There are some people who need hearing aids, but because of the cost, which could easily run you up a few thousand, some simply cannot afford it. However, Meta has a much cheaper option on the way. The company says some of its smart glasses will soon work as an FDA-cleared hearing aid for a one-time fee of $149.99.
This is huge news because according to a HearingTracker survey, a pair of prescription hearing aids costs $3,432 on average. The Meta Glasses, on the other hand, launched at $299. If your pair ends up supported, the glasses plus the fee would still come in under $450. But there’s some fine print you should take note of.
How Meta’s glasses help you hear
Meta announced the feature, called Hearing Enhancement, at its Connect event on September 23. How it works is you take a short hearing test in the Meta app, and the glasses then boost sound based on your results. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it can save people from spending thousands of dollars on a traditional hearing aid.
You don’t need a prescription or a trip to a clinic. You can turn it on or off by saying “Hey Meta, start Hearing Enhancement.” Don’t worry, there’s a 30-day free trial just in case it doesn’t live up to your expectations. After that, you pay the $149.99 once or get it through a Meta One subscription.
Meta says you can also pay with a health savings or flexible spending account, depending on your plan’s rules.
Check these details before you buy
That being said, the feature is only meant for adults 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss. It’s also worth mentioning it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Audiologists at Audiology Associates of Westchester say it’s not the right fit if you have sudden hearing loss, dizziness, ear pain, or new problems in just one ear.
Meta also hasn’t said exactly which glasses will support it. However, it starts on select models from Meta’s own Meta Glasses line. Ray-Ban Meta glasses won’t get it at launch, and that includes the new camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio.
Meta isn’t the first to try and repurpose its existing products into health/medical devices. Apple already offers a similar hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro. Samsung’s version for Galaxy Buds arrives later this year.
Hearing Enhancement launches in the US later this year, but there’s no exact date yet. So hold off on buying new glasses just for this until Meta confirms your model works.