Starkey Omega AI vs Zepp Clarity Omni

The Starkey Omega AI is a premium behind-the-ear prescription 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, placing it at #13 among 39 prescription hearing aids tested. This device demonstrates notable strengths in speech performance. Speech in quiet scored 3.9/5, a solid result that sits 0.54 points above the category average. Speech in noise measured 2.9/5—above the category average by 0.75 points, though only mixed in absolute terms at under 3.0/5. Music streaming quality also performs well at 3.2/5, sitting 0.44 points above average for the category. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.6/5 in absolute terms, though it falls slightly below the category average by 0.12 points. Own-voice comfort scored 2.7/5, matching the category average exactly—a mixed result that some users may find noticeable depending on their sensitivity to occlusion effects. The Omega AI includes modern connectivity features like iPhone and Android streaming, hands-free calling capability, and rechargeable batteries. Buyers in this premium price tier should note that several competitors—including the Phonak Sphere Infinio and Oticon Intent—scored higher in our lab testing. The Starkey Omega AI is best suited for users who prioritize speech clarity in everyday listening situations and value Starkey's feature set and fitting approach.

The Zepp Clarity Omni is a behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid priced at $399, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5 in HearAdvisor's lab testing. This places it in the top 37% of the 65 OTC hearing aids we've tested, offering solid overall performance in the budget price tier. The standout feature of the Omni is its music streaming quality, scoring 3.6/5—a full 1.68 points above the OTC category average. This makes it one of the stronger choices for users who prioritize phone audio streaming alongside hearing assistance. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, meaning users can expect stable performance without whistling during normal use. Speech clarity shows mixed results. Speech in quiet environments scores a solid 3.0/5, sitting 0.21 points above the category average. However, speech in noise scores 1.9/5—above the category average by 0.40 points, but still low in absolute terms. Users who frequently encounter noisy restaurants or group conversations may find performance limited in those situations. Own-voice comfort scores 2.7/5, which is above the category average but only mixed in absolute quality. The Zepp Clarity Omni is best suited for budget-conscious buyers who want reliable streaming audio and stable feedback performance, with adequate speech understanding in quieter settings. Those needing stronger speech-in-noise performance may want to explore alternatives like the higher-scoring Elehear Beyond in this price range.