Phonak Infinio Hearing Aids
This post discusses the models and technology levels available in the new Phonak Infinio and Sphere Infinio hearing aid range. Our first article on Infiinio hearing aids can be found here.
Phonak is part of the Sonova Group, which includes the hearing aid manufacturers Unitron and Hanaston. Sonova was founded in 1947 and employs over 18,000 people worldwide. It is headquartered in Stäfa, Switzerland.
Phonak Infinio and Sphere Infinio are its latest products, released in September 2024. Infinio hearing aids supersede Phonak Lumity and Paradise hearing aids.
Phonak Infinio and Sphere Infinio are available only in receiver-in-canal (RIC) style. Custom-made in-the-ear (ITE, ITC, CIC) styles will be available soon.
The difference between the Infinio and Sphere Infinio models is that the Sphere Infinio contains an extra chip called DeepSonic. The DeepSonic chip has been trained with artificial intelligence (AI) and works in a new hearing aid program called Spheric Speech Clarity. This program automatically turns on in the presence of background noise and improves the speech-to-noise ratio.
Phonak Infinio Sphere hearing aids are slightly larger than Infinio hearing aids; your hearing care professional should be able to show you both styles so you can compare.
When Phonak develops a new product, it generally releases it in four technology levels. The product components and casing are all the same; the difference is the software loaded onto the device. The difference in software affects how the hearing aid will perform in background noise situations with multiple voices. The hearing aids performance in quiet situations will be similar at all technology levels.
Phonak has followed the same technology labelling as previous Phonak hearing aid models:
- Premium – 90
- Advanced – 70
- Standard – 50
- Essential – 30
If you regularly engage in complex listening environments (e.g., restaurants, seminars, meetings, train stations, and parties), and your budget allows, Premium 90 or Advanced 70 Infinio hearing aids should be considered.
If you have a quieter lifestyle (mainly at home with smaller groups), Standard 50 or 30 Essential Infinio hearing aids should be sufficient. However, you may spend extra to get more advanced technology for occasional visits to complex listening environments.
Your degree of hearing loss might also affect your decision. If your hearing loss is mild and the hearing aid is fitted to be open-fit) it is worth asking your hearing professional how well Premium hearing aids will remove background noise. To get the best performance hearing aids, the ear canal must be sealed to prevent sound waves from entering the ear canal. Phonak has developed Active Vent to help users prefer an open vent fitting to improve hearing aid performance in background noise. Active Vent is a custom tip that sits in the ear canal, enabling an open fitting or automatically changing to a closed fitting in the presence of background noise.
Phonak Infinio Models available now
Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio Rechargeable
- A Receiver in the Ear Hearing Aid with a rocker switch for adjusting the volume, program changes and answering phone calls.
- Currently available in two technology levels, Premium 90 and Advanced 70.
- Double Tap Controls for answering phone calls and starting/stopping streaming.
- Enhanced Bluetooth – universally connects up to 8 Bluetooth devices and two simultaneously.
- The new ERA chip allows for uninterrupted hands-free calls and streaming at twice the distance of previous Phonak Bluetooth models.
- Autosense 6.0 with Spheric Speech Clarity.
- Water Resistant.
Phonak Audéo Infinio Rechargeable
- A Receiver in the Ear Hearing Aid with a rocker switch for adjusting the volume, program changes and answering phone calls.
- Available in all technology levels, Premium 90 and Advanced 70, Standard 50 and Essential 30.
- Double Tap Controls for answering phone calls and starting/stopping streaming (not available in Standard 30).
- Enhanced Bluetooth – universally connects up to 8 Bluetooth devices and two simultaneously.
- The new ERA chip allows for uninterrupted hands-free calls and streaming at twice the distance of previous Phonak Bluetooth models.
- Autosense 6.0
- Water Resistant
Phonak Audéo Infinio Rechargeable CROS
- CROS (contralateral routing of sound) devices are designed for people with unusable hearing in one ear. The user wears the CROS in the ear with no functional hearing and a hearing aid in the better ear. The CROS has microphones that pick up sounds and transmit them to the hearing aid.
- CROS hearing aids come in one technology level and are compatible with 90, 70, 50 and 30 Infinio hearing aids.
- Compatible with Phonak Audéo™ R Infinio
- Water Resistant
Phonak Infinio Models coming soon
Phonak Virto Infinio Rechargeable
- A custom-made hearing aid, ITC, or ITE half or full shell. Phonak will make the aid as small as possible, depending on the customer’s ear anatomy.
- Though not confirmed, it should be Available in all technology levels: Premium 90, Advanced 70, Standard 50, and Essential 30.
- Built using Biometric Calibration. Phonak can now build hearing aids using advanced imaging technology to predict how sound waves bounce around your ear. Then, the hearing aid can be designed to minimise sound leakage and maximise sound quality.
- Using Phonak’s Snap and Charge system, the user can release the hearing aids into the charger, and they will magnetically attach to the charging point.
- Virto Infinio R can be 100% charged in 3 hours.
- Enhanced Bluetooth – universally connects up to 8 Bluetooth devices and two simultaneously.
- The new ERA chip allows for uninterrupted hands-free calls and streaming at twice the distance of previous Phonak Bluetooth models.
- Auto Sense 6.0.
- A custom-made hearing aid in IIC or CIC size. Phonak will make the aid as small as possible, depending on the customer’s ear anatomy.
- Though not confirmed, it should be Available in all technology levels: Premium 90, Advanced 70, Standard 50, and Essential 30.
- Built using Biometric Calibration.
- 10 means the Size 10 Zinc-Air disposable battery.
- NW means non-wireless – no Bluetooth.
- O means omnidirectional – each hearing aid has only one microphone.
- AutoSense 6.0.
- A custom-made hearing aid in IIC or CIC size made from medical-grade Titanium. Phonak will make the aid as small as possible, depending on the customer’s ear anatomy.
- Though not confirmed, it should be Available in all technology levels: Premium 90, Advanced 70, Standard 50, and Essential 30.
- Titanium is 15 times stronger and thinner than acrylic (standard hearing aid material).
- Built using Biometric Calibration.
- Size 10 Zinc-Air disposable battery.
- Non-Wireless – no Bluetooth
- AutoSense 6.0