Legato Launches AI Hearing Glasses Starting at $999

Legato said the product is intended to make hearing care more accessible by addressing the cost, comfort, and stigma associated with traditional hearing aids. The company integrates its patented hearing-assistance technology into the arms of eyewear frames.

Unlike traditional hearing aids that often use directional microphones to focus on sounds from a particular direction and can struggle in noisy environments, Legato's AI-powered system distinguishes voices from background noise and amplifies voices while reducing unwanted sounds. The frames have an open-ear design, but sound is not broadcast to people nearby. A dual-speaker system directs sound toward the wearer while canceling sound that escapes, reducing sound by 99% just a few inches away from the ear, the company says.

All processing happens directly on the glasses, with no cameras or recording, according to Legato. The glasses weigh 34 grams with lenses and offer 10-12 hours of battery life. Legato Frames are available in three styles and support prescription lenses and Bluetooth streaming for music and calls.

The official launch comes a few 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.

The founders bring experience in wearables and hearing care from Bose, where Trivedi led the creation of Bose Frames and Romine ran the hearing aids division. After Bose, Trivedi joined EssilorLuxottica, where he led smart eyewear efforts and worked on the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, while Romine served as COO of hearing care company Audicus. The pair then joined forces to explore the intersection of hearing technology and smart eyewear.

Legato Frames can be purchased on the startup's website or through select eye care providers in the U.S., where they are eligible for coverage by vision insurance.