Lucid Fio In-The-Ear Review

Prices, Sound Recordings, Models
Blake Cadwell
Blake Cadwell

Blake Cadwell is a hearing aid wearer and co-founder at Soundly. He regularly tests and reviews hearing technology to share his experience with Soundly’s readers. Blake's research and perspectives have been featured in the The New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, AARP and FastCompany.

Amy Sarow, AuD, CCC-A
Amy Sarow, AuD, CCC-A

Dr. Amy Sarow is a practicing clinical audiologist and serves as Audiology Lead for Soundly. Her expertise and experience span topics including tinnitus, cochlear implants, hearing aid technology, and hearing testing. She holds a doctoral degree in audiology from the University of Iowa. During her residency at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Sarow was inspired by the three-tiered, patient-centered approach, incorporating clinical work, teaching and research.

Updated
January 24, 2024
Methodology
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Soundly is an independently owned hearing health research tool. Our reviews are conducted by hearing aid wearers and audiologists. We physically review the leading hearing aids on the market for sound quality, comfort, durability, and more. Our review process starts with hands-on unboxing and days, weeks, or months of wear. We also record live sound demos using a calibrated binaural microphone (read more here). We experiment with backend fitting software for prescription products and use test box measures to measure prescriptive accuracy and flexibility. Our work is funded through reader support. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Read more about our story here.

Watch a video about this product.
In the Ear
Rechargeable
OTC
Affordable

Fio is Lucid's invisible-style product that offers rechargeable batteries and allows customization using the Lucid app. The Lucid Fio is a lot like the Eargo hearing aid (although slightly larger) at around 40% less price. Like Eargo (and most invisible hearing aids), Fio does not allow Bluetooth streaming. One notable feature in Fio is that in order to adjust programs or the volume, you will need to place the devices back in their recharge case.

Pros

Rechargeable and nearly invisible 

Easy to handle and comfortable in the ear 

Affordable compared to other invisible options 

Cons

Must place the product back in the case to recharge

Slightly larger than competing options from Eargo 

Pros 👍
Cons 👎
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Soundly Scorecard
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Hearing Loss Level 🔊
Mild - Moderate
  • Lucid Fio hearing aids are sold over the counter and are appropriate for those with mild-moderate hearing loss
  • If you have more significant hearing loss it is recommended that you access professional care through Telehealth or local care
Care Type 🏥
Over-The-Counter
  • Available for purchase online or at retail stores like Walgreens and Best Buy
  • Does not require a prescription from a doctor
  • Customize your hearing aids with an onboard hearing test and app-controls
Sound Quality 🔊
Average in Background Noise, Less Comfortable Fit
  • Fio is manufactured by Lucid Hearing and has some built-in background noise reduction algorithms
  • The Lucid app gives you some control over background noise management
Comfort 🦻
Somewhat Comfortable for All-Day Wear
  • Fio sits inside of the ear and can be less comfortable (also more affordable) than custom-molded in-the-ear options
Style  💫
In-The-Ear
  • Sit inside the ear
  • Only available in one completely-in-canal size (nearly invisible in many ears)
  • Only available in silver
Battery 🔋
Rechargeable Only
  • Lucid Fio hearing aids are rechargeable
  • 16 hours of battery life on a single charge
  • Each pair of hearing aids comes with a small and portable recharge case
Connection 📡
Bluetooth Not Available
  • Lucid Fio does not come with Bluetooth streaming
Dexterity Level 🤏
Average
  • Lucid Fio is small but comes with rechargeable batteries which prevents difficult battery changes
  • Lucid Fio has a pull-tab on each device which makes removal easier
Waterproof Level 💦
N/A
  • Lucid Fio hearing aids are not advertised as water resistant. Keep these devices away from water when possible.
App features 📱
Has An App
  • Fio has access to the Lucid Hearing app which includes an onboard hearing test and manual controls for bass and treble
  • Fio must be in the recharge case during app adjustments (no adjusting while they are in your ear)
How It Works
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Lucid Fio is available over-the-counter, meaning you can purchase the hearing aids online or at a local retail store (some Walmart stores and Sam's Club). 

Once you receive your new hearing aids, you'll use the Lucid app to customize the amplification and frequency to match your hearing loss. Unlike some other OTC devices, Lucid does not administer a hearing test through their app; instead, they give you access to a control panel and an interactive chart called Lucid Shape. You will use those tools to customize the hearing aids to your comfort. 

If you have questions or issues along the way, you can call the Lucid support team for live troubleshooting and advice.

What's Included
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Two Fio hearing aids and a recharging case

Charging cord

1-year warranty

Return Policy
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Return policy varies by retailer but is at least 60 days from purchase.

Technology
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Fio uses multiple microphones to analyze the soundscape around you and converts that signal into amplified sound played through a tiny speaker placed directly in your ear. Fio isn't as high-tech as other hearing aids on the market but prioritizes clear sound in the smallest package possible.  

Notable Lucid Fio features:

✔️ Nearly invisible unless someone looks directly in your ear

✔️ Self-fit using the Lucid app

✔️ Rechargeable with 16 hours of battery life

✔️ Available in aluminum

❌ No Bluetooth streaming is available

What people are saying:

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  • Appearance

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The breakdown

If you are looking for an invisible hearing aid that doesn't require a doctor's visit or a custom mold, Fio should be on your shortlist.

Fio is rechargeable, easy to use, and delivers impressively clear sound. Compared to Eargo, the device is a bit larger but also 40% less expensive.

Lucid Fio hearing aids on a table
Lucid Shape appFio hearing aids

The tech inside

Fio packs a lot of technology into a small space. Our team found that the sound quality is reasonably clear, and the app customizations are impressively flexible.

The rechargeable batteries last 16 hours (long enough for most days' wear).

The drawbacks? Fio doesn't allow streaming and requires users to place the device back in the case to adjust the volume.

Getting up close

You'll have to look closely to spot Fio in the ear. The device is impressively tiny and sits in the way of glasses and masks.

Fio is only available in metallic silver color at this time. Each device has a pull tab on the back to allow for easy removal.

Fio hearing aid in a mans ear

Overall notes:

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