I’m jumping ship from my iPhone to Google or Samsung because Apple doesn’t implement . I want to get a new smart phone which has Auracast capability for my Jabra 3s. Some phones have Bluetooth 6.0 while others have Bluetooth 5.4. So I asked both Gemini (3.6 Flash) and ChatGTP the following: “Considering Auracast only, is there any possible improvement that a later version of Bluetooth might give?”
This is not an endorsement for either one, but they gave two different answers!
Gemini said "yes, newer Bluetooth versions (specifically Bluetooth 6.0) offer notable performance and efficiency gains for Auracast. ChatGTP said “no, Bluetooth version number (5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.0, etc.) is not the deciding factor. What matters is whether the phone actually implements the required Bluetooth features, including Auracast .”
Now, considering Auracast only, what do you think?
I’ve been led to believe that the quality of broadcast is not changed from the earliest versions of (5.2) that has and supports Auracast. Later versions will probably enhance signal stability when there are a lot of competing Auracast broadcast channels in the vicinity and could help with battery life (reduced consumption). It’s always recommended to get the latest versions, but, with respect to Auracast, it is nowhere near being a showstopper.
What’s important is that the phone claims to support . Although the latest version is a nicety, make sure it supports Auracast if that’s what you want.
Talking only, jumping ship from iPhone won’t give you much at this point. You can still use the iPhone to take Auracast broadcasts on your hearing aids. What you can’t do is share audio via Auracast. I don’t believe a higher version will change anything at all with Auracast.
Moving to a phone that supports will give you a better streaming experience from your phone to your aids. A higher BT version in this case won’t give you a better experience with your current aids because it is the lower Bluetooth version of the two connected devices that counts.
If I was buying a new phone now I’d go for a BT 6 phone just for some future proofing. it’s possible that some future hearing aids could take advantage of BT 6 improvements- whatever they may be
Good points. Perhaps you might know if an enabled phone, like some of the Samsungs, would use Auracast to transmit phone calls to an Auracast hearing aid? Right now taking phone calls on my Jabra from my iPhone 14 gives abysmal sound quality.
A recent flagship Samsung or Pixel would use unicast to stream phone calls. Same codec. Possibility of hands free. Should be a lot better than your current mfi connection. You could possibly use but it’s more convoluted and there’s no advantage.
Samsungs work both for transmitting (I’ve used a friend’s S23 to receive audio from her phone via Auracast) and facilitating taking an Auracast stream on hearing aids. Pretty much any phone in people’s pockets today can do the latter with the right software.
My Samsung S25s work nicely with my Jabra 30s. Streaming phone calls is about as good as it gets with my hearing. Pretty clear. So were my S10s with an earlier version of Resound , btw. Ditto on streaming the TV with the latest Resound TV Streamer+ and/or using my older TV Streamer 2.
I’ve never tried the hands free option and doubt I ever will.
my jabra 30 pro’s effectively stream phone calls from my iphone17. A small adaptor from amazon streams from my samsung tv although i really find with the jabra 30s I don’t need auracast from the tv.
I have a Pixel 9 with soundgear and the sound quality is incredible using streaming, hands free 2 way calling and from my tv. I don’t need to wear my ear buds anymore for all the above functions. Best decision I’ve made in getting the new HA.
I would consider how many places I go use now. Try to do a search and see what you can find. Eventully auracast will start popping up in theatres and churches, museums, etc but it may be a good while before it is prevalent. I remember being exicted that I had a aid only to find out here where I live, New York City, there is a grand total of something like 42 places that had telecoil service.
But if using it with your phone and a TV that supports auracast is important to you then go for it.
It’s not only the but the BTLE Audio. This allows better sound quality in the hearing aids when streaming or on the phone. It draws less power from the hearing aid so the batteries last longer and the usable distance your phone can be away from the hearing aid is greatly improved. Your lucky if you can get 30ft with standard Bluetooth.
But to get the above features you need to have a phone and hearing aid with BTLE Audio and Auracast.
I’ve never had any problem with quality of sound from any iPhone version (currently iPhone 15) or 3 different hearing aid brands (currently Signia/HORIZON Go 7 IX) while streaming videos or taking phone calls. I prefer open listening because my wife consistently interrupts while I’m streaming from my phone (because she has no idea) and I have to stop her to start over while I pause the video.
If the link works, I found this audiologist’s in-depth explanations very informative.
I think the Version might be important. But…I think it might also depend on the features that are “turned on” by the manufacturer. I have Resound Vivia 9’s which are capable and I wouldn’t be without that feature now. I think a lot of people think that Auracast is only a replacement for , but that’s not true. I use it for all audio reception, TV’s, Laptops, Tablets, and, of course, the phone. For things without native Auracast I have relatively inexpensive transmitters from Avantree.
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy A36 5G. It is a 2025 mid-level model. It is not listed as “compatible” on the Resound website. However, at the time of purchase, a year or so ago, it seemed to have the same specs, including BT 5.4, as models costing twice as much, so I took a chance and bought it, and it worked right out of the box! (I had a lower tier galaxy earlier and even though it had the minimum specs that that made it look like it should work like BT5.0, etc., it did not. I suspect the feature was not “turned on”)
The only problem, initially, was using the phone in the default LE audio* Hands Free mode, the default microphone was the hearing aids which didn’t produce enough volume. The phone could be forced to use the phone mic during calls, but it was cumbersome. However, the phone has automatically been updated to android 16 and One UI 8.5 and now the Handsfree mode works perfectly allowing the user to select the default mic for calls. By the way, the phone audio in the mode is great! I have no problem hearing and understanding anyone who is speaking my language. Whereas, with my landline, i find it very difficult to understand anyone.
So, I heartily recommend you find a Auracast compatible phone, the audio is much better, and connections are so much easier. I have not experienced any “drops” or connection problems that are so common with classic BT.
You can go to the Resound Website and check for compatible Resound/Jabra phones, but I don’t think it’s been updated in some time.
I can attest that the Galaxy A36 works. I’m guessing the newer A37 would too. As someone above mentioned, I would guess all of the latest Samsung Galaxies mid-level and above would work. The S series is top tier; the A series is mid-tier. The last number loosely refers to model year as in the 6 of A36 and S26. The greater the leading number in a series, the more advanced or feature filled the phone should be, and the more expensive. As is the progression A16, A26, A36, A56.
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