HearingAssist Eaze vs Starkey Omega AI

The HearingAssist Eaze is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid released in 2023, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.4/5 in our lab testing. At $399, it sits in the most affordable price tier of the OTC market, though it ranks #43 of 65 devices in its category. In our standardized testing, the Eaze demonstrates excellent feedback handling, scoring a perfect 5.0/5—0.46 points above the category average. This means users can expect stable performance without whistling during typical daily activities. However, the device shows limitations in other areas: speech clarity scores are mixed at 2.6/5 in quiet and low at 1.3/5 in noisy environments, both falling slightly below category averages. The most significant limitation is music streaming, which scored 0.0/5—nearly 2 points below the category average. Buyers who prioritize phone streaming for music or media should consider alternatives. Own-voice comfort is also mixed at 2.2/5, approximately 0.31 points below average for OTC devices. At this price point, shoppers have several higher-scoring alternatives to consider, including the Elehear Beyond and Apple AirPods Pro 2, which offer stronger overall performance. The HearingAssist Eaze may suit budget-conscious buyers who prioritize feedback stability over streaming capabilities and can accept modest speech performance in challenging listening situations.

The Starkey Omega AI is a premium prescription behind-the-ear hearing aid released in 2025, currently available at $3,998. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.5/5, ranking #12 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates particular strength in speech understanding. Speech in quiet scores a solid 3.9/5, which is 0.62 points above the category average. Speech in noise performance is above the category average by 0.90 points, though at 2.9/5 it remains mixed in absolute terms—a pattern common across prescription hearing aids where challenging noise environments push even well-performing devices. Music streaming quality stands out at 3.2/5, scoring 0.56 points above the category average, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize audio entertainment through their hearing aids. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.6/5 in absolute terms, though slightly below the category average of 4.71/5. Own-voice comfort scores 2.7/5, essentially matching the category average. The Omega AI features rechargeable batteries and supports both iPhone and Android streaming with hands-free capability. At the premium price tier, it competes against top performers like the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent, which score higher in our testing. Users seeking strong speech clarity and streaming quality in an A-rated package will find the Omega AI delivers solid performance, particularly for those who value the Starkey ecosystem and its AI-driven features.