News in Short
- Legato has launched its AI-powered Legato Frames for adults with up to moderate hearing loss.
- The glasses start at $999 and are now available to purchase in the US.
- AI separates voices from background noise and amplifies speech.
- The glasses use an open-ear design with a dual-speaker system.
- Legato says sound leakage is reduced by 99% a few inches from the ear.
Hearing aids can help people hear conversations more clearly, but they can also come with concerns around comfort, cost and visibility.
Legato is taking a different approach with its new Legato Frames. The startup has built its hearing-assistance technology into the arms of everyday eyewear.
The glasses use AI to identify voices and separate them from surrounding noise. They then amplify voices while reducing unwanted sounds.
The company says the frames are designed for adults with up to moderate levels of hearing loss. They start at $999 in the US.
AI focuses on voices in noisy environments
Background noise can make conversations difficult for people with hearing loss. Legato’s technology is designed to address that challenge.
Traditional hearing aids often use directional microphones to focus on sounds from a particular direction. Legato instead uses an AI-powered system to distinguish voices from background sounds.
The system then amplifies the voices while reducing unwanted noise.
This approach is designed to make conversations easier to follow in environments where several sounds compete for attention.
Open-ear design keeps the glasses discreet
Legato Frames use an open-ear design. The company has integrated the speakers into the arms of the glasses rather than using conventional in-ear hardware.
The frames feature a dual-speaker system that directs sound toward the wearer. Legato also says the system reduces sound escaping from the glasses.
According to the company, sound leakage drops by 99% just a few inches away from the ear.
This allows Legato to combine hearing assistance with regular eyewear while limiting how much amplified sound reaches people nearby.
Processing happens directly on the glasses
Legato says its AI processing takes place directly on the frames.
The glasses also have no cameras or recording capabilities, according to the company. That gives the product a different approach from some smart glasses that use cameras and cloud-connected features.
The focus here remains on hearing assistance rather than visual capture.
For users, that also means the glasses can provide their core hearing functionality without relying on a camera-based system.
Legato Frames also work as regular smart eyewear
The frames are designed to function beyond hearing assistance.
They weigh 34 grams with lenses and offer between 10 and 12 hours of battery life. They support prescription lenses, allowing users to combine vision correction with the hearing technology.
The glasses also support Bluetooth streaming for music and calls.
Legato currently offers the frames in three styles. The product can be purchased through the company’s website or select eye care providers in the US.
Legato wants to reduce the stigma around hearing aids
The company says its broader goal is to make hearing care more accessible by addressing the cost, comfort and stigma associated with traditional hearing aids.
Legato was founded in 2024 by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine. Both founders previously worked at Bose and have experience across hearing technology and wearables.
Trivedi also worked on smart eyewear at EssilorLuxottica, including the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. Romine previously served as COO of hearing care company Audicus.
The company emerged from stealth in August with $12 million in funding from Neotribe Ventures, Listen and Village Global.
With Legato Frames now available, the startup is bringing its approach to market at a starting price of $999. The product’s focus is clear: use AI to make hearing assistance part of something people can wear as everyday glasses.
