The TV you bought for the World Cup can probably talk to a hearing aid with Auracast.
Auracast is built into millions of new televisions and phones, and it ends the argument about the volume for good, for hearing aid wearers.
If you replaced the television this summer for the football or if you simply upgraded, there’s a fair chance it came with a feature nobody mentioned in the shop.
It is called Auracast.
Aurocast is built into a lot of recent TVs, phones and tablets, and it changes what a hearing aid can do in a way that is hard to appreciate until you have tried it.
The old problem
Every household with a hearing loss in it knows the argument about the television. One person needs it louder, everyone else is wincing, and the subtitles are on whether anyone likes it or not. Hearing aids help, but they are picking the sound up from across the room, mixed with the dishwasher and the dog.
The sound that reaches your ear has already been through the air, bounced off the walls and had the conversation in the kitchen added to it.
For years the answer was a separate streamer box that plugged into the back of the TV and sent sound to the hearing aids. It worked, but it was another gadget, another charger, and another thing to lose down the side of the sofa.
What Auracast does differently
Auracast is part of the newest version of Bluetooth. Instead of pairing one device to one other device, it lets a TV, a phone, or a venue’s sound system broadcast audio that any number of nearby devices can tune into, a bit like a radio station in the room. If your hearing aids support it, they can pick up the television’s sound directly, at your own volume, with nothing extra plugged in. Your partner keeps the room at a normal level and you hear the commentary as if it were being spoken into your ear.
The same idea is being rolled out in public places. Airports can broadcast gate announcements straight to hearing aids. Cinemas, theatres, lecture halls and places of worship can send their sound system to anyone who wants it, without the old loop system and without borrowing a headset from the front desk. Gyms with a wall of silent screens can let you listen to the one you are actually watching. It will take a few years for this to be everywhere, but the TVs and phones are already in people’s homes, which is usually the part that takes longest.
Three 2026 televisions that have it built in
TVs with built-in Auracast for the UK market
OLED televisions worth considering, with a focus on their Auracast performance as well as picture and sound quality. We’ve documented a few options that have been reviewed online, but please make up your own mind before buying.We’ve attached links to some well established review sites but we’re not affiliated or paid by any of these brands and we don’t personally make recommendations because technology differs from brand to brand and not everybody likes tghe same thing.
LG C5 OLED
Best-supported choice for Auracast hearing-aid use
The LG C5 is a well-regarded OLED television with rich contrast,
detailed images and a wide choice of screen sizes. It is one of
the more convincing options for anyone wanting to investigate
direct Auracast listening without adding a separate transmitter.
Independent Auracast review
Hearing technology site Aurahear tested the C5 with Oticon Intent
and ReSound Vivia hearing aids. The reviewer reported good sound
quality and a straightforward setup. However, the broadcast could
take a few seconds to appear, and occasional audio synchronisation
problems were reported between hearing aids. Restarting the TV
resolved the issue in the reported test.
Read Aurahear’s hands-on Auracast review
you want a TV with published, real-world testing using compatible
hearing aids. Be aware that the reviewer did report occasional
glitches.
Panasonic Z95B OLED
Premium option for picture quality and built-in sound
The Z95B is Panasonic’s flagship OLED television, with a bright,
colourful picture and a powerful built-in Dolby Atmos sound
system. That makes it appealing for people who want a premium
television without necessarily adding a separate sound system.
Independent review and Auracast assessment
TechRadar praised the Z95B’s picture quality and home-cinema
performance. Panasonic has also included the Z95B among the
compatible models receiving Auracast support through firmware.
However, I could not verify an independent hands-on review
testing this particular model with Auracast hearing aids.
Read TechRadar’s independent Z95B review
View the Panasonic Z95B on Panasonic UK
but confirm that Auracast is enabled on the exact model and
firmware before buying it specifically for hearing-aid streaming.
3. Panasonic Z90B OLED
Another strong OLED option to compare
The Z90B offers an OLED picture with deep blacks, natural colours
and strong cinematic performance. It is worth comparing with the
LG C5 if film and television viewing are your main priorities.
Independent review and Auracast assessment
What Hi-Fi compared the Panasonic Z90B with the LG C5 and favoured
the Panasonic for its cinematic picture and natural colour
presentation, while noting the LG’s advantages for gaming. The
Z90B is included in Panasonic’s Auracast-compatible model range,
but I could not verify an independent hearing-aid-specific
Auracast test of this model.
Read What Hi-Fi?’s Z90B vs LG C5 comparison
View the Panasonic Z90B on Panasonic UK
check the precise model number, firmware and hearing-aid
compatibility before relying on direct audio broadcasting.
Before you buy
Auracast is not the same as ordinary Bluetooth. The TV must support
Auracast broadcasting, and your hearing aids or listening device must
also be compatible. Firmware and regional model differences can
matter, so check with the TV manufacturer and your hearing-care
professional before purchasing.
Reviews and compatibility information checked October 2026.
General TV reviews assess picture and sound quality; only the LG C5
review linked above provides the specific hands-on Auracast
hearing-aid testing described here.
4. Samsung QN900F Neo QLED 8K
The QN900F is a high-end 8K Mini LED television available in
65-, 75- and 85-inch sizes. It delivers a bright, detailed picture,
impressive upscaling and strong built-in sound, making it a
premium option for a living room where picture quality matters.
Independent review and Auracast assessment
Expert Reviews praised its 8K upscaling, backlight control and
connectivity. The reviewer also highlighted the high price and
limited availability of native 8K content. TechRadar similarly
praised its picture, sound and gaming performance.
Read Expert Reviews’ independent Samsung QN900F review
Samsung has confirmed Auracast support for the QN900F. However,
the general TV reviews linked here do not test direct streaming
with hearing aids, so compatibility with your particular hearing
aids should be confirmed before purchase.
Already have a television you like?
You do not have to replace it. A small Auracast transmitter plugs into the socket on the back of almost any TV and does the same job for a fraction of the cost of a new set. And if you bought a Panasonic last year, it may have gained Auracast through a software update in December without you noticing, so have a look in the settings before you spend anything.
Which hearing aids have it
Most of the major manufacturers now include Auracast in their current ranges, and it has quickly become one of the main reasons people ask about upgrading. The newest launch, from Starkey at the start of this month, pairs it with a new processor and a set of health tracking features, which gives a sense of where hearing aids are heading: less a medical device, more a small, discreet piece of wearable technology that happens to be excellent at hearing.
One gap worth knowing about: Apple has not yet added Auracast to the AirPods or iPhone, despite the industry expecting it for some time. If your household runs on Android, Samsung or recent smart TVs, you are already in good shape. If you are an Apple family, the TV side still works, it is just the phone that is lagging.
Is your hearing aid ready?
If your aids are more than three or four years old, almost certainly not.
If they are newer, it may be a case of a software update rather than a replacement. The quickest way to find out is to bring them in.
Our audiology team at St Augustine’s Street can check what your current aids support, update them if that is all they need, and show you the difference on a television in the practice before you make any decision.
If you have never worn hearing aids and the TV argument is the thing that finally brought you here, the initial hearing test is free, and we are quite used to people arriving with a partner who booked the appointment for them.
