You might have looked at some hearing aids in store locally and now thinking if it is worth upgrading your hearing aids yet, but it all depends on what you buy.
2023 brought some significant advances in digital hearing aid technology, such as new Bluetooth ITE options, the world's first waterproof rechargeable aid, and a heart rate sensor. Other hearing aid makes have barely improved in years.
2024 is bringing even more to the industry, particularly in design. As technology advances, so does aesthetics. The newest hearing aids have shown a slimmer and more discreet casing. However, the best hearing aids available in the UK are subjective.
If you are looking for the best hearing aids money can buy or not - either way, we hope this guide will help you in your search to find the right hearing aid for you - whether that be the upgrade you need or if you are wearing new hearing aids for the first time.
To label the industry's best hearing aids of 2024 in numerous categories, we asked our audiologists to score each hearing aid on the market using such criteria as hearing aid prices, hearing aid features, technology advancements, and other priorities that are generally considered important to consumers regarding hearing aid comparisons.
What are the top five rated hearing aids? Let's find out with our review of the best hearing aids available in the UK for hearing aid users in 2024...
Are Oticon the best hearing aids? In January 2021, the predecessor of this aid, the Oticon More 1 hearing aid was considered by many to be the best hearing aid on the market. In March 2023 they brought out the new generation - the Oticon Real 1.
It's even better and is the reason why we have voted Oticon Real as the best overall hearing aid.
In fact, it is arguably going to be one of the most popular hearing aids in the world, just like More. The top performance level, Oticon Real 1 hearing aid, gives you the most precision in sound processing, more customisation in your background noise, and premium noise reduction.
What makes the Oticon Real one of our best hearing aids? Which hearing aids give the most natural sound? It's the way these hearing aids simply handle sounds. Instead of doing what other hearing aids do and suppressing background noise and focusing on speech, Real offers a more natural and full soundscape to the brain.
The Oticon Real hearing aids come with two new features that enhance the Deep Neural Network (DNN). These are the SuddenSound Stabiliser and Wind & Handling Stabiliser and we are impressed with how Real solves key pains for hearing aid users, using these features.
Pains such as sudden, disruptive, and uncomfortable sounds, which unsurprisingly 7/10 of hearing aid users are bothered by (study of 700 people) and are often overlooked by other brands.
Styles Available: Available in both Receiver in Canal (RIC) and Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aid models.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes Bluetooth connectivity is included in all models.
Rechargeable Options: Yes. Oticon Real is available in a lithium-ion rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery model. Both benefit from telecoil.
Smartphone Compatibility: Compatible with both Android and iPhone.
Technology Levels: The Oticon Real is available in various colours and three technology levels. These are Real 1, Real 2, and Real 3, with Real 1 being the premium product.
There's a new app called Companion which includes new features like Speech Booster, Troubleshooting, and Remote Care (before, you had to download a separate app for this). This app is also compatible with all devices since Opn.
They are slowly introducing Voice Notifications through this new app, which will start with a low battery level and evolve from there as the app updates. There is also a new colour - Olive Green - which is only exclusively available in the miniRITE R model.
This updated mobile app from Oticon now gives hearing aid wearers wider control over their hearing aids as well as personalising their hearing experience to suit their unique needs.
What makes Evolv AI one of our best hearing aids? Starkey Evolv AI 2400 wins second place for pure innovation, possibly the best custom hearing aids range, and for providing great product support and improvements since the Livio was introduced.
Launching in 2022, Evolv AI is their second-generation rechargeable custom-made hearing aid with a variety of other sensors and functions from foreign language translators to heart rate monitors.
However, the main goal for Starkey Evolv AI hearing aids was to start a completely new hearing ecosystem that focuses on both hearing loss' impact on our general health and wellness, whilst combating hearing challenges for a better user and listening experience.
Starkey does really good health-tracking hearing aids, but it's not just about health though - these devices also include some of the industry's most powerful AI sound algorithms.
Starkey is perhaps a step ahead when it comes to their mobile app offering. Providing unique features such as peronsalisation, activity monitoring, translation in real time, fall alerts, and notifications to loved ones if you should fall.
This hearing aid has more tech than other brand offerings, but that's only if you think you'll use all these features. You might want all the bells and whistles that this Starkey hearing aid range has to offer, but then again don't pay for what you don't need.
The Evolv AI model is more expensive than other hearing aids of its ilk, so make sure you will get good use out of the extra features.
Also, in reality, it can struggle to connect to all Android devices, so check with your audiologist to see what the compatibility and connectivity needs are if you are an Android user.
Styles Available: Receiver-in-Canal (RIC), Behind-the-Ear (BTE) & In-Ear hearing aid models available.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes.
Rechargeable Options: Yes.
Smartphone Compatibility: Android and iPhone.
Technology Levels: This hearing aid range is available in four technology levels and three models.
Why is Silk one of our best hearing aids? The Signia Silk 7X model is still a "modular CIC", meaning a Completely In the Canal (CIC) hearing aid, very hard to see on most people and includes the new Xperience platform. It does not need to be custom-made to the shape of the ear and does not block the ear canal in the same way either.
The beauty of this hearing aid is down to the great design which allows those who require an open fitting to still wear a CIC. You might have been told that you can't wear an in-ear hearing aid. The good news here is that you might be able to wear this one.
The top performance level has the full set of processing features, like speech focus and 48 channels for personalisation during programming.
In regards to loss, Signia Silk is great for people with mild-to-moderate hearing and will not be for those with a more profound hearing loss. On another note, this hearing aid isn't suitable for everybody's ear shape. Therefore, please contact us as we would need to check your ear canal shape.
This hearing aid isn't the most feature-rich In the Ear hearing aid in the industry, so if features are important to you then look at other alternatives. We find that customers who go for Silk X, sacrifice the feature set for great customisation and sound clarity.
Styles Available: In-Ear hearing aid.
Bluetooth Connectivity: No.
Rechargeable Options: No.
Smartphone Compatibility: Compatible with both Android & iPhone.
Technology Levels: Available in five performance levels, with the Silk 7X being the premium product.
Nobody wants style over substance, but style over features that you don't need? That seems like a fair trade. The Widex Moment Sheer is a great hearing aid that replaces the popular mRIC R D or Fusion2 model of the original Moment range.
The only current form factor, the sRIC R D model, has all of the new features that trump the Moment 440 "Fusion2" model. Such as better Bluetooth and rechargeability, a more advanced machine learning process, and a new SoundRelax feature.
However, the Moment Sheer is only available in one rechargeable RIC style for now, so if you don't need the extras then the much smaller "Passion" or "RIC 10" shape from the original Widex Moment range is a good pick.
The top performance level offers the full set of sound processing features from the range such as speech enhancement and noise reduction. Providing 15 bands to adjust and personalise your listening experience.
Why is Moment Sheer one of our best hearing aids? The Widex Moment was a really good tinnitus hearing aid, now with the new SoundRelax technology, Sheer is even better. In fact, it's arguably the best hearing aid for tinnitus. This feature uses fractal musical tones to manage tinnitus, which is good because they are played at random and, therefore, there is no pattern for your brain to habituate.
The Moment Sheer also uses the amplification of natural sounds of nature to relieve the symptoms of tinnitus. Even if you don't have tinnitus, you'll find this feature will give you focus and a sense of relaxation that will reduce any forms of listening fatigue.
Good news for those who suffer from tinnitus - Widex uses a unique Fractal Zen Tone Therapy that plays tones that can successfully relax and reduce the tinnitus sound impact. What is unique here, is that it personalises the tones generated taking your degree of hearing loss and background noise.
Don't buy this hearing aid because Widex has claimed it "doesn't sound like a hearing aid" and is not 'tinny' or artificial like other hearing aids. The ‘tinny’ sound Widex is referring to is a generalisation. In reality, people can rarely detect digital echo in aids.
Most of our customers who have worn Moment aids can’t detect the difference in speed from their previous devices. However, they have enjoyed the natural sound quality - so they must be doing something right! If you are looking for the smartest hearing aid tech or longest-lasting battery out there, then you might consider other alternatives.
The RIC 10 hearing aid model uses disposable size 10 batteries, but this model doesn’t include Bluetooth. If this is important to you, opt for the RIC 312 - which also uses disposable batteries but does come with Bluetooth.
Styles Available: Receiver in Canal (RIC) hearing aid model.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes.
Rechargeable Options: Both rechargeable and non-rechargeable models available.
Smartphone Compatibility: Compatible with both Android and iPhone.
Technology Levels: Available in three different Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aid models across four technology levels.
Why is Lumity one of our best hearing aids? Phonak Paradise has been a popular aid since it launched back in August 2020. This new model, the Phonak Audeo Lumity hearing aids continues to improve on the previous missing features of the original Marvel (first seen in Paradise), benefits from a lot of the same features as the Paradise, and adds some new advantageous features too.
Like Paradise, the Lumity also includes a convenient tap control feature to answer/end calls, start/stop streaming, and tap into other digital devices and assistants like Siri.
StereoZoom 2.0: Comparing this upgrade to the original, it is better at reacting to your listening environment, which ultimately gives you greater environmental awareness and clarity of the person who is talking in front of you.
AutoSense OS 5.0: This hearing aid includes Phonak's new AutoSense OS 5.0 Technology. This means that these modern hearing aids can adjust automatically to your environment. For instance, if you're in a restaurant and it suddenly becomes busier - Lumity will detect the increase in background noise and adjust to reflect that. Limiting audible background noise and improving your quality of hearing.
In comparison to the Paradise hearing aids, this upgraded AutoSense now scans the listening environment 700 times per second. It then selects from 200 various settings to personsalise the sound you hear depending on your environment. In a nutshell, Lumity offers improved speech understanding and how it handles background noise.
The sound quality experienced by people on the other end of the phone is less successful than we have found with people using an external clip-on mic type device, or just speaking into the phone as they would do normally.
The wax filters can also be a little challenging to change, so bear this in mind if dexterity is an issue.
Styles Available: Available in both Receiver in Canal (RIC) & Behind the Ear (BTE) models.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes.
Rechargeable Options: Yes.
Smartphone Compatibility: Compatible with both Android and iPhone.
Technology Levels: Available in Phonak's usual performance levels: L90, L70, L50 and L30.
Whilst we understand what people recognise as the best cheapest hearing aids is subjective, we thought it might be beneficial to list a few hearing aid devices that we consider to be affordable hearing aids and good value for money.
Here are our top two picks for the most recent affordable hearing aids of 2024 for under £1,200 and why.
The Bernafon Zerena 1 hearing aids have a Channelfree system, which means it is the best core technology for this price point.
The Starkey Muse IQ i1000 hearing aids are considered old technology now, but still good value for basic aid.
You may be wondering how to find the best rated hearing aids for you or which hearing aids are the most beneficial for you and your hearing loss - either way, it can become an overwhelming experience for some.
When you compare hearing aids online, it can all get rather confusing, especially when some hearing aid providers aren't transparent with their pricing. That being said, hearing aid comparisons are a great place to start.
If you are on the hunt for a hearing aid, finding the right hearing aid type and style depends on your level of hearing loss, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and other priorities. However, investing in hearing aid devices doesn't necessarily mean you have to purchase the best hearing aids you can buy.
Where you purchase your hearing aids is important too. For instance, whether you opt for private hearing healthcare and hearing aids or choose to go with the NHS is entirely down to personal choice. However, seeing a private audiologist will give you access to a wide range of hearing aid brands, types, and styles as well as a more personalised hearing experience.
If you decide to go with the NHS or buy Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids online - you will find yourself with limitations in device, type, style, connectivity, and customisation. This is why researching hearing aid companies, brands, and prices is a valuable first step.
What are the best hearing aids locally? When researching hearing aids shops near you and where you'll get the best hearing aids to buy, the best service, and the best aftercare - you only have to look at the Which? Report. This report states, year after year, that independent companies, like us, come out on top for hearing aid providers in the UK and the best place to get your devices from.
Hearing aid suppliers and independent audiologists like Hearing Aid UK can advise on the best hearing aid for your hearing loss from the best hearing aid brands in the industry. We can also provide the best digital hearing aids accessories from all of the brands if needed.
However, unlike most other hearing aid companies, our range is not limited. This is because we are not owned or affiliated with any of the manufacturers, so we are able to offer the full range of hearing aids without prejudice.
Selecting the right hearing aid depends on several factors, making it a personalised decision. To determine the best hearing aid for you, consider the following aspects:
If you are already wearing hearing aids and looking to upgrade them, most of our customers start with a similar style to what they are used to and have already. This means you are more aware of the device and you can adjust quickly but now benefit from the new and more modern features.
You must always have your hearing tested again before upgrading your hearing aids, as over time your hearing can change and you may have different priorities and hearing needs. However, priority should always be the best product for better hearing and if you have had your hearing aids for around 3-4 years - there will almost definitely be advanced hearing technology that will serve your hearing loss better.
It is best to understand your specific hearing requirements. Do you struggle with conversations in noisy environments, or do you need help primarily in quiet settings? Different hearing aids excel in different situations.
Consult with an audiologist or hearing healthcare professional for a thorough hearing evaluation. This test will reveal the extent and type of your hearing loss, which is crucial in choosing the best hearing aid.
Some people prioritise discreetness, while others may not mind a more noticeable device. Modern hearing aids come in various styles, including behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), and invisible-in-canal (IIC), among others.
If you have dexterity problems, smaller hearing aids might be a challenge for you. Low-profile In the Ear hearing aids or Behind the Ear options might be easier to handle. The batteries are also bigger, so these will be easier to change too.
You might even want to consider rechargeable hearing aids - which require no battery changes at all. Hearing aids with automation might be beneficial as there are no tiny buttons you have to press on the device to adjust such settings as volume.
If your activities are limited, you are homebound, or require care support - Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids might be more practical. This is because they can include earmolds that are easier to fit comfortably in the ear and can easily be managed by a care support worker. In such lifestyle situations, you might want to consider assistive listening devices for some extra amplification for TV programs or door bells.
On the other hand, if you lead an active lifestyle - there are now plenty of 'healthable' hearing aids on the market providing additional features, such as fitness tracking or heart monitoring designed to enhance and keep up with your lifestyle.
For your hearing aids to be successful - the actual fit and acoustic compatibility, done at your programming and fitting appointment, is the most important. This is often called the best first-fit experience by audiologists.
In short, your actual fit is how the hearing aid fits in your ear which can ultimately affect the way you hear and whether you are comfortable wearing it or not. The acoustic fit is how your device settings are catered for your individual hearing needs by your audiologist.
For example, if you have low-frequency hearing loss, a comfortable and snug fit of a Completely in the Canal or In the Canal hearing aid style would help process sound while remaining discreet. The occlusion will also help stop unwanted background noise.
There are also hearing aid technology levels to consider. These are generally basic, standard, and premium - and like with all technology the more sophisticated the technology the more you will pay for your devices.
A good audiologist will show you the latest hearing aids that are available, talk through the hearing aid's new features of the industry, and discuss the features versus benefits with you with your hearing loss level in mind.
An audiologist will also advise on the best technology level for your hearing loss, as you shouldn't have to pay for more than you need and for features you won't use. Which brings us to budget...
What is your budget? Hearing aids vary in cost, and insurance coverage may be a factor. Discuss your budget with your audiologist to explore options within your price range.
Below are some quick links to information that can answer a few common questions we often get from patients. Such as the disadvantages of buying a hearing aid online, what is a hearing aid, what are the most powerful hearing aids, what are the most discreet hearing aids, or which type of hearing aid is the least expensive.
Researching the best hearing aids for 2024 and need more support? This report replaces our last review, "best hearing aids 2023", from our audiologists. We endeavour to edit this content accordingly and when we think there are better or more advanced alternatives launched on the UK market.
If you are researching the best place for hearing aids or the best hearing aids UK and want impartial, independent advice then you’ve come to the right place. To compare our prices and services or for other hearing healthcare support - call us free on 0800 567 7621 to speak with one of our audiologists.
Do not spend hundreds of pounds without getting a second opinion from us.
If you have dexterity problems, smaller hearing aids might be a challenge for you. Low-profile In the Ear hearing aids or Behind the Ear options might be easier to handle and the batteries are bigger, so these will be easier to change too.
If you have low-frequency hearing loss, a comfortable and snug fit of a Completely in the Canal or In the Canal hearing aid style would help process sound while remaining discreet. The occlusion will also help stop unwanted background noise.
There are basic, standard and premium technology levels - and like with all technology the more sophisticated the technology the more you will pay for your devices. Your audiologist will advise on the best level for your hearing loss. You shouldn't have to pay for more than you need and for features you won't use.
Expensive hearing aids may not, in reality, meet your needs or expectations. Just because a hearing aid is more expensive does not necessarily mean that you will be more satisfied or that it is a better hearing aid. Your audiologist will go through all the hearing aids that are a good fit for your level of loss, lifestyle and preferences.
The main eight hearing aid manufacturers that have a strong and reliable reputation for producing quality hearing aids are: Bernafon, Unitron, Phonak, Resound, Oticon, Signia, Widex and Starkey.
The easiest hearing aid to use all depends on what level of hearing loss you have, your communication needs, dexterity, lifestyle, personal preferences and more.
By talking with your audiologist about such specifics and hearing health history, you can both determine the right hearing solution for you.
When we refer to a product as 'Latest Launch', we mean it is the latest to be released on the market.
When we refer to a product as 'New', we mean that the product is the newest hearing aid model on the market.
When we refer to a product as 'Superseded', we mean that there is a newer range available which replaces and improves on this product.
When we refer to a product as an 'Older Model', we mean that it is has been superseded by at least two more recent hearing aid ranges.