Hearing Aid Brands
Starkey announced Omega AI+ on 1 October 2026, a new generation of its flagship platform. It builds on Starkey Omega AI, released on 9 October 2025, which replaced Edge AI. Omega AI is the Starkey platform with independent test data behind it. Omega AI+ has none yet, and our page on what we know about Omega AI+ sets out what is claimed and by whom.
We fit Starkey at both the San Mateo and San Carlos offices, alongside every other major manufacturer. Which brand ends up in your ears is a decision we make after the hearing test, not before it.
At a glance
- Starkey announced Omega AI+ on 1 October 2026, with a G4 processor and four neural networks working together. Its figures come from Starkey, and no independent laboratory has published results for it yet.
- Omega AI, released 9 October 2025, is the platform with test data. It runs the G3 Gen AI Neuro Processor with DNN 360 directionality in three levels: 24, 20 and 16.
- HearAdvisor grades Omega AI A and ranks it second of thirty-six prescription hearing aids tested. We cite the grade and rank only, because published sub-scores differed between sources.
- It has the widest style range we fit: custom in-the-ear, in-the-canal and completely-in-canal, plus a size 312 disposable battery. It also ships Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast today.
- Fall detection, balance assessment and resting respiratory rate are built in and optional. They are a real reason some patients choose Starkey.
- The buttons are small and stiff. If dexterity is a concern, handle a pair before you commit.
Starkey Omega AI+, announced October 2026
Starkey announced Omega AI+ on 1 October 2026. It runs a new G4 Gen AI Neuro Processor with four neural networks working at once, a compressor guided by a neural network, and an Edge Mode that can stay on. It also adds sleep tracking on supported receiver-in-canal models, an alert for hearing aids left behind, and DNN 360 directionality in more custom styles. Most performance figures come from Starkey, and no independent laboratory has published results for it. Read the full account on our Omega AI+ page.
Starkey Omega AI, the platform with test data
Omega AI runs Starkey's G3 Gen AI Neuro Processor and a directional system Starkey calls DNN 360, which decides moment to moment which direction deserves your attention rather than fixing forward. It comes in three technology levels: 24, 20 and 16. The Edge AI page covers the outgoing platform and what changed between them.
What independent testing found for Omega AI
HearAdvisor, the laboratory whose standardised measurements come closest to a neutral referee in this industry, gives Omega AI a grade of A and ranks it second among the thirty-six prescription hearing aids it has tested. That is a strong result for Omega AI, and it does not transfer to Omega AI+, which no laboratory has measured yet. It is worth weighing against the several 2026 flagships that have no independent data at all. We do not print Omega AI's individual sub-scores, because the figures we retrieved from different sources disagreed with each other. The grade and the ranking were consistent, so those are what we cite, and we will show you the current numbers on screen at your appointment.
The widest range of styles we fit
This is the practical reason Starkey comes up so often in our fitting rooms. Omega AI is available as a custom in-the-ear, in-the-canal and completely-in-canal device as well as a receiver-in-canal, and it can run on a size 312 disposable battery instead of a charger. Several competing flagships launched in 2026 come in one shape only. If you want something that sits entirely inside your ear, if a charging case does not suit how you live, or if your hands do better with a battery door than a charger, Starkey can currently do things the others cannot.
Fall detection and the health sensors
Starkey put sensors in hearing aids before anyone else, and Omega AI carries fall detection, balance assessment and a resting respiratory-rate reading. Fall detection can alert contacts you nominate. For someone living alone, or for a family that worries about falls, this is a legitimate reason to choose the brand, and we have fitted patients specifically for it. The features are optional. If you do not want them, Starkey is still a capable hearing aid and we simply leave them off.
Connectivity
Omega AI ships Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast working now rather than pending a firmware update, which several rival platforms cannot say this year. Omega AI+ also supports Auracast, with an Auracast assistant in the My Starkey app. Telecoil support depends on which Starkey model you choose rather than running across the line, and the Omega AI+ coverage we read does not state it, so if hearing well in a particular looped theatre, lecture hall or place of worship matters to you, tell us which venue and we will specify the right device.
Where we raise a caution
The buttons on Omega AI are small and stiff, and reviewers have flagged that as a problem for anyone with arthritis or reduced dexterity. A large share of our patients fall into that group, so we bring it up before the sale rather than after. Most wearers press the buttons rarely, since the app and the automatic programs handle the day. Still, handle a pair with your own hands at the appointment before you decide.
Fitted, measured and confirmed
Health features are an addition to accurate amplification, never a substitute for it. Whichever Starkey you choose, we program it to your prescription and confirm the result with real-ear measurement, so what reaches your eardrum matches your targets across pitches. Our fitting process explains what that involves and why it moves your result further than the choice of brand does.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered
What is Starkey's current flagship hearing aid?
Starkey announced Omega AI+ on 1 October 2026 as the newest generation of its flagship platform. It builds on Omega AI, released on 9 October 2025, which runs the G3 Gen AI Neuro Processor with DNN 360 directionality in three levels: 24, 20 and 16. Omega AI+ adds a G4 processor and four neural networks. We will tell you when we can fit and demonstrate it.
How is Omega AI+ different from Omega AI?
Starkey reports a new G4 processor, four neural networks working together, a compressor guided by a neural network, an Edge Mode that can stay on, sleep tracking on supported models and DNN 360 in more custom styles. The figures come from Starkey. Our Omega AI+ page lists each claim and its source.
Has anyone tested Starkey independently?
Yes, for Omega AI. HearAdvisor grades Omega AI A and ranks it second among the thirty-six prescription hearing aids it has tested. It has not published results for Omega AI+, so that grade does not carry over. We publish the grade and the rank and not the sub-scores, because the sub-score figures we found differed between sources.
Can Starkey hearing aids detect falls?
Yes. Omega AI includes fall detection that can alert contacts you nominate, along with balance assessment and a resting respiratory-rate reading. Many older adults and their families value it. The features are optional and we can leave them switched off.
Does Starkey come in an in-the-ear style?
Yes, and this is where Starkey is currently ahead of most competitors. Omega AI is made as a custom in-the-ear, in-the-canal and completely-in-canal device as well as a receiver-in-canal, and it can run on a size 312 disposable battery. Several 2026 flagships come in one shape only.
Do I need the health features to benefit from Starkey?
No. They sit on top of the amplification and can be left off. If they are not why you are here, the questions that matter are your hearing loss, the style that suits your ears and hands, and whether the fitting gets verified.
Are the buttons hard to use?
Reviewers have described them as small and stiff, which is a real concern with arthritis or reduced dexterity. Most wearers rarely need them, because the app and automatic programs do the work. We will put a pair in your hands at the appointment so you find out then rather than later.
