I’m planning to get hearing aids in the very near future and will likely be using Costco. I’m currently using a Samsung A14 5G phone and I’m wondering if it is going to be workable with hearing aids, or am I going to need to update to a higher quality phone? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
It depends on what hearing aids you get.
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Both the Reach and Jabra use LE Audio so you could consider latest Sammy galaxy S model or the Pixel from Google.
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I have the Samsung A14 5G phone. It should work fine with Phonak (not an option if you are using Costco). The A14 won’t work fully hands-free with Bluetooth LE Audio phones like Oticon and Sharkey.
Add the Philips 9050 to that list too.
I would wait if you can until the end of the year to see if more manufactures install LE Audio on their new phones.
Otherwise, be careful when buying a high end phone from anyone, including Google Pixels. The Pixel 8a is currently not compatible with LE Audio.
New FCC regulations require LE Audio on all new phones by the end of 2026.
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Still, the pixel’s do use LE Audio, including most high end Sammy models including A54, it seems 8a hasn’t got the Auracast feature only? but anyways the new FCC requirements are a good thing, now if we could just carry that over to “all other devices” !
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You are correct that the Pixel 8a won’t work with Bluetooth LE Audio, but the Pixel 8 and above will. I have a Pixel 8 and it works fully hand-free with LE Audio.
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The web says LE Audio on the Pixel 8a, does have a way to set it. Can you provide a link that says it does?
As far as other devices, the laptops at Costco with Intel EVO have LE Audio.
You still need an assistant to get Auracast to work. Don’t why Google didn’t include an assistant.
Well yeah it says supported, just not Auracast capability for some reason, yeah so I keep getting told you only need version 5.2 bluetooth for LEA so pixel 8a has 5.3, and yes you right about the PC running win11, they are coming out with LEA, just need everyone on board so every device has this as a minimum… nice
But apparently it does have it, also 7, 7a, 7 pro.
Yeah have a look in “developer options” it might be there?
Does the A14 5G have an LE audio update. It has Bluetooth “LE” but I don’t see an update to use “LE AUDIO”. The A14 5G should work with most phones (see posts above) but, If you plan to buy another phone, make sure that it has the ability to handle Bluetooth LE "AUDIO since most, if not all major HA brands have or will shortly have LE Audio capability soon.
As a side note, I have purchased my last two phones as used phones from Amazon. I believe I got reasonable prices and the ability to return them within 30 days if here is a problem. I purchased my A15 5G and my S23 that way and have been very satisfied’
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Has Bluetooth v5.2 and supposedly has LE.
Pixels 7/8/9 (not sure about ‘a’ models) will give you LE Audio but don’t yet include an Auracast assistant. Samsung gives you LE Audio, Auracast assistant but I’ve heard it said in relation to the Oticon Intent that they don’t support handsfree (others will chime in on that I’m sure).
BT LE is not the same as BT LE Audio. Make sure compatibility with BT LE Audio is specifically stated in the phone’s specifications.
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Yeah so a little bit of confusion with this, we should clearly see this difference if we talk about it like this.
BLE=Bluetooth Low Energy
(Old School)
LEA=Low Energy Audio.
(New wave)
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But not the Pixel 7. Only Pixel 7a and above. **
** Edit: As of Oct 2024, the current list from Oticon for LE Audio compatibility is now Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
I stand corrected. I had previously printed the list that was updated May 2024.
Have you or anyone got a pixel 7 to check, this was supposedly part on the update for pixel phones to get this, so all that needed is as a minimum is bluetooth 5.2 and android 13.
Check the “developer options”
These are screenshots from the interwebs.
