Legato starts selling Legato Frames hearing glasses from $999

In short: Legato says its Legato Frames, glasses that help people hear better using on-device AI, are now available to buy starting at $999.

What happened

Legato, a hearing tech startup, announced that its Legato Frames are now on sale. The company says the hearing-assist technology is built into the arms of the glasses, so it looks more like normal eyewear than traditional hearing aids.

Legato Frames start at $999 and are aimed at adults with up to moderate hearing loss. The company says the product is meant to reduce common barriers to hearing care, including cost, comfort, and the stigma some people feel when wearing hearing aids.

Legato says its system uses AI, meaning software that can sort and react to sounds, to tell voices apart from background noise. In simple terms, it tries to turn up speech and turn down distractions, like a smart volume control.

The glasses use an open-ear design, but Legato says people nearby should not hear the sound. The company claims a dual-speaker setup directs audio toward the wearer and cancels sound that leaks out, reducing it by 99% a few inches from the ear.

Legato also says all the sound processing happens on the glasses, with no cameras and no recording. The frames weigh 34 grams with lenses, have an estimated 10 to 12 hours of battery life, support prescription lenses, and can stream music and calls over Bluetooth.

Legato Frames are sold on the company’s website and through select U.S. eye care providers, where they may be covered by vision insurance.

Why it matters

For many people, hearing aids can be expensive and uncomfortable, and some do not want a visible device. Putting hearing help into everyday glasses could make it easier for some people to try support in places like restaurants and family gatherings.

Source: TechCrunch AI