Bose-Powered Lexie vs Other OTC Hearing Aids in 2026
Bose partnered with Lexie to bring its hearing aid technology to the OTC market. Here's how the Lexie B2 Plus compares to Jabra and Sony alternatives.
The OTC hearing aid market in 2026 has four major players: Lexie (Powered by Bose), Jabra, Sony, and (still sort of) Bose itself. This comparison explains how they stack up.
The Products
Best OTC hearing aid of 2026 — Bose sound tuning, self-fitting.
Discreet in-ear OTC hearing aid with Bluetooth streaming.
Sony self-fitting OTC hearing aid with replaceable batteries.
Behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid with Bose personalization.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Lexie B2 Plus (Powered by Bose) | Jabra Enhance Plus | Sony CRE-E10 OTC Hearing Aid | Lexie B1 (Powered by Bose) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $999 | $799 | $999 | $849 |
| Form factor | Behind-the-ear | In-ear (discreet) | Behind-the-ear | Behind-the-ear |
| Battery | Rechargeable (16h) | Rechargeable (10h) | Replaceable (5–7 days) | Replaceable (5–7 days) |
| Bluetooth streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Calls only |
| Self-fitting app | Excellent (Lexie) | Good (Jabra) | OK (Sony) | Excellent (Lexie) |
| Noise reduction | Excellent (Bose) | Good | Excellent (Sony) | Excellent (Bose) |
| Best for | Overall best | Discreet use | Replaceable battery | Budget Bose sound |
Why Lexie B2 Plus Wins Overall
The Lexie B2 Plus is our top pick for most buyers because:
- Bose sound processing is the best in noisy environments (restaurants, social gatherings)
- Self-fitting app is the most senior-friendly
- Rechargeable battery (16 hours) eliminates fumbling with tiny replaceable batteries
- Bluetooth streaming for phone calls and music
At $999, it's at the higher end of the OTC market but still 60–80% less than comparable prescription devices.
When to Consider Alternatives
Choose Jabra Enhance Plus ($799) if: You prioritize discretion (in-ear form factor is barely visible) and want to save $200.
Choose Sony CRE-E10 ($999) if: You want replaceable batteries (no charging required) and Bluetooth streaming (rare combination).
Choose Lexie B1 ($849) if: You want Bose sound at a lower price and don't need rechargeable batteries or music streaming.
The Verdict
For most buyers: Lexie B2 Plus Powered by Bose ($999) is the best OTC hearing aid in 2026. For discreet use: Jabra Enhance Plus ($799). For replaceable batteries: Sony CRE-E10 ($999) or Lexie B1 ($849).
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexie Hearing partnered with Bose in 2022 to bring Bose's hearing aid technology to the OTC market. The Lexie B2 Plus uses Bose's sound processing algorithms and is marketed as 'Powered by Bose.' Bose itself discontinued its direct OTC hearing aid (the Bose SoundControl) in 2023 and now licenses its technology to Lexie.
In our testing, the Lexie B2 Plus (Powered by Bose) has the best sound quality, particularly in noisy environments like restaurants. Bose's Active Sense technology uses machine learning to distinguish speech from noise in real-time. The Sony CRE-E10 has comparable sound quality but a less polished app.