Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco vs Starkey Genesis AI

The Rexton Reach R-Li T80, available exclusively at Costco for $1,500, is a behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid that earned an A grade and ranks #11 of 36 devices in its category in our lab testing. This 2024 release earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award, reflecting its strong overall performance. In our standardized testing, the Reach R-Li T80 delivered a SoundScore of 4.6/5, placing it in the top 28% of prescription hearing aids. Speech clarity stands out as a particular strength, scoring 3.9/5 in quiet environments—0.54 points above the category average. Own-voice comfort also impressed at 3.6/5, a full 0.85 points above average, suggesting wearers may experience less of the "talking in a barrel" sensation that can occur with hearing aids. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.8/5. Speech-in-noise performance scores 2.5/5, which is above the category average by 0.54 points but remains mixed in absolute terms—a common challenge across prescription devices. Music streaming similarly scores 2.7/5, slightly above average but not a standout feature. This device supports both iPhone and Android streaming, offers hands-free functionality, and uses rechargeable batteries. For Costco members seeking a prescription hearing aid with reliable speech clarity, strong own-voice comfort, and excellent feedback control at a mid-tier price point, the Reach R-Li T80 represents solid value in our testing framework.

The Starkey Genesis AI is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2023, priced at $4,798. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.7/5, ranking #31 of 36 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates solid speech clarity in quiet environments, scoring 3.5/5—0.13 points above the category average. Its standout feature is excellent feedback handling, achieving a perfect 5.0/5 score. Speech-in-noise performance lands at 2.3/5, which is 0.36 points above the category average but remains mixed in absolute terms. Music streaming scored 2.8/5, slightly above average (+0.16 points) though still in mixed territory. Own-voice comfort presents a notable weakness, scoring 2.2/5—0.55 points below the category average. This may be a consideration for users sensitive to how their own voice sounds while wearing hearing aids. The Genesis AI showed meaningful improvement with professional tuning, with the normalized score jumping from 3.5/5 (Initial) to 4.3/5 (Tuned), suggesting that proper fitting is particularly important for this device. At this premium price point, competitors including the Phonak Sphere Infinio (5.0/5), Oticon Intent (4.85/5), and Oticon Real (4.75/5) deliver stronger overall sound performance. The Genesis AI may suit users who prioritize Starkey's ecosystem, hands-free calling features, and robust feedback control, but those seeking top-tier sound quality in this price range have higher-scoring alternatives to consider.