RxEars Rxi vs Starkey Edge AI RIC

The RxEars Rxi is a budget-priced prescription hearing aid in an invisible-in-ear style, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.1/5 in our lab testing. At $499, it ranks #24 of 39 prescription hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 59% of its category. This device demonstrates notable strengths in speech understanding in quiet environments, scoring 4.3/5—a strong result that sits 0.89 points above the category average of 3.40/5. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.7/5, providing stable performance during movement without the whistling that can plague some hearing aids. Speech in noise performance is mixed at 2.1/5, essentially matching the category average. The RxEars Rxi has significant limitations to consider. Own-voice comfort scores low at 1.6/5, falling 1.10 points below the category average—users may notice their own voice sounds unnatural or boomy. Music streaming is not supported, scoring 0.0/5, which is 2.76 points below the category average. This device uses disposable batteries rather than rechargeables. The RxEars Rxi is best suited for users who prioritize discreet cosmetics and clear speech understanding in quieter settings, and who don't need music streaming capabilities. Those sensitive to own-voice quality or who frequently listen to streamed audio should explore alternatives.

The Starkey Edge AI RIC is a premium prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $5,000 and earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.3/5 in our lab testing. This behind-the-ear device ranks #20 of 39 prescription hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 49% of its category. In our testing, the Edge AI RIC demonstrates notable strengths in speech clarity and music streaming. Speech in quiet scores a strong 4.1/5, measuring +0.68 points above the category average. Music streaming stands out at 3.8/5, a solid score that sits +1.04 points above what we typically see in prescription devices—making it a compelling choice for users who value phone audio quality. Speech in noise scores 2.6/5, which is above the category average by +0.54 points but remains mixed in absolute terms. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.7/5, though this sits just below the category average of 4.72/5. Own-voice comfort scores 2.8/5, slightly above average but mixed overall—something to consider if own-voice naturalness is a priority. The device showed meaningful improvement from tuning: the normalized Initial Score of 4.2/5 rose to 4.7/5 after professional fitting, a +0.5 point gain. As a 2024 Expert's Choice Award winner, the Edge AI RIC offers strong everyday speech performance and standout streaming capabilities. However, buyers in this premium price tier should note that several competitors—including the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent—achieve higher overall scores. The Edge AI RIC is best suited for users who prioritize music streaming quality and strong speech clarity in quieter environments.