The short version: Made-for-iPhone hearing aids stream audio from phone, smart speakers, and TV directly into the hearing aids. Setup takes 10 minutes in iPhone Bluetooth + Accessibility settings. Pair with Echo Show for hands-free phone calls.
What MFi does
Made-for-iPhone hearing aids use a low-energy Bluetooth profile that lets iPhone stream audio directly into the hearing aids. Active streaming for:
- Phone calls
- FaceTime video calls
- Music and audiobooks
- Apple TV
- Echo Show (with extra setup)
Volume and balance controls accessible from iPhone Control Center and the hearing aid manufacturer’s app.
Compatible brands
Most premium hearing aids in 2026 support MFi:
- Phonak (especially Audeo Lumity, Audeo Sphere)
- ReSound (One, Nexia, Vivia)
- Oticon (Real, More)
- Starkey (Genesis AI)
- Widex (Moment, SmartRIC)
Setup with iPhone
- iPhone Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices.
- Pair the hearing aids when prompted (specific procedure varies by brand).
- After pairing, hearing aids appear as audio output options.
Setup with Echo Show or Nest Hub
For senior users who use a smart display for video calling:
- Confirm hearing aids are paired with iPhone (above).
- In Alexa app or Google Home app, enable “Audio output to my phone” or similar.
- Calls into Echo Show or Nest Hub route audio through the hearing aids during the call.
This is the highest-leverage setup for a senior with hearing loss who video-calls family, the family’s voice streams clearly into the hearing aids.
What to skip
Hearing aid amplifiers from off-brand manufacturers. They’re not certified hearing aids and don’t perform comparably.
Bluetooth-streaming accessories that bridge non-MFi hearing aids, usually outdated and lower quality.
What to do next
If the user has hearing aids: check whether they’re MFi-compatible. Most premium aids 2018+ are.
For broader caregiver tech, see caregiver tech setup for adult children.