A hearing technology startup called Legato has officially launched its AI-powered hearing glasses for public purchase, marking a significant step in the company's mission to reshape how people with hearing loss access assistive technology. The product, known as Legato Frames, embeds the company's patented hearing-assistance system directly into the arms of standard-looking eyewear frames, blending functionality with a form factor that avoids the traditional look of hearing aids.

Priced starting at $999, Legato Frames are aimed at adults experiencing up to moderate levels of hearing loss. The company says the product was developed with three core challenges in mind: the high cost of conventional hearing aids, the physical discomfort they can cause, and the social stigma that continues to discourage many people from seeking hearing assistance in the first place.

A Different Approach to Hearing Assistance

Traditional hearing aids typically rely on directional microphones that attempt to isolate sounds coming from a specific angle. While effective in controlled settings, this approach can fall short in noisy, real-world environments where competing sounds make it difficult to follow a conversation. Legato takes a different technical path. The glasses use an AI-driven audio processing system that actively distinguishes human voices from surrounding background noise, amplifying speech while suppressing unwanted sounds.

The frames feature an open-ear design, meaning there is nothing inserted into the ear canal. Despite this, sound is not broadcast outward in a way that those nearby would hear. Legato achieves this through a dual-speaker system engineered to direct audio toward the wearer while simultaneously canceling sound that would otherwise escape. According to the company, this design reduces audible sound to just one percent of its original level within a few inches of the ear, making the listening experience private even without in-ear components.

All audio processing is handled locally on the device itself. Legato has stated that the glasses do not include cameras and do not record audio, addressing potential privacy concerns that often accompany wearable AI products.

Hardware Specifications and Availability

The Legato Frames weigh 34 grams when fitted with lenses, keeping them comparable in weight to many standard prescription eyeglasses. Battery life is rated at between 10 and 12 hours on a single charge, which the company positions as sufficient for a full day of typical use. The product is offered in three distinct frame styles and supports prescription lenses, making it practical for those who already rely on corrective eyewear. The glasses also include Bluetooth connectivity, allowing wearers to stream music and take phone calls directly through the frames.

Legato Frames are available for purchase through the company's official website as well as through a network of select eye care providers across the United States. The product is eligible for coverage under vision insurance plans, which could meaningfully reduce the out-of-pocket cost for eligible buyers.

Founders With Deep Industry Roots

The commercial launch comes just weeks after Legato emerged from stealth mode, disclosing that it had secured $12 million in funding from investors including Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global.

The company was founded in 2024 by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, two executives whose professional backgrounds sit squarely at the intersection of consumer wearables and hearing care. Both previously worked at Bose, where Trivedi led the development of Bose Frames - the company's audio eyewear line - and Romine headed the hearing aids division. After departing Bose, their paths continued in closely related fields. Trivedi joined EssilorLuxottica, where he took on a leadership role in smart eyewear and contributed to the development of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. Romine, meanwhile, became chief operating officer at Audicus, a hearing care company focused on making hearing aids more affordable and accessible.

The two eventually reunited to co-found Legato, combining their respective expertise to build a product that sits at the crossroads of smart eyewear design and clinical-grade hearing assistance. Their shared background gives the company a foundation that is relatively rare in the hearing technology space, where deep knowledge of both consumer hardware and audiology is not always found under the same roof.

With Legato Frames now available to consumers, the startup enters a market that has seen growing interest from technology companies looking to address hearing loss through wearable devices, a segment that has historically been dominated by specialized medical device manufacturers. Whether an AI-first, eyewear-native approach can carve out meaningful ground in that landscape remains to be seen, but the product's launch represents a notable addition to the options available to the estimated hundreds of millions of people worldwide living with some degree of hearing loss.