Starkey Edge AI RIC Expert Review

The Starkey Edge AI RIC is a premium prescription hearing aid released in 2024, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.00/5 in our lab testing. Priced at $5,000, it ranks #18 of 35 prescription hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 49% of its category.

In our lab testing, this device demonstrates notable strengths in music streaming, scoring 3.8/5—a solid result that sits 1.19 points above the category average. Speech-in-noise performance also stands out at 1.07 points above average, though the absolute score of 2.6/5 reflects the inherent difficulty of this challenging listening condition. Speech in quiet performs solidly at 3.8/5, exceeding the category average by 0.37 points.

Feedback handling is excellent at 4.7/5 in absolute terms, though this falls just slightly below the category average. Own-voice comfort scores 2.8/5, which is above average but mixed in absolute performance. The device shows meaningful improvement with professional fitting—the normalized Tuned Score reaches 4.5/5 compared to 3.8/5 at Initial Fit, a 0.7-point gain.

This 2024 Expert's Choice Award winner features rechargeable batteries, iPhone and Android streaming, and hands-free calling. While competitors like the Oticon Intent and Phonak Sphere Infinio score higher in the same price range, the Edge AI RIC offers strong streaming music quality and above-average speech performance that may appeal to users who prioritize these features.