Sony
CRE-E10
$899 – $1,099 / pair
Last typical street price before discontinuation; remaining stock may sell below this.
The Sony CRE-E10 is discontinued: Sony ended its hearing aid partnership with WS Audiology in April 2026 and wound down the model. It was Sony's flagship OTC hearing aid — an earbud-style, self-fitting device that ranked #1 of 60 OTC products in HearAdvisor lab testing, with 26-hour battery life and iPhone streaming. Existing warranties are being honored, and remaining stock is selling at clearance prices.
By Lilly Seay · Updated July 2026
At a Glance
What we like
- Best measured sound quality of any OTC device in HearAdvisor's lab — #1 of 60 — including excellent speech-in-noise
- 26 hours per charge, far beyond typical earbuds, in a light 3 g earbud design
- Set itself up through app-guided self-fitting — no audiologist visit needed
- IP68 water and dust resistance, unusual toughness for an earbud-style device
Worth knowing
- Discontinued in April 2026 with no successor — shrinking stock and no future product support path
- Relies on the Sony Hearing Control app for fitting and adjustments; if the app stops being updated, setup on a new phone gets risky
- Streaming and hands-free calls are iPhone-only; Android gets app control but no audio
- No physical buttons or touch controls, and the non-custom fit may not stay put in every ear
A great fit if you…
find a deep clearance deal, use an iPhone, and can accept a device with no successor and no repairs once warranty support ends — a case that shrinks every month
Look elsewhere if you…
want a hearing aid with a future — ongoing support, app updates, and replacement parts. That's most people reading this page.
Standout Features
- Ranked #1 of 60 OTC devices in HearAdvisor lab testing (A SoundGrade)
- Earbud-style design at 3 g per bud, click-sleeve sizes XS–L
- Up to 26 hours per charge; 30-minute quick charge adds 6 hours
- Made-for-iPhone streaming and hands-free calling (iOS only)
- App-guided self-fitting through Sony Hearing Control
- IP68 water and dust resistance
Full Specifications
| Last street price (per pair) | $899 – $1,099 |
|---|---|
| Style | Earbud |
| Category | Over-the-counter (OTC) |
| Released | 2023 |
| Fits hearing loss | Mild to moderate |
| Rechargeable | Yes |
| Disposable battery option | No |
| Battery life | Up to 26 hours |
| Bluetooth streaming | Yes |
| Bluetooth LE Audio | No |
| Auracast ready | No |
| iPhone streaming | Yes |
| Android streaming | No |
| Hands-free calls | Yes |
| Companion app | Sony Hearing Control |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
| Telecoil | — |
| CROS option | No |
Our Take
The CRE-E10 was Sony's answer to a simple question: what if a hearing aid just looked like earbuds? Launched in 2023, it was a self-fitting OTC device you set up yourself through the Sony Hearing Control app — no audiologist needed. And it wasn't just a friendly design. It ranked #1 of 60 OTC devices in HearAdvisor's lab testing with an A SoundGrade, ran up to 26 hours on a charge, and streamed calls and audio straight from an iPhone. For a lot of people, it was the first hearing aid they didn't mind being seen in.
The earbud-style OTC niche Sony helped pioneer is now well served by others — Apple and Sennheiser both sell devices that look just as ordinary in your ears — and Sony has stepped away from it. Sony ended its hearing aid partnership with WS Audiology in April 2026 and discontinued this model. If you own a pair, your warranty is still being honored, but there is no successor and no long-term support path. Because fitting and adjustments run through the Sony Hearing Control app, a future phone change could get complicated if that app stops being maintained. Remaining stock is selling at clearance prices, and buying it now means accepting all of that.
If the earbud look is what drew you here, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 with hearing aid features ($199–$249) now cover that ground for far less — and like the Sony, they pair best with an iPhone. If you liked the CRE-E10's balance of price and performance, the Sennheiser All-Day Clear ($800–$1,000) sits in the same range from a product line that's still sold and supported. And if you're ready to spend more, the Jabra Enhance Select 700 ($1,695–$1,995) is a current option with a road ahead. Whatever you choose, pick something that will still be supported in five years.
Alternatives to Consider
Still-available models closest to this one by style and price. Tap any model for its full review.
| Model | Price / pair | Style | Rechargeable | LE Audio | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony CRE-E10 this model | $899 – $1,099 | Earbud | Yes | No | 26 hrs |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Hearing Aid) | $199 – $249 | Earbud | Yes | No | 10 hrs |
| Jabra Enhance Select 700 | $1,695 – $1,995 | RIC | Yes | Yes | 24 hrs |
| Jabra Enhance Select 300 | $1,695 | RIC | Yes | No | 24 hrs |
| Sennheiser All-Day Clear | $800 – $1,000 | RIC | Yes | No | 24 hrs |
| ELEHEAR Beyond Pro | $599 | RIC | Yes | — | 20 hrs |
| MDHearing NEO XS PRO | $497 – $597 | CIC | Yes | No | 18 hrs |
Apple
AirPods Pro 3 (Hearing Aid)
$199 – $249 / pair
Affordable part-time hearing help for iPhone users with mild-to-moderate loss
Jabra
Enhance Select 700
$1,695 – $1,995 / pair
Premium OTC package with three years of remote audiology care included
Jabra
Enhance Select 300
$1,695 / pair
Sound quality that holds up in lab testing, with real audiology support built into the price
Prices are typical US per-pair street prices as of July 2026 and vary by clinic, technology level, and included services. Hearing Buddy is not affiliated with Sony and doesn't sell hearing aids — this guide is independent research for the hard of hearing community. Always confirm fit and pricing with a licensed hearing care professional.
Sony CRE-E10 Questions
Yes. Sony ended its hearing aid partnership with WS Audiology in April 2026 and discontinued the CRE-E10 along with its other hearing aids. Existing warranties are being honored, and remaining stock is selling at clearance prices — often below its last typical street price of $899–$1,099. There is no Sony successor model, so once current stock is gone, it's gone.
The earbuds themselves will keep working, and Sony is honoring existing warranties. The bigger question is the Sony Hearing Control app: the CRE-E10 depends on it for self-fitting and adjustments, and apps for discontinued products don't always get updates forever. Keep the app installed, note your current settings, and start thinking about a replacement plan before a lost bud, a repair, or a phone change forces the decision.
For the same earbud style at a much lower price, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 with hearing aid features run $199–$249 and, like the CRE-E10, work best with an iPhone. The Sennheiser All-Day Clear ($800–$1,000) is the closest match to the Sony's price range and is still actively sold. With a bigger budget, the Jabra Enhance Select 700 ($1,695–$1,995) is another current option.
Only with your eyes open. It topped HearAdvisor's lab rankings of 60 OTC devices, so a deep discount with an honored warranty can be a fair deal for an iPhone user with mild to moderate hearing loss. But there's no successor, no long-term support path, and the companion app may not be updated forever. For most people, a supported option like the Sennheiser All-Day Clear ($800–$1,000) is the safer buy.
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