Last Updated on January 22, 2021 by Husain Parvez
The best iPhone hearing aid can help you streamline work and productivity, but also improve the quality of your life. Here’s everything you need to know about Made for iPhone hearing devices and the best hearing aids you can get right now.
Human innovation has always stemmed from the need to make life simpler not just for surviving, but for thriving. The very foundation of technology, whether it was the light bulb by Thomas Edison or the Apple iPhone by Steve Jobs, had the ultimate intention to improve the quality of life of its users.
In a world where the differently-abled exist besides the common population, it is important that the playing is level for everyone, with equal opportunity. For instance, an estimated 460+ million people in the world live every day with some form of hearing loss or deafness.
Over the years, improvements in medical science, and awareness has helped fade out the stigma around hearing disabilities.
The very purpose of hearing aids has been to give the differently-abled a better chance at the lifestyle most of us take for granted. Fortunately, personalized technology is at a stage, where even mobile phones can now be effortlessly used by people with hearing disabilities, with the help of Accessibility features. Combining the best of wireless technology and medical advancements, Bluetooth has helped pave way for the best iPhone hearing aid devices.
Best iPhone Hearing Aid Buying Guide
All the way back in 2007, Apple released a slew of Accessibility features alongside iOS 7, to make the iPhone more accessible to the hearing impaired.
Apple spearheaded the “Make for iPhone hearing aid” program, working alongside Bluetooth-enabled hearing aid manufacturers to seamlessly connect the listening devices to iOS. Apart from offering direct hearing, these smart hearing aids can be customized to the last inch with the Accessibility menu.
There are plenty of high-quality hearing aids for iPhone available in the market today, and we’ve boiled it down to the cream of the crop for you to pick from.
Best Made for iPhone Hearing Aids of 2021
EARGO Neo Hearing Aid (Best Overall Earing Aid for iPhone)
For as long as hearing aids have been around, the rather obnoxious design that is easily visible to everyone around has made them unappealing. Borrowing state of the art design from the latest set of TWS earbuds, enhanced even further with comfort and functionality, the EARGO Neo is the next generation of hearing aids.
Battery: Based on the manufacturer’s test, the EARGO Neo can last up to 7 days without needing to be charged up. The hearing aid case doubles up as a wireless charger, allowing you to fully charge the earbuds in 6 hours, so it is recommended to leave the hearing aids charging overnight.
Connectivity: EARGO Neo is a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) device that maximizes battery life while offering you wireless connectivity with mobile phones and other smart devices. The hearing aid comes with a companion app that not only allows you to toggle through different sound settings but also uses the cloud and app connectivity to enjoy a personalized listening experience.
Design: Focusing deeply on the visual aesthetics suited best for the hearing aid of modern humans, the EARGO Neo offers a “barely there” look. The Flexi Palms design allows for easy airflow even with the hearing aid placed inside firmly, while the stainless-steel finish of the hearing aids makes it durable, and well-shaped for in-ear fitting too.
Controls: Since the EARGO Neo hearing ads are completely wireless and rechargeable, there aren’t any buttons present on the device whatsoever. The missing physical controls for fine-tuning is replaced with the iOS and Android companion app, simplifying the usage.
Phonak Marvel Audeo M50-312 (Our Pick iPhone Hearing Aid)
An established brand in the world of hearing aids, Phonak Marvel Audeo is among the best iPhone hearing aids you can find. Following the tried and tested principles of design and quality, with the addition of software-based features, the Phonak Marvel Audeo M50-312 Bluetooth hearing aids are a budget buy worth looking into.
Battery: Similar to all of the previous Phonak Marvel models, the M50-312 also comes equipped with the disposable 312 battery. With a standard battery life of 100+ hours, a single cell can last for days and weeks, and the replacement is made easy too.
Connectivity: A prize-winning feature of the Phonak Marvel Audeo M50-312 is the AujtoSense 3.0 equalizer, which allows the hearing device to automatically adapt to the surrounding environment. The myPhonak app for Android and iOS allows remotely adjusting the parameters for better listening, while a slew of optional accessories increases the scope of connectivity too.
Design: The inspiration behind the Phonak Marvel Audeo is not to make the hearing aid invisible, but rather make the contraption seem attractive. The soft gold color scheme, along with a discrete design that suitably hides behind the ear, along with the transparent earbud connector.
Controls: Although the Phonak Marvel Audeo M50-312 offers complete wireless support, the hearing aid comes with a physical push-button on the back. This allows you to quickly toggle through the different hearing settings of the device with the push of a button, and make finer adjustments using the mobile app.
Oticon Opn S (Best Features Hearing Aid)
Coming from one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers in the world, the Oticon Opn S is an old-timer in the business. The Oticon Ops S is everything but old in that aspect, packing a set of modern wireless hearing aids for iPhone Android.
Battery: Unlike most standard wireless hearing aids, the Oticon Opn S does not opt for a disposable 312 battery pack. The more premium models of the do offer a rechargeable one, the Opn S manages to give you around 120 hours of usage time on a single charge before needing to be juiced up.
Connectivity: The Oticon Opn S is the mid-range device among its offerings, but it does not hold back on features such as BrainHearing for better sound processing, OpenSound Optimizer to improve the quality of incoming sound based on the listening environment, and Speech Rescue LX that manages hearing frequency based on the individual’s hearing disability.
Design: The slim chassis of the Oticon Opn S comes in multiple color schemes for you to choose from, with a curved hook for a comfort fit. The earbuds are specially engineered with smooth and irritation-free silicone for prolonged wearing while giving the ear canal room to breathe.
Controls: The app support, along with a slew of connectivity features takes care of most of the personalization required. However, there is still a physical button to channel through default sound profiles with just a click.
Signia Pure 312 1NX (Best MFi Hearing Aid)
A pioneer in the world of hearing equipment, the Signia Pure 312 1NX is among the best iPhone head aid that is officially made for Apple. From the ability to work without old-timely batteries, to a completely wireless audio profile settings, you get the best of a modern hearing aid.
Battery: The Signia Pure 312 1NX uses 312 removable batteries, but you can also go for a lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, depending on the model you pick. Being a Bluetooth Low Energy device, expect weeks of running time from a single battery cycle.
Connectivity: The Signia 1NX hearing aids is officially a Made-for-iPhone device that not only receives direct support on iOS but is extended to Android as well, although you might need the Signia StreamLine Mic accessory to use it, while the OVP (Own Voice Processing) adds a natural-sounding element to it.
Design: Signia follows a standard design across most of its hearing aid devices, and the same discreet design style for the 1NX model too. Available in multiple color schemes to choose from, the silicone-tipped earbuds are designed to keep it all firmly in place.
Controls: Following in the footsteps of most of the Bluetooth hearing aids for iPhone, the Signia Pure 312 1NX also comes with wireless controls when it comes to audio tuning. However, there is still a physical push-button on the back of the hearing aid for quick audio profile access.
Best Affordable Bluetooth Hearing Aids
Soundtastic Aria Bluetooth Hearing Amplifier (Budget Hearing Aid for Mobile)
Claiming to offer the same quality of hearing enhancement and audio quality when using mobile phones as the uber premium brands, here comes Soundtastic Aria. Supported with a channel-compression processor and Bluetooth connectivity, this hearing aid for iPhone brings a range of features at a low price.
Battery: Although you get a carrying case with the Aria hearing aid for iPhone, it comes with a standard non-rechargeable battery. Offering a mileage of around 150+ hours from a single charge, you get a battery removal tool with it for ease of use.
Connectivity: Apart from direct connectivity with mobile devices using Bluetooth, the Aria Connect mobile app makes it easier to create sound profiles suited to your unique ears. 4 different program modes suited for different types of hearing disabilities, allow picking up ambient sounds and reduce background noise.
Design: Available in the classic beige and silver color schemes to choose from, the standard design makes for a comfortable fit. Despite the lower price in comparison to others on the list, the Soundtastic Aria offers a premium build quality and snug fit.
Controls: A physical button on the hearing aid, along with the mobile app, allows you to toggle through the 4 situational settings.
EarSpoke Hearing Amplifier (Best Cheap Bluetooth Hearing Aid)
It almost seems criminal that hearing aids can cost upwards of $2000 for providing people with something that we take for granted. EarSpoke Bluetooth hearing aids make it a little easier with an affordable price tag, and while the price is for a single piece, it is affordable enough for you to afford two.
Battery: Using the size 13 battery, there is no rechargeable batteries or case provided. Depending on your usage style, the battery should last over a week of daily usage. A 6-pack battery case is included with the purchase.
Connectivity: The low-powered Bluetooth device offers direct connectivity to mobile devices, along with a mobile app too. Features such as advanced noise reduction, a wide range expression for dynamic sounds, and digital expansion mull out the low-level audio interferences.
Design: The standard design of the hearing aids is nothing inspirational and is available only in beige color. The earbuds have a conical funnel design that is comfortable to wear and stays firmly in place at all times.
Controls: Apart from the mobile app that allows you to entirely customize the audio experience, there’s a physical button to switch between 4 different audio modes such as TV viewing, indoors, outdoors, etc.
Sound World Solutions CS50+ Sound Amplifier (Budget iPhone Hearing Aid)
If you’re not bothered by the physical appearance of the hearing aid, especially if it increases the quality of hearing relatively, the Sound World Solutions CS50+ hearing aid is the one to pick. You get wireless connectivity with mobile devices, digital signal processing for better audio management, and surreal comfort while wearing.
Battery: A feature found mostly among premium hearing aid devices, the CS50+ hearing aid comes with a rechargeable battery. The charging cradle provided along with the device allows you to top it up for a charge of 12 hours per cycle.
Connectivity: Running a chipset with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, you can directly use the hearing aid with iPhone and Android. However, the presence of a dedicated mobile app allows you to tinker with the audio profiles, managing frequencies better, and cancel out the background noise.
Design: Apart from the BTE (behind the ear) module of the hearing aid, an extended sound amplifier fits right over the ear itself. The slim sound amplifier comes with three different sizes of earbuds, for a custom-tailored fit.
Controls: The secondary earpiece module of the Sound World Solutions iPhone hearing aid comes with a dedicated button. This allows you to switch between preset default settings for entertainment, every day, and restaurant modes. The mobile app allows further customizations and finetuning the preset channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to turn AirPods into hearing aids for iPhone?
Apple has been committed to making all of its devices accessible to those living with disabilities, and the AirPods is a part of this movement. A lesser-known feature of the AirPods is that it can be used as a hearing aid, and while it may not be a viable replacement for the real hearing aids, but it can certainly help older users or those who have a partial hearing disability.
- Open the Settings app and find the Control Center by scrolling down.
- Tap on Customize Controls and add the Hearing button to the menu.
- Now when you have the AirPods connected to the iPhone swipe up to launch the Control Center on the screen.
- Tap on the Hearing icon and select Live Listen under the AirPods you see on the screen.
The Live Listen option will amplify the ambient noise, allowing for improved hearing, especially in a loud environment.
What is Made for iPhone hearing devices?
In an attempt to make Apple devices more accessible to people with a hearing disability, Apple partnered up with hearing aid manufacturers to create Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids. Similar to how MFi Lightning power cables are authorized to work with iOS devices, these Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids connect with your iPhone and relay sounds directly to it. Once you’ve successfully paired the hearing aid devices to the iPhone via Bluetooth, enabling Hearing Aid Compatibility allows you significantly improve the sound quality of the hearing aids when using iPhone for phone calls, media streaming, and more.
Which is the cheapest best iPhone hearing aid available?
Most of the MFi hearing aids you find in the market are marked at a premium price, but we did find an exception in the form of the Embrace X-920 hearing aid. Offered as a mobile-first hearing aid powered for two-way Bluetooth communication, the Embrace X-920 is designed for an easy pairing that works towards noise reduction. You can pick a rechargeable battery or get the size 312 disposable battery for the hearing aid, which is ergonomic, slim, and packed with a smooth design to fit comfortably behind your ear. Apart from support from iOS and Android in the Accessibility menu, there’s the dedicated mobile app that helps you fine-tune the hearing aid.
How to pair hearing aids with your iPhone?
Before you can start using the Hearing Aid Compatibility feature on the iPhone, you will need to connect the Bluetooth hearing aids to it first.
- Head to the Settings and turn on the Bluetooth toggle on your iPhone.
- Insert the batteries into your hearing aid and turn it on for pairing.
- Navigate to Settings – Accessibility – Hearing and choose Hearing Devices from the menu.
- Look for the name of your hearing aid under the MFi Hearing Devices menu screen.
- Once you see the pairing request on the screen, press the Pair button to continue.
Now that the iPhone hearing aid is connected to the smartphone, you can start using it right away. Apart from the hearing aids, you will also be able to see the battery percentage of both the hearing aid pieces on the iPhone screen itself.
Final Words
The iPhone is not just a well-rounded communication device for texting, phone, and video calls, but a powerhouse of features. Being able to enjoy movies and TV shows on the iPhone with subtitles, enjoying the connected experience of social media, and even making personal and work conversations with ease, the modern era of Bluetooth enabled hearing aids is reshaping the world for the differently-abled as we know it. Most of the best iPhone hearing aid devices we have listed above are offered with software support from the manufacturer. Brands such as Signia, ReSound, and others, come with their very own iOS app, allowing you to finetune the hardware for a personalized approach.
Which of the best hearing aids for iPhone do you think would make any hearing-impaired person’s life much simpler? Do let us know which one’s your favorite and why, in the comments section down below.
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