Eargo, the Silicon Valley-based hearing aid maker, announced an all-new hearing device this week: Eargo Neo. The company, which last year received a $45 million dollar investment for “product innovation, market expansion and branding”, has been manufacturing and selling rechargeable, direct-to-consumer hearing devices since 2015.
The Neo now represents the 3rd generation of hearing devices produced by the company.
Eargo Neo: All New Hearing Aid Design
Eargo Neo, which is rechargeable and designed to fit deep in the ear canal, has an all-new design including patented Flexi Palms — which are made from soft, medical-grade silicone — that “allows for maximum breathability inside the ear, a better in-ear fit for all-day comfort, as well as richer, more natural sound quality”.
The device’s new design and form factor includes stainless steel contacts that are flush with the side of the casing, to improve retention, comfort, and acoustics.
The company says the Neo has better sound quality, less feedback and enhanced noise reduction features. A wider frequency bandwidth and better acoustic response in higher frequencies than previous innovations provides better feedback performance and more added stable gain capability for signal below 65dB SPL.
Eargo Neo’s rechargeable battery can be charged overnight and lasts up to 16 hours on a full charge. Its “quick charge” feature allows users to charge the Neo for 30 minutes to achieve up to 2-3 hours of use.
The device’s portable charging cradle is also rechargeable and includes a full charge lasting up to seven days.
Companion Mobile App and Connectivity
For the first time, Eargo is launching the Neo with a companion mobile app (available on iOS and Android in late January) that allows users to personalize their listening experience through various new sound settings.
When paired with Eargo Neo’s charging cradle via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which sends usage data to Eargo’s team of licensed hearing professionals through the cloud, users can receive continually updated sound settings based on their usage and preferences.
“Our goal has always been to build a hearing aid that a consumer WANTS to buy, and the Eargo Neo is the perfect embodiment of that goal. With an even better in-ear design, fit, personalization at their fingertips and better sound quality, Neo truly lives up to its name of ‘revival’ and will revitalize the lives of the millions of people suffering from hearing loss.”
–Christian Gormsen, CEO of Eargo
With Eargo Neo’s cloud and app connectivity, Eargo’s experience team of professionals can provide users with a more personalized hearing experience.
According to the company, downloading the companion app is not required and users can still work with Eargo’s team of licensed hearing professionals directly via customer support to adjust their device’s sound profiles to suit their needs.
Eargo Neo Pricing and Availability
The devices are slated to become available for purchase in late January 2019 at Eargo’s website, or by phone at at 1-800-61-EARGO. The company says it will be offering a promotional introductory price of $2,550 or financed at $118/month.
Eargo Neo comes with two devices, a charger, a 45-day money back guarantee, one-year warranty and ongoing support by Eargo’s licensed hearing professionals, with the option to extend the warranty to two years for an added cost. The devices are only available in the United States and will available to try and experience at b8ta stores in Houston, New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica and Short Hills, New Jersey.
Source: Eargo
Nothing new! But the fact that they are direct marketing should ring alarm bells, Why not through a manufacturer who can investigate better into the technology and its effectiveness, than the hapless user who gets fooled on the internet.
Sounds like a scam to me. Can you prove it otherwise?
Thank you for your comment, Anjan. Each Eargo client is matched with one of our audiologists (we call them Personal Hearing Professionals). They’ll work with each client to determine whether Eargo is right for their mild to moderate, high-frequency hearing loss and if so, will help them acclimate to the device and determine which of our four Sound Profiles work best for the client’s lifestyle. It’s important to note each purchase of our modern hearing aids comes with a 45 day, money-back guarantee so clients can return their devices, no questions asked, should they not work for their unique hearing loss. Have questions? We’re happy to dive in at [email protected], or our Personal Hearing Guides (think of them as your personal ear concierge) are all ears at 1-800-481-1302.