Best Hearing Aids Of 2025, According To Experts

During in-person focus group testing, the Elehear Beyond stood out for its ability to improve, clarify and amplify sounds across the experiences of three participants. In fact, all three testers rated the hearing aid a four out of five stars for overall sound quality of speech. Participants also appreciated the control center within the Elehear app, which provided a user-friendly experience. Meanwhile, in laboratory testing, the Elehear Beyond scored a 73 out of 100 for sound quality and a 74 out of 100 for speech intelligibility.

“Consumers appreciate the ease of setup with this device, rechargeability and volume controls that can be adjusted independently on [the] right and left ears. Additionally, the tinnitus maskers with this device are an added bonus. Overall, Elehear Beyond has an impressive number of controls for its price point.” Amy Sarow, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Elehear Beyond scored a 73 out of 100 in sound clarity based on laboratory data.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored 4.3 out of 5 based on focus group participant responses.
• Customization: Offers a personalized experience via the Elehear app, which focus group participants enjoyed (particularly the “speech focus” feature)
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 74 out of 100 based on laboratory testing results.
• Comfort Score: Rated 4.3 out of 5 based on participant feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participants

Three individuals tested the Elehear Beyond. Steven, a first-time hearing aid user, found the device easy to set up and comfortable to wear, as well as enhancing sound volume and clarity. Two other participants, Jim (a first-time hearing aid user) and Timothy (who currently uses hearing aids), agreed the device immediately improved sound. All three reviewers said they were able to insert the hearing aids into their ears without difficulty. They also appreciated the features within the app and the level of control allotted when adjusting the hearing aid’s settings.

“Better isolation features than the other OTCs I’ve tried.” – Timothy, 65, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

“[I] really like the all around or front-facing mode.” – Steven, 59, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

The device stands out for its self-fitting capability, meaning an audiologist may not need to adjust the aid for comfort and performance. Instead, users can set up and fit the device on their own time with the help of the Sennheiser Smart Control app.

“An affordable OTC hearing aid with excellent sound quality from a well-known brand. It is rechargeable and has Bluetooth streaming capabilities for both Androids and iPhones.” – Lindsey Banks, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: The Sennheiser All-Day Clear scored an 80 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Not scored due to Bluetooth connectivity malfunction during focus group.
• Customization: Unable to confirm customization features or capacity during focus group testing.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 78 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 3 out of 5, based on focus group participant feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

While our focus group participant, Steven, was unable to achieve a Bluetooth connection between the Sennheiser All-Day Clear and its accompanying app, he rated the hearing aid a 3 out of 5 for comfort, a 4 out of 5 for ease of set up, a 4 out of 5 for appearance and a 3 out of 5 for speech quality.

Our focus group participant found the Sony CRE-E10 easy to set up and insert into their ear, as well as fairly comfortable. Users can adjust volume control, sound balance and directionality of this self-fitting, OTC hearing aid—all from its accompanying app. Its features include wind noise reduction (which improves outdoor sounds), advanced acoustic processing, which provides for ease of listening, impact sound smoothing technology for sudden loud noises and more. It also boasts an impressive battery life of up to 26 hours.

• Sound Quality: Sony CRE-E10 scored a 73 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored 2 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Customization: Our focus group participant felt there was adequate “headroom” for additional amplification and found the “tone” setting to be useful
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 76 out of 100 based on laboratory testing data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 3 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Our reviewer of the Sony CRE-E10 hearing aids, Timothy, noticed an immediate improvement in speech and sound intelligibility and found the device setup to be simple. While he experienced a strange “flanging” or “chorus” effect while listening to music and pure tones, he found the hearing aid to be fairly comfortable and stayed in place well. In comparison to other hearing aids he’s used, the Sony CRE-E10 was more noticeable than his behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, but the experience was overall similar. Timothy added that while sounds were quite loud, and frequencies may have been amplified that shouldn’t have been, there was adequate “headroom” for additional amplification, if necessary. Though he experienced some minor connection difficulties initially, he found the tone setting to be useful and said all voices seemed to be amplified in a crowded room.

“Quite easy to insert. I like the shape of the dome/eartip. They seem to stay in place fairly well.” – Timothy, 65, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

During our focus group testing, our participant particularly appreciated the shape and feel of this hearing aid. Additionally, she rated the Zepp Clarity Pixie a 5 out of 5 for both comfort and appearance. However, the device produced high sound distortion, squealing and feedback in our focus group testing, so it may be best for you if comfort reigns supreme.

“A good invisible-ish OTC hearing aid.” – Abram Bailey, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Zepp Clarity Pixie scored a 70 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing
• Noise Reduction: Scored 1 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Customization: Our focus group participant found the app to be unintuitive and was unable to make adjustments.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 76 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 5 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Our single Zepp Clarity Pixie tester, Meredith, had some difficulty customizing this hearing aid. However, she appreciated its shape and ease of insertion. While she awarded the device five out of five for comfort, she experienced high sound distortion, squealing and feedback while testing the device, even when using it in a sound booth. These concerns made her unable to leave the hearing aids in her ears for any extended amount of time. She did not find the crowd setting to successfully isolate voices in a noisy room and felt it did not help with tinnitus.

“I like only the shape. The setup and audible feedback/distortion prohibited me from being able to leave them in.” – Meredith, 53, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

The Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio is one of just two prescription hearing aid picks on this list. In our extensive lab testing, this device scored an impressive 90 out of 100 for sound quality (which includes smoothness, internal noise and bandwidth) and 78 out of 100 for speech quality. This Phonak hearing aid can be a fit with hearing loss levels ranging from mild to profound, making it a versatile pick.

“Best for mild / moderate / severe / bluetooth / rechargeable / tinnitus. All around great hearing aids that are going to meet the needs of most people. ” – Abram Bailey, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio scored a 90 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction: Device not included in focus group testing as it requires a prescription.
• Customization: Offers a personalized experience via the myPhonak app, allowing users to personalize their hearing, adjust and create programs, find their hearing aids if lost and receive remote adjustments from experts when needed.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 78 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Device not included in focus group testing.

From Our Focus Group Participant

This product was not included in focus group testing as it is a prescription hearing aid.

In our focus group testing, our participant appreciated the music quality and app pairing abilities of the Lucid Engage. We chose this hearing aid due to its unique speaker-in-the-ear format, which gives the wearer high definition natural sound with greater clarity, and it comes at a price point that won’t break the bank. This product also comes with a one-year warranty.

“RIC style (most preferred style) hearing aid with good sound performance test results.” – Abram Bailey, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Lucid Engage scored a 73 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored a 1 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Customization: Our focus group participant appreciated being able to customize the amplification profile and was able to accurately toggle between streaming and ambiance.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 76 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 2 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Our tester for the Lucid Engage hearing aid, Margaret, was satisfied with how easy it was to insert the device. However, she found issues with the technicalities of the device. She found the feeling of the tips in the ears to be uncomfortable, saying her ear felt “full.” While she was comfortable using the accompanying app, she felt there weren’t enough ways to make adjustments and found customizing her amplification profile and toggling between streaming and ambience settings difficult. She also found the hearing aid did not isolate voices well in a crowded or noisy room.

“I don’t love them and probably wouldn’t spend much money on them. The gain I get in speech in multitalker babble is not worth the background noise. Music quality and app pairing was good. Lack of individualization to [the] hearing profile. [I] like that they are rechargeable, but I would want a battery option as well.” – Maggie, 38, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

Out of all of the hearing aids our focus group tested, the two participants who tried the Lexie B2 Plus were extremely satisfied with the sounds, noise reduction and overall feel of this hearing aid. Both testers felt it was their favorite or the best model they had tried. Plus, it scored well in sound quality, making this a well-rounded option.

“Has good sound quality, rechargeability, [Bluetooth] call streaming and an easy-to-use app with a self-fitting function.” – Lindsey Banks, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Lexie B2 Plus scored an 83 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction: Scored 4 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Customization: One of our focus group participants felt there were not enough options for adjustment in the app.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored a 70 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 4 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participants

Two of our focus group participants, Maggie and Steven, tested the Lexie B2 Plus hearing aids. Both individuals found the hearing aid comfortable; however, Maggie stated that the thin tips are not her personal preference. Both also claimed the Lexie was the best out of the hearing aids they had tried in spite of connectivity issues, either with Bluetooth syncing or connecting to an Apple device.

Meanwhile, Maggie was comfortable using the app, but she felt it didn’t have enough options for adjustment. She explained that she was unable to localize sound as well as she was able to with other hearing aids and couldn’t get the settings quite right for conversation in a noisy environment.

“Of the three I tried, these are my favorite. [They] just feel natural.” – Steven, 59, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

“I don’t like the tips but otherwise [these are] comfortable (I haven’t liked any of the thin tips with BTE so these aren’t standing out, I think this is just personal preference).” – Maggie, 38, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

With the purchase of the premium package, this hearing aid includes three years of follow-up care from the company’s audiology team and three years of remote adjustments based on your individual hearing needs. While our focus group participant was unable to connect to the Jabra Enhance Select 500, this hearing aid ranked highly for sound quality (90 out of 100) in our laboratory testing. It also comes with a strong battery life of up to 24 hours.

“This product is an excellent option for consumers with mild-to-moderate hearing loss looking for budget-friendly hearing aids.” – Amy Sarow, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member.

Dr. Sarow also recommends this specific model for “individuals who spend more time in dynamic listening environments (e.g., reverberant settings, noisy restaurants, etc.) and can afford the higher technology level.”

• Sound Quality: Jabra Enhance Select 500 scored a 90 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction: Unable to connect during focus group testing.
• Customization: Unable to verify during focus group testing due to connectivity issues.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 72 out of 100 based on lab data.
• Comfort Score: Unable to connect during focus group testing.

From Our Focus Group Participant

Focus group participants and facilitators were unable to successfully connect to Bluetooth, including with the help of an IT professional, for the 500 model.

Two of our focus group participants were pleased with the Jabra Enhance Select 300’s ability to boost their hearing, as well as sound intelligibility. They also found the product to be comfortable and enjoyed the level of adjustments available to customize within the app. 

“We’ve heard a lot of glowing reviews from Jabra Enhance Select users in their satisfaction with the technology and service they get from Jabra Enhance Select. The 300 is great for most people and what I would generally recommend, as it has advanced background support for noisy situations.” – Amy Sarow, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Jabra Enhance Select 300 scored a 90 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory data.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Scored 4 out of 5 based on focus group data.
• Customization: Our focus group participants found the app to be straightforward and easy to learn with sufficient adjustment settings.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored 72 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Rated 4 out of 5, based on user feedback specific to this model.

From Our Focus Group Participants

Two of our focus group participants, Timothy and Jim, tested the Jabra Enhance Select 300.

From the start, both testers noticed an improvement or boost in their ability to hear and appreciated the feel of the device in their ears. Timothy had no problem inserting the hearing aids, while Jim expressed that his first attempt felt “clumsy.” Timothy experienced a “chorus” effect when listening to pure tones or music, but Jim felt he was able to eliminate high-treble tinnyness. Both individuals were pleased with the accompanying app and found it to be easy to learn and straightforward, with the ability to make significant adjustments. Timothy felt that this hearing aid did not help with tinnitus besides the signal-to-noise ratio, while Jim felt it was more helpful, finding that more sound covered his tinnitus.

“The app is straightforward and easy to learn. There are sufficient adjustable settings.” – Timothy, 65, Bellingham, Washington,  Product Tester

“No tinnyness. Feel confident in eliminating high-treble tinnyness by using sound enhancing bar” – Jim, 55, Bellingham, Washington, Product Tester

The Oticon Intent is the second of two prescription hearing aid picks on this list. In our extensive laboratory testing, this hearing aid scored an impressive 97 out of 100 for sound quality and a 76 out of 100 for speech clarity. Users are able to stream from a variety of devices, opt for hands-free calling and use a one-stop shop accompanying app for adjusting hearing aids. The Oticon Intent uses BrainHearing technology driven by sensors and adapts based on what you want and need to hear in different settings.

“The feedback manager feature from Oticon is top notch.” – Lindsey Banks, Au.D., audiologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member

• Sound Quality: Oticon Intent scored a 97 out of 100 in sound clarity, according to laboratory testing.
• Noise Reduction Performance: Not included in focus group testing as this is a prescription hearing aid.
• Customization: Accompanying app not tested during focus group.
• Speech Clarity in Loud Environments: Scored a 76 out of 100 based on laboratory data.
• Comfort Score: Not included in focus group testing.

From Our Focus Group Participant

This product was not included in focus group testing as a prescription is needed for this hearing aid.