Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids: Technology, Costs, and Various Models

5 Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids

• Jabra Enhance Select 200: Editor’s Pick
• MDHearing VOLT MAX: Most Affordable
• Audicus Omni: Best for Ongoing Care
• Starkey Evolv AI: Best In-the-Canal Bluetooth Hearing Aid
• Oticon More: Most Advanced

Bluetooth Capability in Hearing Aids

All Bluetooth hearing aids connect to Bluetooth-enabled electronic devices but vary in what capabilities they have once they’re paired with devices. Basic Bluetooth connectivity hearing aids connect to smartphones and have an app that lets you use your phone as a remote control to adjust your hearing aids. These basic Bluetooth connectivity hearing aids may also allow your audiologist or hearing professional to remotely program your hearing aids, a benefit particularly suited for older adults if they have difficulty getting to in-person appointments. 

Bluetooth hearing aids that have audio streaming directly play audio into your hearing aids from your smartphone, tablet, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices so you can better hear phone calls and other audio from your phone, TV, and computer and tailor volume to your hearing preferences without making audio too loud for other people listening to the same device. 

Although not all Bluetooth hearing aids have all these capabilities, here are some things you can do with Bluetooth hearing aids that you can’t do with more traditional hearing aids:

• Take phone and video calls directly through your hearing aids. You can accept calls directly to your hearing aids when connected to your smartphone, allowing you to hear more clearly than you could when holding the phone up to your ear. Some hearing aids with Bluetooth have built-in microphones for bidirectional streaming that lets you take hands-free calls. With hands-free calling, your hearing aids’ microphone will transmit your voice to your phone, so you can talk on the phone without holding it.
• Listen to TV and music directly through your hearing aids when you pair them with TV or music devices through the use of a streamer, which is an accessory you’ll have to buy separately.
• Adjust hearing aid audio settings through smartphone apps. Bluetooth hearing aids come with a smartphone app that turns your smartphone into a remote control for your hearing aids. Apps let you adjust volume and other sound settings to tailor your hearing aids to different listening environments.
• Remotely visit your audiologist for hearing aid programming. According to our AgingInPlace.org 1,000-respondent hearing aid survey, more than 40% of hearing aid users still go in person to an audiologist for hearing aid adjustments. Bluetooth hearing aids give people more flexibility and access to care with a remote programming option that allows you to get hearing aid updates from your audiologist without even having to leave your house.
• Connect to a mic to further enhance speech clarity. Bluetooth hearing aid manufacturers may sell a compatible external mic that you can place on a table or hand to a friend to make speech even clearer when people speak into it.

Consider This Before Buying a Bluetooth Hearing Aid

Besides having different capabilities, individual Bluetooth hearing aid models also differ by which devices they’re compatible with. Although the Bluetooth hearing aids we reviewed connect to both Apple and Android devices, these devices must have a fairly new operating system to be compatible with the hearing aids, and Android devices require streamers for the hands-free calling Bluetooth feature. The same hearing aid model will also have different compatibility for different functions—it may require a newer device or operating system for direct streaming than it does for using its smartphone app. Hearing aid manufacturers usually list smartphone compatibility for each Bluetooth hearing aid model on their website. If you want Bluetooth hearing aids for audio streaming from devices other than your phone or tablet, you’ll need to invest in accessories known as streamers. Since Bluetooth drains hearing aid battery life, you’ll also want to consider how often you’ll use audio streaming and if the hearing aid has a long enough battery life based on your projected use.

Made-for-iPhone (MFi) Hearing Aids

Hearing aids with made-for-iPhone (MFi) protocols have audio streaming and hands-free calling features with Apple devices. For a list of MFi-compatible hearing aids, check out Apple’s support page.

Android-Compatible Hearing Aids

Hearing aids compatible with Android devices for audio streaming will use the Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) protocol. Android compatibility was introduced to the market later than Apple compatibility. The Bluetooth hearing aids with streaming capabilities that we reviewed can directly stream audio from Android devices, but those capable of hands-free calling with Android require a streamer.

Universal Bluetooth streaming

Hearing aids with universal Bluetooth streaming are able to connect to and stream from both Android and Apple devices. This is true for the Bluetooth hearing aids we reviewed.

Direct vs. accessory-supported Bluetooth streaming

Bluetooth hearing aids are directly able to stream audio from compatible smartphones and tablets. However, if you want to connect Bluetooth hearing aids to an incompatible device for audio streaming, like MFi hearing aids to an Android device, or to a device other than a smartphone or tablet, you can still pair them with a hearing aid streamer.

One of the most frequently purchased hearing aid accessories, streamers plug into the device you want your hearing aids to stream audio from. Major hearing aid manufacturers produce streamers that are compatible with their Bluetooth-streaming hearing aids. It should be noted that different streamers must be purchased for different functions. Usually, a TV streamer will support streaming audio from a TV, stereo, or computer. Most TV streamers can connect to several pairs of hearing aids at a time, so you can watch TV with other hearing aid users with TV audio streaming directly into all hearing aids. For hands-free calling with Android devices, you’ll have to purchase a phone streamer. Other common streamers hearing aid manufacturers offer are mic streamers, which you would use if you want to directly stream conversation from public venues or one-on-one conversation into your hearing aids. They also offer remote control streamers that let you change your hearing aids’ sound settings if you don’t want to use a smartphone app. Some manufacturers will roll multiple functions into one streamer.  

Simultaneous connections

Bluetooth hearing aids capable of audio streaming usually are able to pair with multiple devices, although they can’t be connected to more than one at a time. Others support simultaneous connections, which means they can connect to two devices at a time and switch between them as needed. For instance, if your hearing aids are connected to your phone and your TV and you get a call while watching a movie, you can switch from streaming from the TV to streaming from the phone by pressing a button on your hearing aid. When switching between tablets and smartphones with the same operating system (Apple to Apple, Android to Android), Bluetooth hearing aids will automatically switch between devices when one is paused and the other is played. When switching between Android and Apple devices, it’s easiest to turn off the device you don’t want to connect to. Then, you’ll be able to connect to the device you do want to use.

Battery life

Bluetooth hearing aids can use up their batteries quickly when streaming is used frequently, and battery life varies quite a bit between different brands. Our medical reviewer, Rachel Magann Faivre, Au.D., told us that hearing aids that treat more severe hearing loss also have their battery drained faster. However, she explained that this isn’t usually an issue with hearing aid brands that offer a battery life longer than a day’s worth. An average battery life for Bluetooth hearing aids is around 24 hours. Of the Bluetooth models we reviewed, some hearing aids have a battery life of 30 hours, while others have only 15 hours. The more you anticipate using Bluetooth audio streaming, the more likely you’ll want a hearing aid with a longer battery life. Some Bluetooth hearing aid models come with a rechargeable or disposable battery option. You’ll want to decide if you’re more comfortable with recharging your hearing aids or buying new batteries more often.

Hearing aid size

Aside from one model we reviewed, most Bluetooth-streaming hearing aids do not offer the discreet invisible hearing aid style because Bluetooth technology limits them to a certain minimum size. If your main priority is a hearing aid with an invisible style, you may find more affordable options outside of Bluetooth-streaming hearing aids.

Your comfort level with technology

Although Bluetooth hearing aids can be used without a smartphone, such as if you plan to only use them to stream audio from your TV, these hearing aids can require you to use more technology than other more traditional hearing aids. For this reason, they’re best suited for people who are comfortable using smartphone apps and being in direct control of their hearing aid settings. If you get easily frustrated with technology or aren’t interested in direct audio streaming through hearing aids, Bluetooth hearing aids may not be your best option.

How We Research and Test Bluetooth Hearing Aids

Our experts research and recommend products that can help give you a better quality of life. Using our high standards and rigorous testing methodology, we’ve spent more than 4,000 hours, collectively, researching the best Bluetooth hearing aids to help you find the best device for you. Throughout our research process, we did the following:

• Consulted with audiologists and geriatric care experts
• Mystery shopped the brands
• Surveyed hundreds of hearing aid users
• Tested various models of hearing aids
• Interviewed experts in the field
• Read thousands of verified customer reviews

When we tested Bluetooth hearing aids, we looked at Bluetooth capabilities, device compatibility, ease of app use, app quality, connectivity speed between hearing aids and smartphones, and hearing aid pricing and warranties to pick good matches for older adults of differing tech savvy.

Read about our full methodology for how we rate hearing aids.

Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids

Bluetooth Hearing Aid Costs

Bluetooth hearing aid costs vary depending on Bluetooth capabilities, the hearing aids’ sound technology, and whether they’re prescription hearing aids you purchase at a hearing clinic or direct-to-consumer hearing aids you purchase online. Bluetooth hearing aids in our review ranged from $1,000-$7,500 per pair. Prescription hearing aids sold through hearing clinics typically cost more than online direct-to-consumer brands because prescription hearing aids are custom fit, treat more severe hearing loss, and require appointments with health care professionals.

Generally, the least expensive models have fewer features than the more expensive ones. Like audiologist Faivre told us, the more varied your listening environments, the more likely you’ll want hearing aids with better sound technology.

The Bluetooth hearing aid brands we reviewed have financing available. Jabra Enhance uses Bread Financial, MDHearing and Audicus use Affirm, and Starkey and Oticon can be financed through the hearing clinics they’re sold at.

Audicus offers the option to rent its hearing aids with a monthly fee through its Audicus Plus membership program. Monthly fees vary by hearing aid model.

Bluetooth Hearing Aid Advancements

Bluetooth technology is always changing. Bluetooth LE Audio, a type of Bluetooth that uses less battery power and allows for simultaneous streaming, is set to be incorporated into hearing aids and other Bluetooth-enabled products in the near future. Bluetooth LE Audio’s broadcast technology, known as Auracast Broadcast Audio, will allow audio sources to simultaneously stream to an unlimited number of audio devices in public venues. Plans are for Auracast Broadcast Audio to bring Bluetooth technology to assistive listening systems (ALS) in public venues for better sound quality at lower costs compared to the current ALS technologies of telecoil and inductive loops.