ReSound vs Oticon: What’s the Difference?

Oticon offers a similar number of hearing aid products compared to ReSound, and both companies have quality products that have been trusted for decades.

When you choose a ReSound hearing aid you can decide which style is the best; invisible-in-canal (IIC), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), or having the receiver behind the ear (BTE) or in the ear (ITE).

Oticon offers those same style options with their various models. They also released the first hearing aid that connects to the internet via the “If This, Then That” (IFTTT) automation platform. You can stream your TV sound directly to your hearing aids and even control home functions like lighting through the Oticon ON app.

In the technology department, ReSound uses Organic Sound technology, which is their approach to achieving natural, unfiltered sound for the wearer of their products. They also offer Spatial Sense Technology, which helps replace spatial cues lost when a person wears hearing aids to help make the sounds they hear more natural and clear.

Equipment

ReSound has a wide selection of accessories available like microphones and streamers to help make the hearing aids easier to use and easier to connect to other devices. Through various apps, ReSound customers can also control the volume of their hearing aid from their phone and track battery status so that they’re never left surprised should a battery go out. In addition to remote care, apps available with ReSound hearing aids include tinnitus masking and a ‘find my hearing aid’ feature. The newest models are also smaller and lighter than previous models, making them more comfortable to wear and more discreet.

Testing out ReSound hearing aids

Oticon’s hearing aids are technologically advanced and offer solutions for people with all types of hearing problems. The company offers hearing aids for those with profound hearing loss as well as hearing aids that drown out much of the background noise that can be problematic for those with hearing aids. Oticon CROS hearing aids employ dual-streaming technology to provide people with single-sided deafness an immersive sound experience.

Expert Insights

From Dr. Ruth Reisman, Audiologist

Oticon, in contrast to ReSound, offers a wider range of solutions from pediatrics to adults and all degrees of hearing loss. The Intent devices have quickly become a top performer among patients, particularly in background noise.

Rechargeable Aids and Battery Life

Both companies offer hearing aids that are rechargeable. ReSound offers rechargeable battery options in receiver-in-ear (RIE), behind-the-ear (BTE), custom-made in-the-ear (ITE), and in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid styles. ReSound’s popular LiNX Quattro, for example, has batteries that last for 30 hours on one three-hour charge. Even if you stream content or movies for half that time, your batteries will still last 24 hours without needing charging. There’s also a quick-charge feature if you only have 10 minutes, which will power your hearing aids for 2.7 hours.

If you qualify for OTC hearing aids and are interested in a style with rechargeable batteries, we recommend Jabra Enhance. Jabra’s portable charging case can handle three charges and a three-hour charge will power your hearing aids for 24 hours.

>> Learn More: Best Rechargeable Hearing Aids for Seniors

Over to the Oticon side, there are currently 13 hearing aids you can power with rechargeable batteries, including Real, More, Zircon, and Intent — the last one being compatible with Oticon’s mobile app. There are also options that let you choose between disposable and rechargeable batteries, like the receiver-in-canal style Oticon Real aids.

As for the battery life of Oticon’s battery-powered hearing aids, Oticon’s desktop charger can provide four hours of power after a (roughly, depending on individual factors) 15-minute charge. That’s not as long-lasting as ReSound’s battery-powered hearing aids, but the disposable battery option on some Oticon hearing aids lets you forgo the charging altogether and simply swap out batteries when they run out of power.

ReSound vs. Oticon Pricing

If you want to find out the cost of a hearing aid from either company, you’ll have to contact a local hearing aid professional. Neither company advertises their prices online. A hearing aid professional will not only give you a price but can help you determine which style is right for you.

Hearing aid prices depend on the provider and can vary by location. Total costs also depend upon your particular hearing profile, customization choices, and add-ons. But you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 or so per hearing aid with Oticon. ReSound hearing aids typically cost around the same amount: from $1,200 to $3,500 per aid as a rough estimate.

These prices are not cheap for most people, but keep in mind that ReSound and Oticon both offer customizable and technologically advanced hearing aids for a wide range of hearing profiles. Over-the-counter hearing aids, on the other hand, while cheaper, are only FDA approved for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Also remember that in many cases, audiologists provide many follow-up appointments for adjustments at no additional cost.

ReSound and Oticon vs. the Competition

Like the Widex hearing aid brand we reviewed, ReSound and Oticon make prescription, customizable hearing aids that require a professional hearing evaluation, fitting, and follow-up appointments. Although the process takes time, this professional guidance is incredibly valuable in making sure hearing aids are comfortable and reliable, two important components in hearing aid adherence.

Both ReSound and Oticon aids come in a variety of styles and colors (the MDHearing aids we tested are significantly cheaper but only available in beige). We appreciate that ReSound continually improves the design of their hearing aids, making new models smaller and more sophisticated. The ReSound Nexia, for one example, comes with Bluetooth connectivity that allows hands-free calling with iPhone and excels in separating background noise from speech. We also like the ReSound Smart 3D app, which has a pleasing interface, sends alerts when batteries need charging, and can also provide relief from tinnitus with adjustable white noise and natural sounds.

>> Further Reading: The Best Hearing Aids for Tinnitus and Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2025

Oticon hearing aids, on the other hand, are particularly good at helping wearers adjust from noisy settings to quiet ones quickly and automatically. Some online reviewers report that Oticon’s Bluetooth connection is less reliable than some of their competitors, however.

ReSound and Oticon — along with Widex and Phonak — all rated highly in a Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey. ReSound and Oticon had higher scores than Beltone, Starkey, and Audibel, which we have also reviewed.3 Also worth noting, however, is that some parent companies own two or more hearing aid brands that earned both high and low scores.

Although we liked Beltone hearing aids when we tested them, one drawback is that their aids can only be adjusted by a Beltone specialist at a Beltone hearing center, whereas both Oticon and ReSound hearing aids can be adjusted by any audiologist who is trained in each brand’s fitting process. As with Oticon and ReSound, Beltone aid pricing is only available in an in-person visit to one of their hearing centers.

>> Related Reading: Best OTC hearing aids for seniors in 2025

In our evaluation of hearing aid brands, we chose Signia as one of the best options for people with tinnitus, as the Signia Silk Charge&Go IX comes with built-in tinnitus therapy. We also chose Phonak as an excellent choice for severe to profound hearing loss. You’ll find that Phonak’s prices for hearing aids are similar to those of both ReSound and Oticon.

If, on the other hand, you have mild to moderate hearing loss, you might like Eargo’s hearing aids, which are discreet and can be purchased online as OTC hearing aids. Another OTC hearing aid we rated highly was Jabra Enhance. These hearing aids start at around $1,000 a pair and are rechargeable, have an accompanying app for both iOS and Android, and come with a three-year warranty.

The Bottom Line

The best hearing aid for you will depend on a variety of factors, not the least of which is your health insurance provider. Some insurance companies have preferred providers and brand relationships that could mean they will only cover one brand or another’s products. Your best recommendation will come from an experienced audiologist who professionally evaluates your hearing needs and personal preferences to suggest aids appropriate for your degree of hearing loss and budget.

Keeping all that in mind, we think you’re likely to find a great option with either ReSound or Oticon, as both are venerable, well-regarded companies at the forefront of hearing innovation. Both companies have won multiple awards for both design and advancements in hearing technology, including CES Innovation Awards and Red Dot Design Awards. Oticon also offers a wide variety of hearing aid models and accessories that make their products as user-friendly as possible.

ReSound has many different accessories as well to customize the user experience. The company offers many different avenues when it comes to customer service, making it very accessible should a question or problem arise. For more information on ReSound hearing aid products, check out our ReSound review.

If you’re still not sure which company might have the best hearing aid for you, watch the video below. Audiologist Dr. Brad Ingrao discusses ReSound and Oticon hearing aids and who they’re best for.