EssilorLuxottica has announced Nuance Audio Plus, a new version of its over-the-counter hearing aid glasses. The company revealed the product on September 22, 2026, positioning it as an upgrade to the original Nuance Audio model. The Plus version brings better sound boosting, clearer voice pickup, more controls on the frame itself, and longer battery life. It will be sold in the United States.
The glasses are designed to look like ordinary eyewear. The hearing aid technology, which is FDA cleared, is built into the temple arms. Those arms are only slightly thicker than what you would find on standard glasses. That means the device can serve as a discreet hearing aid while still functioning as a regular pair of frames.
What the Plus Model Adds
The main improvements over the standard Nuance Audio glasses are in amplification and voice clarity. The Plus model is built to boost sound more effectively and make speech easier to understand. It also adds extra controls directly on the frame, so users can adjust settings without reaching for a phone.
Battery life is another area where the Plus model pulls ahead. EssilorLuxottica says the glasses can run for up to 10 hours. That figure likely reflects a mix of hearing aid use and other features, though the company has not broken down exact usage scenarios. A sleep mode helps stretch the battery further: folding the temple arms puts the glasses to sleep, and unfolding them powers the device back on.
Frame Styles, Colors, and Pricing
Nuance Audio Plus comes in three frame styles: Square, Pathos, and Upturn. Buyers can choose from five colors: shiny black, shiny burgundy, deep blue, amber, and olive green. The starting price is $829. That covers the glasses with the built-in hearing aid technology, but prescription lenses cost extra. The original Nuance Audio glasses remain on sale at a starting price of $699, giving customers a lower-cost option alongside the new Plus model.
App Modes and Settings
The companion mobile app offers two listening modes. Frontal mode is designed to amplify the voice of the person you are speaking to, which can help in one-on-one conversations. All-Around mode boosts surrounding volume, useful for taking in more of the environment. Within the app, users can also choose from four pre-configured amplification settings and three levels of noise reduction. That gives a fair amount of control over how the glasses handle different situations.
On-Frame Controls and Call Answering
Beyond the app, the glasses include a dedicated power slider and separate volume controls on the frame. These physical controls let users make quick adjustments without pulling out a phone. The glasses can also answer incoming voice calls directly, but there is a significant limitation: call answering only works when the glasses are paired with an iPhone. The feature is not supported on Android devices.
How It Compares to the Standard Nuance Audio
The standard Nuance Audio glasses, which came first, remain available at $699. The Plus model sits above them with improved sound boosting, better voice clarity, additional on-device controls, and longer battery life. Both versions share the same core idea: FDA-cleared hearing aid technology hidden inside frames that look like regular glasses. For anyone comparing the two, the Plus model is the more feature-rich option, while the standard model offers a lower entry price.
Availability and Context
Nuance Audio Plus is set for release in the US, though EssilorLuxottica has not specified an exact ship date beyond the September 22, 2026 announcement. The launch comes as the company continues to build out its smart glasses business. EssilorLuxottica has an existing partnership with Meta on Ray-Ban smart glasses, a collaboration that has helped raise the profile of eyewear with embedded technology. The Nuance Audio line takes a different approach, focusing on hearing assistance rather than cameras or augmented reality.
For people who need a little help hearing but do not want to wear traditional hearing aids, the Nuance Audio Plus offers a way to combine that function with everyday eyewear. The $829 starting price and the extra cost for prescription lenses mean it is not a trivial purchase, but it sits in a category with few direct competitors. The iPhone-only call answering may disappoint Android users, but the core hearing aid features work independently of phone platform.
