Eargo 8 vs Lucid Ultra 128

The Eargo 8 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid ($2,399) that earns a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.3/5 in our lab testing. This invisible-in-ear device represents Eargo's 2025 flagship offering, featuring a rechargeable design that sits completely within the ear canal. In our testing, the Eargo 8 showed mixed performance across key metrics. Speech clarity in quiet environments is a relative strength, scoring 0.27 points above the OTC category average. Own-voice comfort also performs well, measuring 0.69 points above average at 3.2/5—a solid result that suggests reduced occlusion effects during conversation. However, speech understanding in noisy environments scored 1.2/5, which is both low in absolute terms and 0.27 points below the category average. The most significant limitation we measured was music streaming, which scored 0.0/5—nearly 2 points below the OTC average. This makes the Eargo 8 unsuitable for users who prioritize streaming audio quality. Feedback handling is strong in absolute terms at 4.2/5, though slightly below the category average. At its premium price point, the Eargo 8 faces stiff competition. Several devices in our database deliver comparable or better sound performance at lower prices, including alternatives from Eargo's own lineup. The Eargo 8 is best suited for users who prioritize invisible cosmetics and own-voice comfort over streaming capability and value, and who primarily need help hearing speech in quieter settings.

The Lucid Ultra 128 is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid priced at $5,000, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.4/5 in our lab testing. It ranks #17 among 39 prescription hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 41% of its category. Speech performance is where the Lucid Ultra 128 truly excels. In our lab testing, speech in quiet scored a strong 4.3/5, which is 0.95 points above the category average. Speech in noise performance reached 2.7/5, which sits above the category average by 0.59 points, though it remains mixed in absolute terms. This suggests the device handles conversational clarity well in our test scenarios, particularly in quieter environments. The device does face some challenges. Feedback handling scored just 1.7/5, falling 3.02 points below the category average of 4.72/5—a notable weakness compared to other prescription aids in our testing. Music streaming also came in below average at 2.3/5, which is 0.46 points under the category norm. Own-voice comfort scored a mixed 2.9/5, slightly above average. At this price point, several competitors in our database achieved higher overall scores, including the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent. The Lucid Ultra 128 features disposable batteries and supports both iPhone and Android streaming. It may appeal to users who prioritize speech clarity in quiet settings and are less concerned about feedback stability or music streaming fidelity in our standardized tests.