Starkey Omega AI 16 Hearing Aids Product Highlights
Fitting Styles: RIC, ITE, ITC, CIC
Warranty: 5 years
Charger: Rechargeable an additional £100 per aid
What's included in our hearing aid prices?
Details & Features
Overview of Starkey Omega AI 16 hearing aids
The Starkey Omega AI 16 is the entry-level intelligent model in the Omega AI series, and whilst it might be the most affordable in the range, it's far from basic. Providing reliable AI-driven sound and essential connectivity features at a more accessible level. Powered by the G3 Neuro Processor and DNN 360 directionality, it delivers clear speech, reduced background noise, and everyday comfort.
Ideal for day-to-day life in the UK — from chatting in cafés to watching TV at home — the Omega AI 16 gives users intelligent hearing with ease of use and affordability. If you've been hesitant about the cost of premium hearing aids but still want smart technology that actually works, this could be exactly what you need.
Key features: DNN 360 – Smart 360° Sound
The Omega AI 16 features DNN 360, Starkey’s deep-neural-network system that analyses sounds from all directions to distinguish speech from background noise. While it operates with fewer customisable algorithms than the AI 20 or AI 24, it still provides significant improvements in speech clarity, especially in everyday listening environments.
Testing shows up to 20% improvement in speech intelligibility in noisy settings, making conversations easier to follow in social situations. This isn't just technical jargon - in practical terms, it means you'll find yourself asking "pardon?" far less often when you're out at the shops or having a catch-up with friends over coffee.
Focused listening with Edge Mode
For louder or more complex environments — such as restaurants, meetings, or public events — Edge Mode can be activated via the app or device button. This feature prioritises speech and reduces distractions, offering a simpler, user-friendly solution for focused listening.
Think of Edge Mode as your secret weapon for those moments when the world gets a bit too noisy. One tap on your phone or hearing aid, and suddenly that busy pub or family gathering becomes much more manageable. It's the sort of feature you don't think you need until you've got it - then you wonder how you managed without it.
Reliable battery life
The rechargeable RIC RT model delivers up to 45 hours of use, including streaming, while the mini RIC R model lasts around 26 hours. This is genuinely impressive - you can wear these aids all day, stream your favourite podcast on the way home, and still have power to spare. The G3 processor optimises power efficiency, and both rechargeable models support fast-charge functionality for short top-ups when needed.
Omega AI 16 also uses Starkey lithium-ion cells, capable of over 1,000 full charge cycles, ensuring long-term reliability. For people with busy lifestyles who can't be bothered with the faff of changing batteries every week, this makes a real difference.
Durable, everyday design
Rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, the Omega AI 16 is built to withstand everyday life. Durable resin shells and improved coatings help protect against moisture and impact, while LED indicators provide power, Bluetooth connectivity, and “Find My Hearing Aid” functionality.
This might not sound particularly exciting until you've lost a hearing aid down the back of the sofa - then you'll really appreciate that locator feature. Ergonomic microphones reduce wind noise outdoors, and updated venting ensures a comfortable, natural listening experience throughout the day.
You won't get that blocked-up sensation that can make cheaper hearing aids feel like you're hearing the world from inside a tunnel.
Smart connectivity
The Omega AI 16 supports Bluetooth Low Energy Audio for streaming music, TV, or phone calls, and is Auracast-ready for compatible devices. Some models include a telecoil for UK induction-loop systems in public spaces. If you've ever struggled to hear announcements at the train station or found yourself avoiding phone calls because they're too difficult, the connectivity on these aids genuinely changes things.
The My Starkey app allows for remote fine-tuning, virtual care support, and access to the TeleHear Gen AI Assistant, giving guidance for troubleshooting or settings adjustments.
Rather than making an appointment every time you want a small adjustment, you can often sort things out yourself through the app - which is frankly how all hearing aids should work.
Health & wellness features
While more limited than the AI 20 and AI 24, the Omega AI 16 still offers motion and balance tracking, along with step-count monitoring via the My Starkey app. It provides a practical wellness companion, supporting safe and active everyday living.
It's not trying to replace your fitness tracker, but it's nice to know your hearing aids are keeping an eye on your general wellbeing whilst they're improving your hearing.
Accessories & expandability
Compatible with Starkey StarLink accessories, including the Remote Microphone, Table Microphone, and TV Streamer, for improved performance in challenging listening situations. The StarLink Charger+ offers on-the-go recharging and moisture protection, ideal for travel or active lifestyles.
These accessories aren't essential to start with, but they're there if you find yourself in specific situations where you need extra help - and it's reassuring to know the option exists.
Who is it for?
The Omega AI 16 is perfect for those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss seeking an affordable entry point into the intelligent hearing aid range. It suits users who want:
- Clear speech in everyday environments
- Rechargeable options with dependable battery life
- Bluetooth streaming for calls, music, and TV
- Basic wellness tracking features
- Comfortable, discreet hearing aids for daily use
This hearing aid is ideal for people who've been putting off getting hearing aids because of cost concerns or those who've found premium models intimidatingly complex. If you want smart technology that just works without requiring you to be a tech expert, the Omega AI 16 delivers exactly that.
Technical highlights
- Technology level 16 (Advanced)
- Processor: G3 Neuro Processor with DNN 360
- Directionality: Deep-Neural-Network powered, 360° input
- Battery life: Up to 45 hours (RIC RT) / ~26 hours (mini RIC R)
- Water/Dust resistance: IP68
- Connectivity: Bluetooth LE Audio, Auracast-ready
- Telecoil: Available on selected models
- Wellness features: Motion & balance tracking, step count
Model styles & colours
Omega AI 16 is available in a variety of Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) and custom in-ear styles, with multiple colours to suit your preference:
- RIC RT (Receiver-in-Canal): Waterproof, wireless, rechargeable, LED status indicator light. Available in colours: Silver, white, beige, caramel, graphite grey, chestnut, and tech black.
- mRIC R (Small RIC model): Waterproof, wireless, rechargeable, LED status indicator light. Available in colours: Silver, white, beige, caramel, graphite grey, chestnut, and tech black.
- RIC 312 (Traditional battery model): Waterproof, wireless, LED status indicator light. Available in colours: Silver, white, beige, caramel, graphite grey, chestnut, and tech black.
- ITE R: Waterproof, wireless, LED status indicator light. Available in colours: Black, chestnut, dark brown, medium brown, light brown, and pink.
- ITC R: Waterproof, wireless, LED status indicator light. Available in colours: Black, chestnut, dark brown, medium brown, light brown, and pink. Plus, shell colours: Clear, light brown, pink, blue/red, and black.
- CIC: Waterproof, wireless, LED status indicator light. Available in colours: Black, chestnut, dark brown, medium brown, light brown, and pink. Plus, shell colours: Clear, light brown, pink, blue/red, and black.
Why choose Omega AI 16?
The Omega AI 16 offers a cost-effective introduction to intelligent hearing, giving AI-driven sound processing, reliable battery life, and connectivity features without the higher price of the AI 20 or AI 24. It’s ideal for everyday users who want simplicity, comfort, and enhanced clarity in their daily conversations.
For people who've been frustrated by basic hearing aids that don't quite do enough but aren't ready to pay premium prices, this hits a sweet spot of capability and affordability.
Summary
The Starkey Omega AI 16 provides intelligent hearing at an entry-level price, combining clear speech, durable design, and essential wellness and connectivity features. For UK users seeking an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use hearing aid, the Omega AI 16 is a practical choice. It's proof that you don't need to spend thousands to get genuinely smart hearing aid technology - sometimes the sensible option is also the right option.
Other performance levels in the hearing aid range:
►Starkey Omega AI 24 hearing aids
►Starkey Omega AI 20 hearing aids
Want to know more about Starkey Omega AI 16?
Whether you are looking to upgrade or are new to hearing aids, discover our Starkey Omega AI hearing aids range page here or call us free on 0800 567 7621 to chat about these digital hearing aids, what they can do for your hearing loss, and whether they are the right hearing aids for you.
Please note that there will be an additional surcharge of £125 if we are pairing a single hearing aid with an existing aid bought from another company, where we are taking over the aftercare responsibilities and looking after both hearing aids.
Starkey Omega AI 16 Hearing Aids Information
Click on the buttons below to discover more
Fitting Styles: RIC, ITE, ITC, CIC
Warranty: 5 years
Charger: Rechargeable an additional £100 per aid
Fitting Styles: RIC, ITE, CIC, ITC
Warranty: 5 years
Charger: Rechargeable an additional £100 per aid
Fitting Styles: RIC, ITE, CIC, ITC
Warranty: 5 years
Charger: Rechargeable an additional £100 per aid
Watch the Starkey Omega AI Hearing Aid Video Below
Need more support?
Here, at Hearing Aid UK, we offer a wide range of hearing aids available on the market - keeping up to date with the best and latest hearing aid technology.
We can support your hearing healthcare in clinic or in the comfort of your own home and with nationwide coverage, we will have an audiologist near you. Whatever your hearing loss level, budget, or style our audiologists can help you find the perfect hearing solution for you.
Call us free for support and advice on 0800 567 7621
Our specialist service includes:
Do not spend hundreds of pounds without getting a second opinion from us.
Please call us on 0800 567 7621
Not only are the prices great, but the service is fantastic! Many thanks to your team.
Other pages you might find useful
What's included in our hearing aid prices?
FAQs
In general, any audiologist will always recommend to you the hearing aid model that best suits your needs. Here is a useful checklist to make sure that is the case.
- Audiologist's level of knowledge: The audiologist you have seen will hopefully have a wide knowledge of all available hearing aids; however, some will only be familiar with a small number of brands and, therefore, may not really be in a position to know which model is the best for you. It is OK to challenge their recommendation and ask them to justify why this particular brand is the one for you.
- Do research: Read about the hearing aid that was recommended. Does it seem like it will suit your lifestyle? Does it have more or fewer features than you need?
- Be aware of sales targets: Many high street retailers have specific tie-ins to a particular manufacturer/brand. The hearing aid they have suggested may still be the correct one for you, but do your research so that you know why they might have recommended it.
If you have significant hearing loss in both ears, you should be wearing two hearing aids. Here are the audiological reasons why:
Localisation: The brain decodes information from both ears and compares and contrasts them. By analysing the minuscule time delays as well as the difference in the loudness of each sound reaching the ears, the person is able to accurately locate a sound source.
Simply put, if you have better hearing on one side than the other, you can't accurately tell what direction sounds are coming from.
Less amplification is required: A phenomenon known as “binaural summation” means that the hearing aids can be set at a lower and more natural volume setting than if you wore only one hearing aid.
Head shadow effect: High frequencies, the part of your hearing that gives clarity and meaning to speech sounds, cannot bend around your head. Only low frequencies can. Therefore, if someone is talking on your unaided side, you are likely to hear that they are speaking, but be unable to tell what they have said.
Noise reduction: The brain has its own built-in noise reduction, which is only really effective when it is receiving information from both ears. If only one ear is aided, even with the best hearing aid in the world, it will be difficult for you to hear in background noise as your brain is trying to retain all of the sounds (including background noise) rather than filtering them out.
Sound quality: We are designed to hear in stereo. Only hearing from one side sounds a lot less natural to us.
Fancy some further reading on this topic? You can read about why two hearing aids are better than one in our article, hearing aids for Both Ears, here
For most people, the main benefit of a rechargeable hearing aid is simple convenience. We are used to plugging in our phones and other devices overnight for them to charge up. Here are some other pros and cons:
For anybody with poor dexterity or issues with their fingers, having a rechargeable aid makes a huge difference, as normal hearing aid batteries are quite small and some people find them fiddly to change.
One downside is that if you forget to charge your hearing aid, then it is a problem that can't be instantly fixed. For most, a 30-minute charge will get you at least two or three hours of hearing, but if you are the type of person who is likely to forget to plug them in regularly, then you're probably better off with standard batteries.
Rechargeable aids are also a little bit bigger and are only available in Behind-the-Ear models.
Finally, just like with a mobile phone, the amount of charge you get on day one is not going to be the same as you get a few years down the line. Be sure to ask what the policy is with the manufacturer's warranty when it comes to replacing the battery.
For most people, the answer is yes. But it's never that simple.
The majority of hearing problems affect the high frequencies a lot more than the low ones. Therefore, open fitting hearing aids sound a lot more natural and ones that block your ears up can make your own voice sound like you are talking with your head in a bucket. Therefore, in-ear aids tend to be less natural.
However, the true answer is we can't tell until we have had a look in your ears to assess the size of your ear canal, and until we have tested your hearing to see which frequencies are being affected.
People with wider ear canals tend to have more flexibility, also there are open fitting modular CIC hearing aids now that do not block your ears.
There is also the age-old rule to consider, that a hearing aid will not help you if it's sat in the drawer gathering dust. If the only hearing aid you would be happy wearing is one that people can't see, then that's what you should get.
Most people can adapt to any type of hearing aid, as long as they know what to expect. Have an honest conversation with your audiologist as to what your needs are.
Generally speaking, six or more. Unless it's none at all. The number of channels a hearing aid has is often a simplistic way an audiologist will use to explain why one hearing aid is better than another, but channels are complex, and it is really not that straightforward. Here are some reasons why:
Hearing aids amplify sounds of different frequencies by different amounts. Most people have lost more high frequencies than low, and therefore need more amplification in the high frequencies. The range of sounds you hear is split into frequency bands or channels, and the hearing aids are set to provide the right amount of hearing at each frequency level.
Less than six channels, and this cannot be done with much accuracy, so six is the magic number. However, a six-channel aid is typically very basic with few other features and is suitable only for hearing a single speaker in a quiet room. The number of channels is not what you should be looking at; it's more the rest of the technology that comes with them.
As a final note, different manufacturers have different approaches. One method is not necessarily better than any other. For example, some manufacturers have as many as 64 channels in their top aids. Most tend to have between 17 and 20. One manufacturer has no channels at all.
Manufacturer's warranties typically last between 2-5 years, depending on the brand and model, and cover defects in materials and workmanship. This includes repairs for component failures, electronic malfunctions, and manufacturing defects, but excludes damage from misuse, accidents, or normal wear. Most manufacturers also include loss and damage insurance for the first year.
We handle all warranty claims on your behalf, liaising with manufacturers and ensuring you get replacement devices quickly when needed. This comprehensive warranty coverage, combined with our lifetime aftercare, gives you complete peace of mind.
Our hearing tests are completely free, whether at our clinics or in your home. Unlike other providers who charge £30-£100 for home visits, we believe hearing healthcare should be accessible without financial barriers. Our comprehensive assessments include examination by a registered audiologist, audiogram results, and personalised recommendations.
All testing, future adjustments, and ongoing support are included at no extra cost. While NHS tests are also free, typical 6-week waiting periods often lead people to seek immediate private testing. We provide prompt, professional assessments that fit your schedule and budget.
Yes, we offer completely free home visits throughout the UK, and this service is included in our prices with no additional charges. Home visits are particularly valuable for people with mobility issues, busy schedules, or those who simply prefer the comfort and convenience of their own environment.
Our audiologists can conduct full hearing tests, fit hearing aids, and provide ongoing support in your home. This service sets us apart from many providers who either don't offer home visits or charge extra for them.
We can offer prices up to 40% lower than high street retailers because of our business model. As a network of 200+ independent audiologists, we don't have the massive overheads of large retail chains - no expensive high street premises, no sales targets pushing audiologists to sell the most expensive options, and no costly marketing campaigns.
However, we maintain the same buying power as the big chains because we purchase on behalf of our entire nationwide network. This means you get access to the same premium hearing aids with professional service, but at genuinely competitive prices.
We offer a comprehensive 60-day money-back guarantee, which gives you twice the industry standard time to properly assess whether your hearing aids are right for you. This extended period recognises that adjusting to hearing aids takes time, and your brain needs several weeks to adapt to the amplified sounds.
Unlike many providers who offer just 30 days, we believe 60 days gives you the confidence to test your hearing aids in all the situations that matter to you - from quiet conversations at home to busy restaurants and outdoor activities.
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When we refer to a product as 'New', we mean that the product is the newest hearing aid model on the market.
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