Quick Answer: Sony’s OTC hearing aids are discontinued. Sony confirmed in April 2026 that it is ending its CRE series, and when we checked Amazon on October 30, 2026, searches for the CRE-E10, CRE-C20, and CRE-C10 returned only Sony replacement sleeves (about $14.99 to $19.99 a pack), not the aids themselves. If you already own one, keep using it and stock up on sleeves; if you are buying now, the closest supported replacement is the Jabra Enhance Select M2 Swift ($999 a pair on Amazon), with the ELEHEAR Beyond Pro ($599.99) as the value pick.
Updated October 30, 2026. Sony confirmed in April 2026 that it is discontinuing its CRE-series OTC hearing aids, and they were removed from Sony’s own website. Our June update still pointed buyers to leftover stock and to Lexie B2 as an alternative; both have changed. A fresh Amazon check on October 30, 2026 found no Sony hearing aid listings, only sleeves, and Lexie’s US parent LXE Hearing entered an assignment for the benefit of creditors in July 2026, so we no longer recommend Lexie either. The specs below stay up as a reference for owners; the buying advice is in what to buy instead of Sony.
Sony is best known for headphones and TVs, but its CRE-series hearing aids were the real deal: they were co-developed with WS Audiology, the company behind the prescription brands Signia and Widex, so the sound processing is clinical-grade rather than a cheap amplifier. The result is a small, trusted lineup that splits the difference between a $99 sound amplifier and a $3,000 clinic fitting. According to the NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders), about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet fewer than one in three adults over 70 who could benefit has ever used them — and price plus stigma are the biggest reasons why. Here is how the three Sony models compared, what owners can still buy for them, and which supported hearing aids replace them.
Sony hearing aids at a glance, by the numbers
- ~$3,000 is the average out-of-pocket cost of a pair of traditional prescription hearing aids, per the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Sony’s OTC CRE line sold well under that, at roughly $999 to $1,299 a pair.
- 0 Sony CRE hearing aid listings turned up in our Amazon search on October 30, 2026; only Sony replacement sleeves (closed and vented, three pairs per pack, $14.99 to $19.99) were still listed.
- Up to 26 hours of battery per charge is what Sony rates for the rechargeable CRE-E10, enough for a full waking day even with Bluetooth streaming.
- 2022 is the year the FDA’s OTC hearing aid rule took effect, making self-fitting devices like Sony’s CRE series legal to buy online without a prescription for perceived mild-to-moderate loss.
- WS Audiology — the parent of prescription brands Signia and Widex — engineered the sound platform inside Sony’s CRE hearing aids, which is why they punch above typical consumer-electronics expectations.
Sony hearing aids lineup compared (discontinued 2026)
| Model | Best for | Style | Battery | Bluetooth streaming | Last price (pair) | Status (Oct 30, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony CRE-E10 | Best overall | Earbud-style ITE, OTC | Rechargeable | Calls + media, iOS & Android | About $1,299 | Discontinued; only sleeves on Amazon |
| Sony CRE-C20 | Best discreet rechargeable | CIC, OTC | Rechargeable | App control only | About $1,099 | Discontinued; only sleeves on Amazon |
| Sony CRE-C10 | Most invisible | CIC, OTC | Size-10 disposable | App control only | About $999 | Discontinued; only sleeves on Amazon |
1. Sony CRE-E10: The Streaming Model (Discontinued)
Sony CRE-E10
- True Bluetooth audio streaming for phone calls and media from both iPhone and Android.
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated up to 26 hours per charge, with a portable charging case.
- Self-fitting via the Sony Hearing Control app — set it up at home in minutes, no clinic visit.
- Clinical-grade Signia/WS Audiology sound processing for clearer speech in noise.
The CRE-E10 was the most capable Sony hearing aid and the one most “best OTC” lists singled out. It’s an earbud-style in-the-ear device, so it’s a touch more visible than the in-canal C-series, but in return you get the one feature the others lack: real Bluetooth streaming. Take calls hands-free and stream TV, podcasts, and music straight into your ears, all with the same Signia-derived sound engine. If streaming is your priority now, the Jabra Enhance Select M2 Swift is the closest supported replacement; see our roundup of the best Bluetooth hearing aids.
2. Sony CRE-C20: The Discreet Rechargeable (Discontinued)
Sony CRE-C20
- Completely-in-canal fit that sits deep enough to be nearly invisible in the ear.
- Rechargeable — no more fiddling with tiny size-10 batteries every few days.
- App-tuned volume, programs, and fine adjustments via Bluetooth (no audio streaming).
- Same WS Audiology sound platform as the rest of the CRE line.
The CRE-C20 was the sweet spot for buyers who wanted to disappear their hearing aids but hated disposable batteries. It’s essentially a rechargeable version of the famous CRE-C10: the same discreet completely-in-canal shape, now with a charging case instead of a battery drawer. You give up audio streaming, but if you mostly want clearer conversations rather than headphone duty, that’s an easy trade. For more options in this style, see our best invisible hearing aids and best rechargeable hearing aids guides.
3. Sony CRE-C10: The Most Invisible (Discontinued)
Sony CRE-C10
- One of the smallest self-fitting OTC hearing aids available — virtually unnoticeable in the ear.
- Runs on common, inexpensive size-10 zinc-air batteries you can swap yourself.
- Self-fitting and adjustable through the Sony Hearing Control app.
- Often the lowest-priced way into Sony's clinical-grade CRE sound.
The CRE-C10 is the model that put Sony on the OTC map, and if you own one it is still one of the most invisible OTC aids made. It sits deep in the canal where almost no one will spot it, and it uses cheap, widely available size-10 batteries — handy if you don’t want to remember to charge nightly. The trade-offs versus the C20 are the disposable batteries and a slightly older platform, but it was one of the best values in completely-in-canal hearing aids. Stock up on the right cells in our best hearing aid batteries guide.
What to buy instead of Sony (prices checked October 30, 2026)
Sony’s sound was good because WS Audiology built it, but a discontinued hearing aid is a risky buy: replacement parts, app updates, and warranty service all depend on the maker. These are the supported alternatives we would pick today, matched to the Sony model they replace.
| If you wanted | Buy instead | Why | Price (Amazon, Oct 30, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRE-E10 (streaming, self-fit) | Jabra Enhance Select M2 Swift | FDA-cleared self-fitting, Bluetooth streaming for iOS and Android, LE Audio and Auracast support, over 24 hours per charge, IP68; 1-year warranty plus 1-year loss and damage cover | $999 a pair |
| CRE-E10 with professional care | Jabra Enhance Select M3 Aureon | Same 2.12 g mini RIE design plus remote programming by a licensed hearing professional, 7 days a week | $1,995 a pair |
| Lower price, still rechargeable | ELEHEAR Beyond Pro | Receiver-in-canal, up to 20 hours per charge plus 4 extra charges in the case, app with remote support | $599.99 a pair |
| Already own AirPods-style earbuds | AirPods Pro 3 (Hearing Aid feature) | FDA-authorized hearing aid software feature for perceived mild-to-moderate loss | About $249 |
| CRE-C10/C20 invisibility | No like-for-like supported CIC pick yet | Most deep-canal OTC aids we trusted were Eargo or Lexie models, now affected by the LXE Hearing wind-down; see our best invisible hearing aids guide before you buy | Varies |
Prices change often, and Amazon listed the Jabra M2 Swift and M3 Aureon with limited stock on October 30, 2026, so check the live price before you order. If you still own a working Sony, there is no need to replace it today: keep it charged, keep spare sleeves, and check Sony’s support pages for app and warranty status. When it eventually fails, any of the picks above is a supported upgrade. For bundled remote audiologist care, start with our Jabra Enhance review; for rock-bottom budgets, an Audien or other cheap hearing aid under $300 costs far less, with fewer features.
Who should NOT buy an OTC Sony hearing aid
OTC hearing aids, Sony’s included, are FDA-regulated for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. See a hearing professional first if any of these apply:
- Your hearing loss is severe, came on suddenly, or affects one ear only — start with our severe hearing loss guide and a medical check.
- You have ear pain, drainage, or known excess earwax.
- Your tinnitus is pulsing or one-sided — see our tinnitus guide and a doctor first.
- You’re buying for a child — OTC hearing aids are for adults 18 and older only.
The bottom line
Sony’s CRE-E10, CRE-C20, and CRE-C10 were among the most credible self-fitting OTC hearing aids, but Sony discontinued them in 2026, and our October 30, 2026 Amazon check found only replacement sleeves left. If you own one, keep using it and stock up on sleeves. If you are buying, the Jabra Enhance Select M2 Swift ($999 a pair) is the closest supported replacement for the CRE-E10, and the ELEHEAR Beyond Pro ($599.99) is the value pick.