Anker announces its first over-the-counter hearing aids

<figure> <img alt="The Anker over-the-counter hearing aids and their charging case on a two-tone white and yellow background." data-caption="Anker’s first OTC hearing aids, powered by the Thus chip, are expected in coming months. | Image: Anker" data-portal-copyright="Image: Anker" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/anker-otc-hearing-aid-image.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Anker’s first OTC hearing aids, powered by the Thus chip, are expected in coming months. | Image: Anker </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In what could be fortuitous timing for hearing aid users, Anker announced its first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids at IFA 2026. It was only a couple months ago when LXE Hearing, the parent company for Eargo and Lexie Hearing - two major OTC manufacturers in the US - decided to end US operations and <a href="https://hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/otc/lxe-hearing-announces-wind-down-of-us-operations-affecting-eargo-lexie-and-go-brands" data-type="link" data-id="https://hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/otc/lxe-hearing-announces-wind-down-of-us-operations-affecting-eargo-lexie-and-go-brands">exit the OTC hearing aid market</a>. Now perhaps Anker can fill that void.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The receiver-in-canal (RIC) design has a main body that rests behind the ear. It uses Anker's Thus chip, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/916463/anker-thus-chip-announcement" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/tech/916463/anker-thus-chip-announcement">announced in April</a> and first released in the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/935766/soundcore-liberty-5-pro-series-earbuds-review" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.theverge.com/tech/935766/soundcore-liberty-5-pro-series-earbuds-review">Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds</a> series. The chip delivers the best voice isolation I've ever heard on any audio product an …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/986377/ankers-first-otc-hearing-aids-ifa-2026">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>