Put the Starkey and ReSound price lists next to each other and the first thing you notice is that they don’t count the same way. Starkey prices every hearing aid per unit and throws in the charger if you buy two. ReSound prices its rechargeable models as kits, either one aid with a charger or a pair with a premium charger, so a straight comparison of the headline numbers will mislead you unless you adjust for it.
This post makes that adjustment tier by tier, using Starkey’s 2026 price list and ReSound’s list effective 15 June 2026, and says where each brand looks stronger on paper. Both are fitted at Hearwell, and the full ranges are on our Starkey and ReSound pages.
| At a Glance ✓ Compare pairs, not single prices: Starkey’s charger is free on a pair, while ReSound’s single-aid kits already include one. ✓ At the top, Genesis AI 24 costs ₹7,60,000 a pair against ₹8,89,995 for Vivia 9. In the middle tiers ReSound’s Vivia 5 and Vivia 4 come out cheaper than their Starkey rivals. ✓ Starkey is deeper in custom and invisible models, including wireless CICs and a rechargeable CIC. ReSound’s CIC and IIC models are all non-wireless on its list. ✓ ReSound lists Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast and a rechargeable super-power BTE (Enzo IA). Starkey lists fall alert and activity tracking on Genesis AI and Evolv AI. ✓ Warranty: Starkey gives 3 years on Genesis AI and Signature, 2 on the rest. ReSound gives 2 years, plus 2 more on its level 9 and 7 models. |
How the Two Price Lists Count Differently
Take ReSound’s Vivia 4 as an example. A single aid with a standard charger is ₹97,495. A pair with one premium charger is ₹1,73,995, and two single kits would cost ₹1,94,990, so buying as a pair saves ₹20,995. That same ₹20,995 gap shows up on Vivia 9, 7 and 5 as well, and runs between ₹17,000 and ₹21,000 on the BTE kits.
Starkey’s list is cleaner. Every price is per unit, and the note at the bottom of each rechargeable page says a premium charger comes free with a binaural purchase. Someone buying one rechargeable Starkey would pay ₹17,000 to ₹20,000 extra for the charger, but nobody fitting two ears does.
So the tables below use pair prices wherever a rechargeable model is involved: twice the Starkey unit price against ReSound’s pair kit. For non-rechargeable models both brands quote a per-unit MRP, and I’ve kept it that way.
Flagships: Genesis AI Against Vivia
These are the two models most people are actually cross-shopping, and on pair prices Starkey’s top level is about ₹1.3 lakh cheaper. The picture changes as you move down. Each row below pairs the same rank in each family, rechargeable receiver-in-canal models only.
| Rank | Starkey Genesis AI (mRIC R) | Pair price (₹) | ReSound Vivia (MicroRIE) | Pair kit (₹) |
| Top | Genesis AI 24, 24 channels | 7,60,000 | Vivia 9, 17 channels | 8,89,995 |
| Second | Genesis AI 20, 20 channels | 5,20,000 | Vivia 7, 14 channels | 5,07,995 |
| Third | Genesis AI 16, 16 channels | 3,60,000 | Vivia 5, 12 channels | 2,89,995 |
| Fourth | Genesis AI 12, 12 channels | 2,20,000 | Vivia 4, 12 channels | 1,73,995 |
ReSound is ₹12,005 under Starkey at the second rank, ₹70,005 under at the third and ₹46,005 under at the fourth. Starkey only comes out ahead at the very top. Channel counts also differ between brands and shouldn’t be read as a like-for-like score; the point is that a buyer in the ₹3 lakh pair range would be looking at Vivia 5 on one side and Genesis AI 16 on the other, and the ReSound is the cheaper of the two by about ₹70,000.
On features, Starkey’s sheet leans on the Neuro Processor, which it says makes 80 million personalised adjustments an hour, plus Pro8 HydraShield waterproofing (IP68+), fall alert and activity tracking through the My Starkey app, and a 3-year warranty. Voice AI, Translate and Transcribe sit on the upper levels, and Voice AI needs an iPhone. ReSound’s sheet leads with a deep neural network chip, Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, IP68 nanocoating on every rechargeable model, and the M&RIE microphone-in-ear receiver on the kits. One line on the ReSound sheet matters to some buyers: Vivia is not bimodally compatible with Cochlear implants.
The Previous Generation Still on Sale: Evolv AI and Nexia
Both brands keep their older premium line in the catalogue, and this is where the price gaps get odd. Starkey’s Evolv AI runs through five levels from 1000 to 2400, while ReSound’s Nexia has four. Evolv AI also adds fall alert and a 2.4 GHz CIC with integrated sensors, and carries a 2-year warranty.
| Starkey Evolv AI (RIC R) | Pair price (₹) | Nearest ReSound step | Pair kit (₹) |
| Evolv AI 2400 | 7,00,000 | Nexia 9 MicroRIE | 8,89,995 |
| Evolv AI 2000 | 4,60,000 | Nexia 7 MicroRIE | 5,07,995 |
| Evolv AI 1600 | 3,00,000 | Nexia 5 MicroRIE | 2,89,995 |
| Evolv AI 1200 | 1,60,000 | Nexia 4 MicroRIE | 1,73,995 |
| Evolv AI 1000 | 1,00,000 | OMNIA 4 MiniRIE | 1,34,995 |
The Starkey side is cheaper in four of the five rows, by as much as ₹1,89,995 at the top. Evolv AI 1600 is the exception, where Nexia 5 undercuts it by ₹10,005. Nexia 9, Enzo IA 9 and Vivia 9 all carry the same ₹8,89,995 pair price on ReSound’s list, so choosing between them is about style and features and not about money.
Value Lines: Livio and Model S Against Key and Savi
This is the group most first-time buyers end up in, and it’s the only place where a per-unit comparison works cleanly, because the non-rechargeable models are quoted that way by both brands. Sorted by price:
| Brand | Model | Style | Channels | Per unit (₹) |
| ReSound | Key 261 / 262 | RIE | 6 | 24,995 |
| Starkey | Model S-2 | RIC 312 or BTE 13 | 12 | 25,000 |
| ReSound | Key 361 / 362 | RIE | 8 | 30,495 |
| ReSound | Savi 2 | RIE | 10 | 30,495 |
| Starkey | Livio 1000 | RIC 312 or BTE 13 | 10 | 32,000 |
| Starkey | Model S-3 | RIC 312 or BTE 13 | 16 | 35,000 |
| ReSound | Key 461 / 462 | RIE | 12 | 43,995 |
| ReSound | Savi 3 | RIE | 12 | 43,995 |
| Starkey | Livio 1200 | RIC 312 or BTE 13 | 12 | 50,000 |
| ReSound | Savi 4 | RIE | 12 | 59,995 |
| Starkey | Livio 1600 | RIC 312 or BTE 13 | 16 | 1,00,000 |
Starkey lists more channels at the cheap end. Model S-2 has 12 for ₹25,000, where ReSound’s Key 261 has 6 for ₹24,995, though whether that is audible depends on the fitting rather than the number. In rechargeable form the two nearly meet: a pair of Livio 1200 RIC R is ₹1,20,000 and a pair of Key 461 kits is ₹1,14,995, both at 12 channels. A pair of Livio 1000 RIC R is ₹84,000 against ₹94,995 for Key 361 kits.
ReSound’s newest value entries, Savi ITC, CIC and IIC and the Enzo Core power BTEs, are marked on the sheet as available from August 2026. Starkey’s cheapest model on the whole list is Muse 1000 at ₹20,000, a custom aid, and ReSound’s is the Key 188 / 177 BTE at ₹21,995.
Custom and Invisible Models
Starkey is the stronger of the two here, and the sheets make the reason easy to see. It lists a wireless CIC, a rechargeable CIC and an IIC in several tiers; ReSound’s CIC and IIC models are all marked non-wireless, and its rechargeable custom option stops at the ITC. For anyone set on the smallest possible aid, that decides the question before price does.
| What you want | Starkey (per unit) | ReSound (per unit) |
| Cheapest custom shell | Muse 1000 ₹20,000; Picasso 1000 ₹25,000 | Key 3 CIC or IIC ₹27,995 |
| Mid-level non-wireless CIC | Evolv AI 1200 CIC ₹70,000; IIC ₹80,000 | Nexia 4 CIC or IIC ₹78,995; OMNIA 4 ₹54,995 |
| Wireless CIC | Evolv AI 1000 ₹50,000 up to Genesis AI 24 ₹3,80,000 | Not on the list; wireless starts at ITC (Key 2 ITC ₹29,995) |
| Rechargeable custom | Signature CIC R ₹1,90,000 to ₹3,90,000; ITC R / ITE R from ₹60,000 | Nexia ITC kit ₹98,995 (single) to ₹4,55,495 |
| Top CIC / IIC | Signature 24 CIC ₹3,70,000; IIC ₹3,80,000 | Nexia 9 CIC or IIC ₹4,14,995 |
Starkey also sells Picasso and Muse custom lines in CIC, ITC and ITE, running from ₹20,000 to ₹2,00,000, and SoundLens iQ in IIC at ₹90,000, ₹1,40,000 and ₹2,20,000. Our guide on what CIC and IIC aids cost across brands covers who these shells suit and who they don’t, and the CIC page shows what’s in stock.
Power: BTEs for Severe Loss
Both brands cover severe hearing loss, but through different routes. Starkey’s only power-class option is the Evolv AI BTE PP, which fits from 20 to 120 dB. ReSound has three families of super-power BTE, and one of them, Enzo IA, is rechargeable. Anyone who wants a rechargeable aid for a severe loss will find only ReSound offering it in the power class on these lists; Starkey’s rechargeable BTE fits to 105 dB.
| Brand | Model | Rechargeable | Per unit (₹) |
| Starkey | Evolv AI BTE PP, levels 1000 / 1200 / 1600 / 2000 / 2400 | No | 45,000 / 70,000 / 1,40,000 / 2,20,000 / 3,40,000 |
| ReSound | Key SP BTE 298 / 398 / 498 | No | 29,995 / 41,995 / 51,995 |
| ReSound | Enzo Core SP BTE 2 / 3 / 4 (from Aug 2026) | No | 29,995 / 41,995 / 51,995 |
| ReSound | Enzo Q SP BTE 5 / 7 / 9 (60 to 120 dB) | No | 71,995 / 1,57,995 / 3,49,995 |
| ReSound | Enzo IA SP BTE 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 9 (single kit with desktop charger) | Yes | 75,995 / 88,495 / 1,55,495 / 2,62,495 / 4,53,495 |
The cheapest entry to a power BTE is on the ReSound side, at ₹29,995 for either a Key 298 or an Enzo Core 2, against ₹45,000 for Starkey’s Evolv AI 1000 BTE PP. At the top the order flips, with Evolv AI 2400 at ₹3,40,000 and Enzo Q 9 at ₹3,49,995 within ₹10,000 of each other.
Chargers, Accessories and Warranty
| Item | Starkey | ReSound |
| Portable premium charger | ₹20,000 (Premium Charger 2.0) | ₹15,500 (RIE Premium Charger) |
| Standard or desktop charger | ₹17,000 (Premium Standard, for Evolv AI and Livio) | ₹10,500 standard; ₹8,500 desktop |
| TV streamer | ₹14,000 | ₹17,700 |
| Remote microphone | ₹14,000 (Remote Mic+) | ₹17,700 (Multi Mic+) |
| Table microphone | ₹30,000 | Not listed |
| CROS transmitter | ₹25,000 | ₹54,995 (Vivia, Nexia MicroRIE); ₹63,495 (Nexia NP BTE) |
On warranty, Starkey gives 3 years on Genesis AI and the Signature Series and 2 years on everything else. ReSound’s column reads “standard plus promotional” years: 2+2 on level 9 and 7 models, 2+1 on level 5 and a plain 2 below that. Chargers and wireless accessories carry 1 year at both brands, and ReSound sells an extended warranty at 10 or 15 percent of the MRP plus GST, which has to be bought within six months of purchase.
Starkey’s list also states that hearing aids bought through an e-commerce site or online portal are not covered by its warranty. That’s worth knowing before you chase a lower price on a marketplace.
Where Each Brand Looks Stronger
▸ Starkey: custom and invisible range, including wireless CIC and a rechargeable CIC; health tracking and fall alert on Genesis AI and Evolv AI; a flagship pair roughly ₹1.3 lakh under Vivia 9; cheaper CROS transmitter and accessories.
▸ ReSound: lower pair prices in the middle of the premium range; Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast on its sheet; a rechargeable super-power BTE; a longer 2+2 warranty on the top two levels.
▸ Neither brand wins on every tier, and the sheets don’t speak to how either sounds in your ears.
If you’re deciding between the two, the compare tool puts models side by side, our guide on choosing the right digital hearing aid helps with the hearing-loss side of the question, and Signia vs Phonak does the same job for those two brands. Government employees and pensioners should also check the ceiling in our CGHS reimbursement guide against the prices above.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. Which is better, Starkey or ReSound? |
| A. Neither wins outright. Starkey is cheaper at the flagship level and deeper in custom aids, while ReSound is cheaper in the middle of the premium range and offers a rechargeable super-power BTE. The right one depends on the style you need, your budget and how each sounds to you in a trial. |
| Q. Is Starkey more expensive than ReSound? |
| A. It depends on the tier. Comparing pair prices, Starkey is lower at the top (Genesis AI 24 against Vivia 9) and ReSound is lower at the next three levels of the current range. |
| Q. Do both brands make rechargeable hearing aids? |
| A. Yes. Starkey has rechargeable RIC, BTE, CIC, ITC and ITE models. ReSound has rechargeable RIE, BTE, super-power BTE and ITC models, but its CIC and IIC models on this list are non-rechargeable. |
| Q. Do Starkey hearing aids track health? |
| A. Starkey’s sheet lists activity and engagement tracking and fall alert on Genesis AI and Evolv AI, and reminders on Livio 1600. ReSound’s price list doesn’t mention comparable features. |
| Q. Which has the longer warranty? |
| A. Starkey offers 3 years on Genesis AI and Signature Series. ReSound offers 2 years plus 2 more on its level 9 and 7 models, so 4 years on the top two tiers. |
| Q. What is the cheapest model from each brand? |
| A. Starkey’s is the Muse 1000 custom aid at ₹20,000, and its cheapest RIC or BTE is the Model S-2 at ₹25,000. ReSound’s is the Key 188 / 177 BTE at ₹21,995, and its cheapest RIE is the Key 261 / 262 at ₹24,995. |
| Q. Should I buy a hearing aid online to save money? |
| A. Starkey states that aids bought through e-commerce sites are not covered by its warranty, so buying from an authorised clinic keeps the warranty intact and gets you a fitting. |
| Can’t Choose Between Starkey and ReSound? Hear Both. Hearwell fits both brands across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, UP and Jammu. Bring your latest audiogram if you have one, and we’ll set up the models from each brand that fit your budget so you can compare them on your own ears. 📞 Call: +91 8556086888 💬 WhatsApp: wa.me/+918556086888 📍 Find your nearest Hearwell clinic |
