Eargo Link vs Phonak Audéo Lumity

The Eargo Link is a mid-priced OTC hearing aid released in 2024, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.1/5 in our lab testing. At $799, it ranks #15 of 65 OTC hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 22% of the category. In our testing, the Eargo Link demonstrates notable strengths in music streaming, scoring 4.4/5—a strong result that sits 2.48 points above the category average. This makes it a standout choice for users who prioritize audio quality when streaming from their phone. Speech performance is solid, with speech in quiet measuring 3.2/5 (0.42 points above average) and speech in noise at 2.0/5 (0.54 points above average, though mixed in absolute terms). Feedback handling is excellent at 4.7/5. The main limitation is own-voice comfort, which scores 1.3/5—a low result that falls 1.21 points below the category average. Users sensitive to the sound of their own voice may find this challenging, particularly with the closed dome configuration used in the tuned fit. The Eargo Link supports both iPhone and Android streaming with hands-free capability and uses rechargeable batteries. It's best suited for those who value exceptional music streaming quality and solid speech clarity, and who can tolerate some own-voice occlusion. Competitors in this price range include higher-scoring options like the Yeasound RIC800 and Sony CRE-E10, though the Eargo Link's streaming performance remains a differentiator.

The Phonak Audéo Lumity is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2022, priced at $4,398. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned a SoundScore of 4.1/5 (A grade), ranking #21 of 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates clear strengths in specific performance areas. Music streaming quality is strong at 4.1/5, scoring 1.46 points above the category average—a notable advantage for users who frequently stream audio from their phones. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning the Lumity maintained stability without audible feedback during our standardized challenge tests. Speech in quiet environments also performs solidly at 3.7/5, measuring 0.37 points above the prescription category average. However, the Lumity shows a significant weakness in own-voice comfort, scoring just 1.0/5—a full 1.75 points below the category average. This low score suggests users may notice more occlusion or an unnatural quality to their own voice. Speech in noise performance is mixed at 2.1/5; while this is slightly above the category average (+0.19 points), it remains modest in absolute terms. The Audéo Lumity is best suited for users who prioritize excellent streaming quality and reliable feedback control, and who are less sensitive to own-voice occlusion effects. Those who struggle primarily with speech understanding in noisy environments may want to compare against higher-scoring competitors in this price range, such as the Phonak Sphere Infinio or Oticon Intent.