Best hearing aids of 2026 in the UK - Expert opinion by an audiologist
- Koorosh Nejad
- Jan 27
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
I am an audiologist with a mild to moderate cookie-bite hearing loss. I try every hearing aid that is released in the UK market for two reasons: to understand the trend of technology, and to be able to help myself and my patients better
In this article, I reflect on my experience with different hearing aid models in 2026 and discuss the best models in different categories, including in-the-canal (ITC), receiver-in-canal (RIC), and best hearing aids for speech in noise. I will try to keep this article brief and instead provide links to the dedicated articles about each hearing aid for more in-depth reviews. This article can be noted in conjunction with the best hearing aids in 2025. Also, for the best CROS and BiCROS hearing aids in 2026, please see this article.
Note: The hearing aids nominated for the best hearing aids of 2026 are based on my experience and by no means suggest that other products in the market should not be considered by patients. Also, please note that the profile and severity of your hearing loss and the fitting strategy of the hearing aids should be considered when ranking and comparing hearing aids. And last but not least, I emphasise that patients should try a few models at a local audiology clinic to ensure they have had enough experience to make an informed decision about the choice of hearing aids, especially first-time users.
The best hearing aid for hearing speech in noise in 2026
At the time of this post, the best hearing aid on the market for hearing speech in noise is Phonak Infinio Sphere Ultra i90. A quick Google search reveals that there is such a strong consensus among professionals and hearing aid users about this hearing aid. Phonak released their artificial intelligence hearing aids later than Oticon and Starkey, but they did such great engineering work that, from the beginning of 2025, the Phonak Infinio Sphere set a benchmark for AI and DNN-driven hearing aids and pushed Oticon Intent 1 to the second-best hearing aid for speech in noise. Please see our article referring to the HearAdvisor technical review on Phonak Sphere Ultra i90 here.
Update June 2026: Please see my latest review on Widex Allure AI RIC RD (also at the end of this article).
Update August 2026: Please see my full review on Phonak EON Sphere (also at the end of this article.
Why is Phonak EON Sphere E90 the best hearing aid for speech in noise? (Aug 2026: This section has been updated to cover Phonak EON Sphere instead of Phonak Infinio Sphere).
Powered by the new HYPERSONIC chip, the EON platform introduces:
Spheric Speech Clarity 3.0 is now 37% more efficient than Phonak Infinio, using deep neural network processing to extract, enhance and integrate speech in real time so it stands out from noise in any direction.
AutoSense OS™ AI 8.0 continuously analyses the surrounding environment
and automatically activates the optimal combination of features for each situation, supporting a more natural listening experience in speech-in-loud noise situations. (see this white paper)
WindBlock 2.0 reduces wind noise by up to 50 dB and can improve the signal-to-noise ratio by up to 30 dB. (see this white paper)
EON now uses 37% less power than the previous generation while maintaining advanced real-time AI performance. This allows a design that is 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the previous Sphere generation.
EON works with virtually any Bluetooth®-enabled device, combining Bluetooth Classic, Roger Direct™, and Auracast™ broadcast audio in one hearing aid. More on EON Auracast in this article.
EON delivers up to 38 hours of battery life on a single charge. For a power user, Phonak EON can offer 22 hours of battery life, considering an 8-hour budget for streaming. Available in eight colour options, EON comes with two new charging solutions, including a portable charger with an integrated battery for added flexibility on the go.
Roger Assistive Listening Devices - If you have a severe or profound hearing loss, you must know about the Phonak Roger assistive listening devices. The Roger remote microphones have noise cancellation processors, so they are much more than just a remote microphone. They work seamlessly with Phonak Sphere to improve your experience of hearing speech and conversation in a noisy environment. Please read more about Phonak Roger ALD here.
Please see my full review of the Phonak Infinio Sphere in this article. Also, a comparison between Oticon Intent and Phonak Sphere Ultra i90 is presented in this article.
Please see this link for the price range of Phonak Infinio Sphere Ultra.
The best RIC (receiver in the ear) hearing aids of 2026
My pick of the best RIC hearing aids in 2026 is as follows:
Phonak EON Sphere E90 - Please see my full report on Phonak EON Sphere in this article.
Widex Allure AI RIC RD - Widex released a new tier of Widex Allure called Widex Allure AI RIC RD in June 2026. The hearing aid takes advantage of a second coprocessor in addition to the W1 chipset. The coprocessor is dedicated to AI and DNN processing. The AI sound processing can be activated through the Widex Allure app or by pressing the push button on the Widex Allure AI hearing aid. This is the first time that Widex has made the effort to join the competition in improving the speech-in-noise experience for the patient through AI processing. Read our expert report on Widex Allure AI RIC RD in this article.
Starkey Omega AI 24 - The Starkey Omega AI was released in late 2025. It keeps the shape of its predecessors, Starkey Genesis and Starkey Edge, but with a more powerful AI processing capability. As discussed in our full report on Starkey Omega AI, the hearing aid is one of the best in the market for hearing speech in noise, one of the smallest RICs, and Auracast-ready. However, my only reservation is that its Bluetooth connectivity does not offer the best sound quality and range. You can count on Auracast if your mobile phone has Auracast capability. The battery life is also one of the best in the market.
Signia Pure Charge & Go and Rexton Reach - Since both these hearing aids use identical electronics inside, I will go through them together in this section. Both Signia Pure Charge & Go and Rexton Reach have released a wider range of products with classic Bluetooth. I am pleased with this because now they can satisfy those patients with Android mobile phones and those who wish to connect to devices without an intermediary Bluetooth gadget. Signia Pure and Rexton Reach do not use AI technology; the noise processing in these hearing aids proved very effective. Please refer to the full review of Signia Pure Charge and Go BCT IX and Rexton Reach Plus IX for more information. The size of the hearing aid is one of the smallest on the market, and both support Auracast. A T model of both products comes with a telecoil, which makes them backwards compatible. Another point to keep in mind is that the 34 hours batter life of these hearing aids makes them a good option for rechargeable CROS and BICROS systems.
Oticon Intent R1 - Oticon Intent R1 is also in my choices, although the technology is about 2 years old. AI processing in Oticon Intent R1 is not as good as Phonak Sphere Ultra, but the hearing aid is a tad smaller, and the AI is always in action. Also, it is one of the best hearing aids for high-frequency hearing loss. The downside is that the hearing aid is the most expensive one on the market, and the Bluetooth connectivity and the app are not as good as the Phonak Infinio series. I encourage you to read through our dedicated review of Oticon Intent R1 in this article. Please keep in mind that the Oticon Intent R1 was released in late 2024, so we do expect a new release from Oticon in 2026.
The best CIC and ITC (in-the-canal) hearing aids of 2026
I am pleased to let you know that in late 2025, we had new entrants into the in-the-ear and in-the-canal categories of hearing aids. Here are my picks of the best in-the-ear hearing aids of 2026:
Phonak Infinio Virto i90 ITC - The Phonak Infinio Virto is the smallest ITC with the new speaker unit and universal Bluetooth, offering unrivalled features for picky patients. I strongly suggest this product, especially if you have moderate to severe or severe low-frequency hearing loss. Please see my full review of the Phonak Infinio Virto here. Please also see updates at the end of this article about Unitron Insera ITC.
Rexton Reach ITC and Signia Insio ITC - The dual-pass processing of speech and noise in Rexton Reach IX and Signia Insio ITC hearing aids is unique. The noise is separated from speech, and each path goes through a different processing channel and is then combined again. This processing philosophy helps with speech in background noise. I do recommend these ITC hearing aids for those with moderate to severe low- to mid-frequency hearing loss.
Oticon Zeal CIC - Oticon Zeal R 1 is the only rechargeable CIC with ASHA Bluetooth and Auracast. The range of the Bluetooth is quite acceptable. It can be fitted with silicone domes or a custom earmould. Oticon Zeal is suitable for a mild to moderate range of hearing loss. Please read through my dedicated article about Oticon Zeal here.
Starkey Omega AI CIC - Starkey Omega AI CIC is an invisible, custom-made CIC hearing aid with a 312 battery size. There are several articles in our blog about this product. Please see this article that compares Oticon Zeal with Starkey Omega AI CIC.
Signia Silk and Rexton Reach inoX CIC - If your budget for an invisible hearing aid is tight, then my best advice is to consider Signia Silk IX or Rexton Reach inoX CIC hearing aids. It is rechargeable and easy to fit. Sound quality is all right and a happy medium for sound quality and budget.
What are the best CROS and BiCROS hearing aids in 2026?
We just published a dedicated post about the best CROS and BiCROS hearing aids in 2026. Please see the article here.
Updates
February 2026 - Unitron released the Unitron Insera R-S rechargeable ITC in-the-ear range of hearing aids, which is technically a twin sister of Phonak Virto Infinio, but at a lower price range. Please read through the full review of Unitron Insera R-S ITC in this article. Also, find the price list of Unitron RIC and ITC hearing aids on this page.
March 2026 - Rexton released two new models of hearing aids that complete their range of form factors under the Reach multi-speaker technology. The Rexton Reach Custom CIC and Rexton Reach B Li P/HP. Please click the link to see our reviews on these two new products.
May 2026 - The latest power BTE hearing aid models are as follows. Please click on each to read more about the product.
June 2026 - Widex released a new tier of Widex Allure called Widex Allure AI RIC RD. The hearing aid takes advantage of a second coprocessor in addition to the W1 chipset. The coprocessor is dedicated to AI and DNN processing. The AI sound processing can be activated through the Widex Allure app or by pressing the push button on the Widex Allure AI hearing aid. This is the first time that Widex has made the effort to join the competition in improving the speech-in-noise experience for the patient through AI processing. Read our expert report on Widex Allure AI RIC RD in this article.
July 2026 - Signia just released Signia Active Mini IX earbud hearing aids. The new hearing aid is smaller and looks slick. It takes advantage of the IX technology platform. Additionally, it comes in 3 colours and 5 technology levels that would satisfy any budget. Read the full article about Signia Active Mini IX here.
August 2026 - Phonak announced the Phonak Audeo EON platform today (24 Aug 2026). This is an upgrade to the Phonak Infinio and Phonak Infinio Sphere range of hearing aids, which were released in late 2024. In short, the Phonak EON Sphere is 25% smaller and 37% better in speech-in-noise performance, in terms of SNR improvement and sound quality. Please read our full review of the Phonak EON Sphere in this article.
Questions?
Need more advice about the best hearing aids for speech in noise? Please book a free online consultation with us.
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