Hearing technology startup Legato announced Thursday that its flagship AI-based hearing glasses are now available for purchase. The glasses, called Legato Frames, incorporate the company’s patented hearing aid technology into the arms of the glasses frames. Legato Frames start at $999 and are designed for adults with moderate hearing loss.
The glasses were born out of the startup’s goal to make hearing care more accessible by addressing the cost, comfort, and stigma associated with traditional hearing aids.
Traditional hearing aids often use directional microphones to focus on sound from a specific direction, which can be difficult in noisy environments, but Legato takes a different approach. The AI-powered system distinguishes speech from background noise and amplifies it while reducing unwanted sounds.
The frame has an open-ear design, but it doesn’t transmit sound to the surrounding area. The frame features a dual speaker system that directs sound toward the wearer while canceling out any escaping sound, reducing sound by 99% just inches from the ear.
The company says all processing is done directly on the glasses, without cameras or recordings.
The glasses weigh 34 grams including lenses and have a battery life of 10-12 hours. Legato Frames come in three styles and support prescription lenses and Bluetooth streaming for music and calls.
The official launch of the glasses comes weeks after the startup emerged from stealth with $12 million in funding from Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global.
Legato was founded in 2024 by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, who brought deep experience in wearables and hearing aid care from Bose. Trivedi led the development of Bose Frames and Romene ran the hearing aid division. After his time at Bose, Mr. Trivedi joined EssilorLuxottica, where he led the smart eyewear initiative and worked on Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. Meanwhile, Mr. Romene served as COO of hearing aid company Audicus. The two then worked together to explore the intersection of hearing technology and smart eyewear.
Legato Frames are available for purchase through the startup’s website or through some U.S. eye care providers and are covered by vision insurance.
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