I had just gotten a used IPhone 6 for its GPS capabilities when my remaining hearing went south in May. Even older IPhones can be paired with an aid or aids, which, once you get used to it, is undoubtedly the best way to hear via phone. However, the absolute best speech-to-text app, Live Transcribe, is only available for Android devices. I bought a cheap tablet, but found its mic is nearly useless, plus it makes two things to charge and cart around. I just bought a Samsung (Android) A20 for $200 and find it a much better phone--more info at all times like temp/time, etc., far better keyboard, longer battery life. However, it cannot be paired with my aid, bringing phone conversations directly into my ear. Some of the new (read: $$$$$) Android phones can be paired. I'll be test driving the new phone with Live Transcribe Tuesday for a three-hour technical meeting. I do have a mic that's paired with my aid, and it helps in lecture settings.
I don't know how to select an audiologist that's best. I went to a clinic that specializes in CIs. The audi who tested me to see if I qualifiy for a CI (I don't, by a mere 5% at this point) told me to dump my $1,500 Costco aid, buy two $3,000+ "good" aids, and come back for another test in six months. I had a second appt., with an audiologist at the same clinic, to learn how to live as a much deafer person, and she told me that my Costco aid is great, that I should keep it until it ages out in a few years. So, two audis from the same clinic, but totally different recommendations. I am very glad that I made the second appt. as I'm not going around thinking that my aid in of low quality, won't work well for me.