Bluetooth Hearing Aids by Brand: How Each Manufacturer Connects in 2025-2026

All major hearing aid brands now offer Bluetooth connectivity. But not all Bluetooth implementations are equal, and the differences matter in ways that affect your daily experience in meaningful and specific ways. How you make phone calls, which phones you can connect to, whether you can use Auracast in public venues, and how your battery holds up during streaming all vary by brand and platform.

This guide covers every major hearing aid brand we carry at Hears Hearing and Hearables, with the most current information on how each one connects. For the full history of how these technologies evolved, see our Bluetooth history post. For the Auracast deep dive, see our dedicated Auracast guide.

The Quick Reference Table

Brand-by-Brand Breakdown

Phonak, Universal Bluetooth Classic: The Android Champion

Phonak’s SWORD chip (version 3.0) uses standard Bluetooth Classic rather than the LE Audio specification used by most competitors. This gives Phonak a specific and genuine advantage: universal device compatibility. Any Bluetooth-enabled device, iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, TV, or computer, can connect to Phonak hearing aids without requiring a proprietary standard or a specific Android version.

For Android users specifically, this is the strongest argument for Phonak. ASHA (the Android specification used by other brands) requires Android 10 or higher and Bluetooth 5.0, and must be enabled by each phone manufacturer and carrier. Universal Bluetooth Classic just works.

• Hands-free calling: yes, the hearing aid microphone picks up the user’s voice, the gold standard for phone call experience
• iPhone streaming: yes, universal
• Android streaming: yes, universal
• Auracast: hardware capable on the Infinio platform, not yet activated, Phonak may maintain Classic Bluetooth advantage instead
• Best for: Android users, anyone who wants maximum device compatibility, and frequent phone callers

ReSound: The Auracast Leader

ReSound pioneered Auracast in hearing aids with the Nexia in 2023 and has built the most complete Auracast consumer experience with the Vivia in 2025, including the first dedicated Auracast Assistant in a hearing aid companion app. ReSound uses Bluetooth LE Audio 5.2 across its current lineup.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: fully activated – Vivia, Nexia, Savi all Auracast-enabled
• Auracast Assistant: built into Smart 3D app – the most user-friendly Auracast experience currently available
• Best for: users who want Auracast now and for whom public venue audio access is a priority

Starkey: Auracast Activated Across Current Platforms

Starkey activated Auracast on Edge AI and built it into Omega AI at launch. Their Bluetooth LE Audio implementation is complete across both current platforms, with full MFi and ASHA connectivity and hands-free calling. The My Starkey app handles Auracast connections alongside health monitoring, TeleHear remote programming, and accessory management.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: fully activated on Edge AI and Omega AI 
• Accessories: Edge accessories (Auracast-compatible) required for Edge AI and Omega AI; legacy accessories for Genesis AI and Evolv AI, not interchangeable
• Best for: users who want Auracast plus the strongest health monitoring features in the market

Oticon: Auracast Activated on Intent

Oticon now supports Android ASHA streaming on current platforms, correcting a significant gap from earlier models. Our previous Bluetooth blog stated that Oticon did not have Android connectivity; that is no longer accurate. Auracast has been activated on Oticon Intent via firmware update, and the Zeal platform also supports Auracast.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA – now supported on current platforms
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: fully activated on Intent and Zeal via firmware update 
• Best for: users who prioritize a natural open sound experience and Oticon’s 4D sensor technology alongside Auracast

Signia: Auracast-Ready, Activation Pending

Signia’s Pure Charge&Go IX has the Bluetooth LE Audio hardware required for Auracast and is classified as Auracast-ready, meaning it needs a firmware update to activate. Signia supports both MFi and ASHA and includes hands-free calling. Note that Signia’s newer BCT IX model uses Bluetooth Classic rather than LE Audio and is not Auracast-ready.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: Pure Charge&Go IX is Auracast-ready, activation pending – BCT IX is not Auracast-ready
• Best for: users who want Own Voice Processing 3.0 technology and are comfortable with Auracast coming via a future firmware update

Widex: LE Audio Compatible, Auracast Pending

Widex Allure supports Bluetooth LE Audio and is Auracast-ready pending a firmware update. Widex supports both MFi and ASHA. Their distinctive brand position is natural sound quality using their PureSound ZeroDelay processing, which deliberately avoids deep neural network processing to minimize the time delay in sound processing. This results in what many users describe as the most natural sound of any hearing aid.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: Allure is LE Audio compatible and Auracast-ready, activation pending
• Best for: users who prioritize natural sound quality above all else, musicians, and audiophiles

Rexton: Auracast-Ready at Costco and Beyond

Rexton Reach, available at Costco and through independent providers, is built on Sonova’s platform (shared with Phonak and Unitron) and is Auracast-ready pending a firmware update. Rexton supports both MFi and ASHA. For budget-conscious buyers who want Auracast readiness, Rexton is worth knowing about.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: Reach is Auracast-ready, activation pending
• Best for: value-conscious buyers who want LE Audio capability on a Sonova platform

Unitron: Sonova Platform, ERA Chip

Unitron’s current flagship Smile is built on the ERA chip, the same core processor as Phonak Infinio. As a Sonova platform device, Unitron’s Bluetooth connectivity follows the Sonova roadmap. Current models support both MFi and ASHA.

• iPhone streaming: yes, via MFi
• Android streaming: yes, via ASHA
• Hands-free calling: yes
• Auracast: follows Sonova platform roadmap — not yet confirmed activated
• Best for: buyers who want ERA chip processing with Flex trial/upgrade flexibility at a lower price than Phonak Infinio

How to Choose Based on Bluetooth Needs

• If you primarily use Android and want maximum compatibility, Phonak’s SWORD chip universal Bluetooth Classic is the strongest option.
• If Auracast in public venues is a priority now, ReSound, Starkey, or Oticon all have fully activated Auracast on current platforms.
• If you want Auracast readiness at a lower cost, Signia, Widex, or Rexton are Auracast-ready and will activate with firmware updates.
• If hands-free calling quality is the priority, all current major platforms support hands-free calling; Phonak’s implementation is the most universally compatible.
• If you want the best overall package of AI processing and Auracast, ReSound Vivia, Starkey Omega AI, or Oticon Intent all combine strong AI processing with active Auracast.

Not sure which connectivity approach fits your phone, lifestyle, and listening priorities? Our team is happy to work through it with you before you commit to a device. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Bluetooth Hearing Aids by Brand

Which hearing aid brand has the best Bluetooth for Android?

Phonak offers the strongest and most universal Android compatibility through their SWORD chip Bluetooth Classic, which connects to any Android device without requiring a specific Android version or ASHA support. For users who want Auracast alongside Android connectivity, ReSound, Starkey, and Oticon all support ASHA for Android streaming and have fully activated Auracast on current platforms.

Do all hearing aids now support Android streaming?

Yes, all major hearing aid brands now support Android streaming on their current platforms. This is a significant change from even a few years ago. Oticon in particular is worth noting: earlier platforms did not support Android, but current Oticon models, including Intent and Zeal, fully support ASHA Android streaming.

What is the difference between Auracast-enabled and Auracast-ready?

Auracast-enabled means the feature is active and working now. Auracast-ready means the device has the Bluetooth LE Audio hardware needed for Auracast but requires a firmware update from the manufacturer to activate it. ReSound, Starkey, and Oticon have Auracast enabled on current platforms. Signia, Widex, and Rexton are Auracast-ready. Phonak has the hardware but has not confirmed Auracast activation plans.

Can I use Auracast with a TV at home right now?

Yes, if you have an Auracast-enabled hearing aid and an Auracast transmitter. ReSound’s TV Streamer+ and Multi Mic+ already support Auracast broadcasting. Third-party Auracast transmitters from companies like Avantree are also available. With an Auracast-enabled hearing aid and one of these transmitters connected to your TV, you can receive TV audio directly in your hearing aids at your preferred volume.

Will all hearing aids eventually support Auracast?

Most likely yes, as LE Audio becomes the industry standard. Every major manufacturer has either activated Auracast or has Auracast-ready hardware. Phonak is the main exception, and even their Infinio platform has technically capable hardware. The timeline for full industry adoption depends on manufacturer decisions and how quickly public venue infrastructure develops, a process that will accelerate significantly when Apple adds Auracast support to AirPods.