through severe losses and, with the UP receiver, into moderate-to-profound ranges. We’ll caution, however, that many Costco hearing centers may not have a ton of time that might be required for those with more severe or complex hearing losses; if this is your case, you might want to consider a traditional audiology practice or clinic that has the time to give you more individualized care.

The earmold selection is also fairly broad. Product materials list EasyGuard vented domes, cap domes, open domes, vented domes, power domes, SlimTip options, and cShell options in acrylic or titanium. That range should allow Costco fitters to balance comfort, openness, feedback control, low-frequency sound quality, and high-frequency audibility.

For many first-time users with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, open or vented domes may feel more comfortable and natural. People with greater hearing loss, feedback problems, or a need for more low-frequency amplification may be better candidates for power domes, SlimTips, or cShells.

At HearingTracker, we’re big fans of custom-made earpieces that are made specifically for your ear canals. They usually come at an additional cost (around $150-$300/pair at most clinics, though prices vary widely and may be lower at Costco) and require extra fabrication time. However, we recommend asking your provider whether they’re right for you; in many cases, they can make a significant difference in comfort and acoustic quality.

Reviews of Sonite Rise from Real Users

Sonite Rise is fairly new, with Costco stores gradually rolling them out starting in 2025. Here are a few comments from real users in the HearingTracker Hearing Aid Forum:

From uburoibob (April 1, 2026):

“I just got my Sonite Rise at Costco in North Riverside, IL...I went for a hearing test, and six days later got my aids and fitting. It was past time for my hearing test and my audiogram changed just enough to really make a difference in my aids. But once wearing them, noticed other improvements—wind noise is now virtually non-existent, response to and recovery from time caused by loud impulses is more natural...The Bluetooth streaming works better than ever, but since I don’t like always having the notification sounds from my iPhone direct into my aids, I’ve disabled that. And I tweaked a music setting with no feedback rejection and an omni mic for when I play guitar, as the feedback rejection scheme thinks the purer tones of individual guitar notes are feedback and trills them. Shutting it off solves that problem. There are also many more parameters in the PROGRAM OPTIONS for controlling soft noise rejection and loud noise suppression, as well as speech focus, etc, that really let you get what you are looking for as a DIYer (if you are one), though I’d say if I just had to go with what the Costco tech did when fitting, I’d be happy (except I’d probably have to have gone back with a guitar in hand to tweak that special music setting). I retired a set of KS9s to be “spares”, but before I did, plugged new Audiogram into them and tweaked them in Target so they sound pretty much exactly like my new Sonite Rise aids but without the performance enhancements I’ve noted. The Sonite Rise were $1599 and I think it was money very well spent. Bottom line: two thumbs way up for the Sonite Rise aids AND my Costco tech.”

From liebenj (April 1, 2026):

“Plan to exchange my Sonite R for Rise next week at Costco! ...I've had the R’s for about 2 months. Only auto feature I’ve noticed is walking on a windy day, wind noise is reduced. Costco person relies too much on calling Sennheiser when I requested changes. Seems like the suboptions from Auto Premium setting are all defaulted, and really need some adjusting. Will give Costco 1 more chance to make things right with the Sonite Rise, or DIY. You are fortunate to have a good tech to work with!”

Who Should Consider Sonite Rise?

Sonite Rise may be a good fit for people who want a professionally fitted, rechargeable prescription hearing aid at Costco’s lower price point; users who want Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling with both iPhone and Android-style Bluetooth phones; people who prefer a portable charger with extra charges built in; and consumers who value the Sennheiser name but want the backing of Sonova hearing aid technology and Costco service.

It may be less ideal for people who specifically want Auracast or Bluetooth LE Audio, users who want extensive independent lab data before buying, people who need highly specialized audiology care outside the Costco model (e.g., tinnitus remediation or more complex hearing losses), or consumers who prefer a custom in-ear hearing solution rather than a behind-the-ear RIC.

Final Verdict

Sennheiser Sonite Rise appears to be a strong, value-oriented prescription hearing aid for Costco members. It combines a rechargeable RIC design, AI-driven automatic sound processing, Bluetooth streaming, hands-free phone calls, app control, EasyGuard dome options, accessory compatibility, and a portable Charger Go at a starting price of $1,600 per pair. 

We have not yet tested Sonite Rise in independent HearingTracker and HearAdvisor testing, but our best guess is that it would perform somewhere near the “non-Sphere” version of Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra, which also has excellent hearing-in-noise technology, a strong feature set, and great price positioning—if not yet a lab-verified top performer.