MDHearing Neo XS vs Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco

The MDHearing Neo XS is a budget OTC hearing aid featuring an invisible-in-ear design, priced at $397. In our lab testing, it earned a C grade with a SoundScore of 2.9/5, ranking #63 of 65 devices in the OTC hearing aid category. This device presents a mixed performance profile. Its standout strength is excellent feedback handling at 5.0/5, scoring 0.46 points above the category average—meaning users should experience minimal whistling or squealing during everyday use. Own-voice comfort is also solid at 3.2/5, sitting 0.69 points above average, which suggests the device manages occlusion reasonably well for its invisible design. However, speech clarity is a significant weakness. Speech in quiet scored just 1.0/5, falling 1.77 points below the category average, while speech in noise scored 1.0/5, sitting 0.48 points below average. Music streaming scored 0.0/5, coming in 1.92 points below average—indicating this device is not suitable for audio entertainment. These low absolute scores mean users may struggle to achieve meaningful speech benefit in our standardized test conditions. The invisible-in-ear form factor and rechargeable batteries offer convenience, but buyers should weigh this against the limited speech performance. Several competitors in the same price range—including the Elehear Beyond (4.34/5) and Apple AirPods Pro 2 (4.04/5)—deliver substantially better sound quality. The Neo XS may appeal to those prioritizing discretion and feedback-free wear over speech clarity, but most users seeking improved communication would benefit from exploring higher-performing alternatives.

The Rexton Reach R-Li T80, available at Costco for $1,500, is a behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid that earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.6/5 in our lab testing. This places it in the top 28% of the 39 prescription hearing aids we've tested and earned it our 2024 Expert's Choice Award. In our testing, this device demonstrated solid speech clarity performance. Speech in quiet scored 3.9/5, which is 0.46 points above the category average. Speech in noise measured 2.5/5—above the category average by 0.39 points, though still mixed in absolute terms. Own-voice comfort was a particular strength at 3.6/5, scoring 0.90 points above the category average, which may appeal to users sensitive to how their own voice sounds while wearing hearing aids. Feedback handling proved excellent at 4.8/5, just above the category average of 4.72/5. Music streaming scored 2.7/5, which is 0.06 points below the category average—a minor gap but worth noting for users who frequently stream audio content. The Reach R-Li T80 features rechargeable batteries and supports both iPhone and Android streaming with hands-free capability. At its price point, it outperforms same-priced competitors like the Jabra Enhance Pro 20 at Costco (4.01/5) and the Orka Two (4.00/5). This device is well-suited for users seeking strong overall sound performance with excellent feedback stability and above-average speech clarity through the Costco channel.