Phonak hearing aid models, prices, and reviews
Beyond the Hype: An Honest Look at Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio
On August 6, 2024, Phonak released the Audéo Sphere Infinio, to perhaps the greatest fanfare of any hearing aid release…ever. Nearly 1,000 hea... READ MORE
Make life sound extraordinary
Released by Phonak on August 6th, 2024, Phonak Audéo Infinio is Phonak’s most complete line of receiver-in-canal hearing aids, designed for individ... READ MORE
Navigate conversations with confidence
Released by Phonak on August 7, 2023, Naída Lumity is Phonak's flagship line for severe-to-profound hearing losses. Naída Lumity is most well-known... READ MORE
Jeff Hall
President at ZipHearing
Brad Ingrao
Editor & Doctor of Audiology
The Inside Scoop on Phonak Hearing Aids: What You Need to Know
Phonak, established in 1947 in Switzerland, is renowned for its diverse and innovative hearing aids, its widespread Bluetooth compatibility, and extensive global service network.
Key Takeaways
- Phonak hearing aid prices range from $1,200-$7,000 for the pair, and the costs vary based on the model, style, technology level, service package included (if any), and retailer.
- There are several ways to buy Phonak hearing aids, but Phonak recommends purchasing from a retailer that providers in-person care, as it leads to higher user satisfaction and increased use.
- Phonak’s best hearing aid is the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio, and it is most well-known for being Phonak's first hearing aid with a built-in Deep Neural Network (DNN) on it's chip.
Revolutionizing hearing aid technology, Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio offers superior Bluetooth connectivity, seamlessly linking with multiple Android and iOS devices.
Bluetooth Connectivity Sets Phonak Apart
Phonak's Bluetooth connectivity is on another level. Phonak hearing aids can connect to pretty much anything – your phone, tablet, computer – you name it. And what really sets them apart is that you can pair them with multiple devices at the same time. Not all brands offer that feature, so it's a huge plus if you're someone who switches between devices often.Phonak (unlike other hearing aid manufacturers) uses Bluetooth Classic, which means their devices work seamlessly with both Android and iOS. Whether you're making calls, streaming music, or hopping on a Zoom meeting, Phonak makes it effortless.
Phonak Audéo Infinio Sphere Infinio sets a new standard for speech clarity in noise.
AI-Driven Hearing Aids with Deep Neural Networks
Phonak's best model, the Audéo Sphere Infinio is packed with some seriously cool tech. It uses advanced AI and a Deep Neural Network (DNN) to help you understand speech better, especially in noisy places.What’s neat is it has two chips working together: one for sound quality and connectivity (that's the ERA chip), and another for real-time AI processing (the DEEPSONIC chip). Together, they create a 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio, which helps you can understand conversations even when there’s a lot of background noise (like a noisy restaurant).
Phonak combines style and functionality with its nearly invisible Virto Titanium and sleek Audéo Lumity Slim models, offering custom-fit comfort and unparalleled aesthetics.
Style Meets Functionality
Phonak knows that hearing aids need to look good while also doing their job. That's why they’ve got some stylish options like the nearly invisible Phonak Virto Titanium and the sleek Phonak Audéo Lumity Slim models models. What’s cool about the Virto Titanium is that it's the only hearing aid made from titanium, making it super durable and discreet compared to the usual acrylic ones.The Audéo Lumity Slim models take comfort to the next level with their unique curved design, made specifically for the ear it is supposed to be worn on (right and left).
Phonak's Roger technology: A range of wireless microphones like Roger On iN, enhancing audio in any setting and compatible with various hearing aid brands for an improved listening experience.
The Power of Roger™ Wireless Microphones
If hearing in the presence of background noise is particularly hard for you, Phonak's Roger technology could be a game changing accessory for you that takes your hearing aids to the next level. Phonak makes a lineup of wireless microphones, like the Roger On iN, Select iN, and Table Mic II iN, all designed for different situations.Whether you’re in a quiet room or a busy office, these microphones really help to pick out speech while cutting down on background noise. Plus, you can even stream audio straight from your TV to your hearing aids without any extra gadgets needed.
Phonak Sky Lumity: Award-winning pediatric hearing aid, offering customizable colors and a safe design, perfect for enhancing education and personalizing children's hearing experiences.
Family-Friendly Options
Other manufacturers don't bother making hearing aids for kids, but this is one category where Phonak really shines. The Phonak Sky Lumity hearing aids come in a bunch of fun colors, so kids can choose what they like, plus they’re designed to be tamper-proof, so parents can feel at ease.If your child is really struggling with understanding speech in a classroom setting, their Sky Lumity hearing aids can be paired with a variety of Roger microphones to give them that extra boost. Plus, Sky hearing aids connect with the myPhonak Junior app, letting kids customize their hearing settings.
Phonak's latest family of hearing aids, Infinio, lacks custom in-the-ear models.
But It's Not All Rosy
No brand is perfect, and Phonak is no exception. Their latest Infinio lineup of hearing aids doesn't yet include custom in-the ear models, which means you'd have to go back (2) generations of products (to the Phonak Virto Paradise) line if you want in-the-ear hearing aids. Update Septemer 2024: We've just learned these new models are coming soon!In addition, Phonak's newest Audeo Sphere Infinio hearing aids only come with a rechargeable battery, which for some people are not as convenient or reliable as compared to disposable batteries.
Conclusion
No brand is perfect, but Phonak's hearing aids cater to the majority of hearing aid wearers, arguably better than any other hearing aid manufacturer. Since most folks are interested in receiver-in-canal style and rechargeable hearing aids that use state of the art technology for background noise reduction, Phonak is arguably the best choice on the market right now for most people.
Based on pricing data published by HearingTracker.com
2024: Audéo Infinio, Audéo Sphere
2023: Naída Lumity
2022: Virto Paradise (wireless model only), Audéo Lumity
2021: Naída Paradise, Audéo Life
2020: Audéo Paradise, Naída Marvel, Virto Marvel (wireless model only)
2019: Audéo Marvel, Bolero Marvel, Sky Marvel
Not sure which model you have? Check your user guide, or call the Phonak provider who sold the devices to you.
Pairing Instructions
1. Make sure that your phone's Bluetooth is on. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, and make sure the toggle switch is set to On.
2. Open and close the battery doors on your hearing device. Or, if you use rechargeable Phonak hearing aids, switch the hearing aids off and on again, by pressing and holding the toggle down button for 3 seconds to turn them off, and repeating to turn them back on.
3. On your Apple device, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing, and select Hearing Devices.
4. Your Apple device will search for your hearing device.
5. Under MFi Hearing Devices, tap the name of your hearing device.
6. Tap Pair when you see the pairing request on the screen. If you have two hearing devices, you'll get two requests. Pairing could take up to a minute.
7. You can start using your hearing device when you see it under MFi Hearing Devices with a check mark.
2024: Audéo Infinio, Audéo Sphere, Virto Infinio
2023: Naída Lumity
2022: Virto Paradise (wireless model only), Audéo Lumity
2021: Naída Paradise, Audéo Life
2020: Audéo Paradise, Naída Marvel, Virto Marvel (wireless model only)
2019: Audéo Marvel, Bolero Marvel, Sky Marvel
Phonak hearing aids will stream to mostly any mobile device that supports Bluetooth, Hands Free Profile (HFP) and Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). The pairing instructions below may differ on other devices; these were written for Android users.
Pairing Instructions
1. Go to the Android phone’s home screen and tap on the “Settings” icon.
2. In the settings menu, tap on the Bluetooth icon.
3. Tap on the slider button to turn Bluetooth on.
4. Open the hearing aid battery doors for 5 seconds, then close the doors. This will put the hearing aids in pairing mode.. Or, if you use rechargeable Phonak hearing aids, switch the hearing aids off and on again, by pressing and holding the toggle down button for three seconds, and then repeating to turn the hearing aids back on.
5. On the Android phone, you will now see a message, “Available Devices.”
6. The name of your Phonak hearing aid will appear on the screen with a telephone icon next to it. Tap on it to select.
7. A connection beep will be heard in the paired hearing aid.
8. Your Android phone is now connected to your Phonak hearing aids.
Phonak hearing aid models compared
It can be challenging to understand all the different Phonak models on the market.
Our recommendation is to narrow down their list of models by focusing on models that are either the newest (which usually means they’re the best), and models that offer something unique that other models do not. There is no sense in purchasing an outdated model unless it offers something unique that you need that can’t be found in a newer model.
With that in mind, we’ll start with Phonak’s best model, the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio, which was launched with great fanfare in August of 2024 at Las Vegas’s new Sphere entertainment venue.
Audéo Sphere Infinio is Phonak’s first (and one of the industry’s only) hearing aid with a Deep Neural Network (DNN) on the hearing aid chip. The purpose of this DNN is to enhance speech clarity in noisy environments, and at ZipHearing we are very optimistic about this technology, as we’ve seen another manufacturer have success with it.
Audéo Sphere Infinio comes in a receiver-in-canal (RIC) style form factor, and is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Like most Phonak hearing aids, Audéo Sphere Infinio comes with Bluetooth Classic, allowing it to pair and stream audio from just about any Bluetooth device, such as smartphones, tablets, PCs, and more. Audéo Sphere Infinio is also Auracast ready, meaning as soon as there are more devices on the market that have Auracast, Audéo Sphere Infinio hearing aids will be ready to pair with those devices and use this exciting new feature.
This is the model we are currently recommending to most customers.
However, at the same time Audéo Sphere Infinio was released, Phonak also released a similarly named model, Audéo Infinio.
Audéo Infinio is technically not as good as Audéo Sphere Infinio (it doesn’t have the DNN on board), so it’s not going to be able to separate speech from background noise as effectively as the Audéo Sphere Infinio, but there are a few reasons you may want to purchase Audéo Infinio.
First, Audéo Sphere Infinio is only available in Phonak’s 90 and 70 technology levels, which are their more expensive levels, whereas the Audéo Infinio is available in the more affordable 50 and 30 technology levels.
Next, because Audéo Sphere Infinio actually has (2) chips on board, it is noticeably larger than the Audéo Infinio model, and some people are going to prefer the more sleek appearance of the Audéo Infinio.
Finally, if you have single-sided deafness (SSD), or a very asymmetrical hearing loss, you may benefit from what is called a CROS transmitter, and the Audéo Infinio model is compatible with a CROS device, whereas the Audéo Sphere Infinio is not.
Since the majority of people buy receiver-in-canal style hearing aids, and the majority of people prefer to buy the newest hearing aids on the market, most people are currently buying one of these two models, the Audéo Sphere Infinio or the Audéo Infinio.
Up until August of 2024 and until this new release, the majority of people buying Phonak were buying the Phonak Audéo Lumity model, but we really can’t see any strong reason to purchase this model anymore and would steer almost everyone towards one of the newer models.
The Audéo Sphere Infinio and the Audéo Infinio are suitable for mild to profound hearing loss, but if you need Phonak’s most powerful hearing aid, you’ll be better suited by the Phonak Naída Lumity.
If behind-the-ear or receiver-in-canal hearing aids are not your cup of tea, Phonak does currently have an in-the-ear model available, called Phonak Virto Paradise. However, we’ve recently learned that this model is soon to be outdated, as Phonak has announced they will begin shipping their next generation Phonak Virto Infinio in-ear hearing aids sometime in September of 2024, so we’d recommend waiting for that model.
| Reviews | 69 reviews • 17 video reviews | 8 reviews • 0 video reviews |
| Sales popularity | 82.5% | 14.8% |
| Return rate | 14.1% | 11.9% |
| Released date | Aug 06, 2024 | Aug 06, 2024 |
| Hearing loss | Mild-Profound | Mild-Profound |
| Styles | RIC | RIC, CROS |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Rechargeable |
Phonak hearing aid reviews
As of September 2024, my honest take on Phonak is if it’s not the best brand on the market, it’s the second-best.
Since Phonak launched the Audeo Sphere Infinio model in August of 2024, consumer demand has shot through the roof. That model is currently the highest rated hearing aid on our site, with a cumulative review score of 4.92/5 stars. Bear in mind there are only 6 reviews so far, but the users are pretty much raving fans, with one reviewer calling it “the best I ever had.”
Be mindful as you visit hearing aid “review sites.” Many of them (at least a quarter), are simply affiliate marketing schemes, where the authors are paid for clicks on their content.
All the Phonak reviews you’ll find on our website are from verified Phonak purchasers (our customers), and from hearing providers who work with Phonak products every day (shown below).
Expert reviews
Read what a few of our favorite ZipHearing providers have to say about Phonak
What I like
Phonak is consistently one of the faster innovators in the hearing aid world. They are among the first manufacturers to create a super-powered rechargeable hearing aid, which has been great for my patients. They offer some of the most comprehensive options for Bluetooth connectivity, and they provide creative solutions for hearing in background noise in the form of their Roger technology. The myPhonak app also allows users to have a good degree of control over their hearing aids and make small adjustments as needed. Phonak allows me to work with patients with a wide range of hearing difficulties -- from individuals who only struggle to hear in very noisy situations, all the way to people who have a hard time getting by even in one-on-one conversations. The current line of technology (Lumity), comes in four technology levels, which can be used effectively to meet different needs for each patient. Phonak’s new Lumity hearing aids feature an updated design of the hearing aid charger, making it much easier to insert and remove the hearing aids. Additionally, a portable version of the charger is available, allowing for on-the-go charging without an additional accessory. Additionally, Phonak has created a waterproof model of their hearing aids, which I find to be great for folks who engage in activities that produce a lot of perspiration. Phonak has recently updated their myPhonak app, and it still has all of the same great features that it had prior to the update. However, I have received feedback from numerous patients that the app now looks cluttered and feels a bit more cumbersome to navigate.
What needs improving
Some maintenance parts, such as domes and wax traps, have proven challenging for some patients to utilize and change on their own. If someone has concerns about their grip strength or manual dexterity, there are some manufacturers that provide more usable solutions. I would like to see Phonak adopt a more user-friendly set-up for these parts so that more patients could effectively utilize their hearing aids.
What I like
Phonak’s lineup covers all of my patients, including those with severe to profound hearing loss, which is a significant portion of our practice. For years, they’ve led the industry in directional microphone tech to improve speech understanding in noise and the current lineup continues in this tradition. For those who need a bit more help in this setting, their Roger microphone system is absolutely top notch.
What needs improving
Even though the Roger system lets people hear very well in noise, it’s somewhat cost prohibitive. If they could bring the price down a bit, they would really have a great solution for almost everybody.
What I like
Phonak has been popular among our patients for several year now for having true Bluetooth connectivity that allows patients to be hands free when streaming phone calls with both Android and iPhones. It also allows them to connect to other Bluetooth enabled products such as laptop and desktop computers. They are now on the second generation of this feature with the Paradise line of behind the ear instruments, which comes with improved connectivity of multiple devices and an easier tap connection option on some models. Along with these cool Bluetooth features Phonak also does very well with sound quality and performance in difficult listening situations with the sophistication of their directional microphones and motion sensors.
What needs improving
Unfortunately, as happy as I am with Phonak’s hands free streaming capabilities, their app/connectivity has some problems that does not always make for a perfect streaming experience for our patients. Phonak is aware of these issues and hopefully we will see improvements in the app experience and updates to the hearing aid firmware that will eliminate these issues. I also eagerly wait for more style options in the Paradise product line since not every patient wants something behind their ear.
What I like
Phonak is the primary brand I dispense after its release of their newest model, Sphere, several months ago. Testing them myself in a noisy restaurant, the Sphere significantly outperformed its competitors for listening in background noise. Since that time, I have fit a number of Sphere’s. Customers who have worn hearing aids for many years rave about how much better they hear in restaurants with Phonak Sphere hearing aids. Phonak is a pioneer in the hearing aid industry. They are the first and only manufacturer to have “true” Bluetooth in their hearing aids, which means they can connect to laptops and Bluetooth ready televisions without the need to purchase any accessory device. Phonak is also the only manufacturer that provides an available optional accessory for further speech understanding in background noise. Named the Roger ON v3, this handheld accessory provides added “oomph” for speech understanding in really tough listening situations, especially when distance to the speaker is an issue.
What needs improving
Because of the advanced Bluetooth technology in the hearing aids, some customers complain it is not intuitive or easy to pair their Smartphone with the hearing aids. However, Phonak provides an short and easy to understand link to a YouTube video that provides excellent visual instruction for the pairing process.
User reviews
Watch and read what our hearing aid users have to say about Phonak.
Phonak hearing aid prices
The cost of Phonak hearing aids is going to vary depending on a number of factors. You can buy Phonak hearing aids online for as little as $600 each, or in-store at a local Phonak retailer’s office for as much as $4,000 each. If that seems like a wild spread in pricing, that’s because it is! There are a lot of reasons for why prices for Phonak vary so much, and for a primer on this, we’d recommend checking out this video. In short, the way you buy Phonak hearing aids is going to be the biggest determining factor in how much you pay, and here’s a quick breakdown of how to buy Phonak hearing aids:
Direct-to-consumer (mail order): If you have a copy of a recent hearing test, you can email your test results to a variety of direct-to-consumer online Phonak retailers, who’ll then program your hearing aids and mail them to you. Some of these retailers also provide remote programming services so you can get adjustments made to them in the future. Since there’s no local support when you buy Phonak online, this route ends up being the cheapest (at least in the nearterm). Phonak would probably prefer that people didn’t utilize the direct-to-consumer option, and they’ve put this notice on their website to that effect: “Purchasing hearing care products via the internet or other mail-order catalogs may result in your receiving substandard fitting or follow-up care. Please be wary of any website that offers you Phonak hearing aids without the involvement of a licensed professional. Purchasing Phonak hearing aids or accessories from any of these unauthorized online or mail-order retailers will void the warranty. “
Direct from a local Phonak provider: If you buy from a local Phonak distributor, prices can get out of control pretty quickly. For example, national hearing aid price tracking website HearingTracker.com reports that for Phonak’s latest model, Phonak Audeo Infinio 90, the national average price for a pair is $6750. However, there are certainly some benefits from buying directly from a local provider. Mainly, when you pay the high sticker price, you’re likely to get several years of followup service ‘bundled’ or included in the price of the hearing aids. That means whenever you need service in the future, there’s no additional charge. This can be very beneficial for folks who know (or suspect) that they’ll need a great deal of follow up service as the years go by. To buy Phonak hearing aids this way, we’d recommend using the tool on Phonak’s website to find Phonak providers near you, then contact them to set up a consultation.
Discount network: For savvy, and repeat hearing aid buyers, buying through discount networks is the ideal combination of discounted pricing and local care. It marries the best of the two options above. To purchase through a discount network, start by checking Phonak Audeo Infinio prices, then ask to be referred to a local Phonak affiliate near you. The affiliate performs the hearing test, along with a suite of services at pre-negotiated discounted rates (some shown in the chart below). Buying through a discount network can get you up to 50% off retail prices.
| Model | National Average Pair Price * | Our Discount | Available Styles | % of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio 90 | $7,040 | 34.7% | RIC | 94.3% |
| Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio 70 | $5,916 | 32.4% | RIC | 5.7% |
| Phonak Audéo Infinio 90 | $7,040 | 37.5% | RIC, CROS | 67.4% |
| Phonak Audéo Infinio 70 | $5,916 | 35.8% | RIC, CROS | 17% |
| Phonak Audéo Infinio 50 | $4,950 | 35.4% | RIC, CROS | 8.1% |
| Phonak Audéo Infinio 30 | $4,410 | 43.4% | RIC, CROS | 6.7% |
| Phonak Naída Lumity 90 | $7,116 | 35.4% | Naída L-UP, Naida L-PR, SP | 85.3% |
| Phonak Naída Lumity 70 | $6,048 | 37.2% | Naída L-UP, Naida L-PR, SP | 8.8% |
| Phonak Naída Lumity 50 | $5,108 | 37.4% | Naída L-UP, Naida L-PR, SP | 5.9% |
| Phonak Naída Lumity 30 | $3,858 | 27.5% | Naída L-UP, Naida L-PR, SP | 0% |
| Phonak Audéo Lumity 90 | $7,394 | 40.5% | R, RL Life (Discontinued), RT, Slim, CROS, 312, R Fit | 74.4% |
| Phonak Audéo Lumity 70 | $6,288 | 39.6% | R, RL Life (Discontinued), RT, Slim, CROS, 312, R Fit | 18.5% |
| Phonak Audéo Lumity 50 | $5,258 | 39.2% | R, RL Life (Discontinued), RT, Slim, CROS, 312, R Fit | 5.4% |
| Phonak Audéo Lumity 30 | $4,048 | 38.3% | R, RL Life (Discontinued), RT, Slim, CROS, 312, R Fit | 1.7% |
| Phonak Virto Paradise 90 | $7,040 | 34.7% | 312, Titanium IIC, Titanium CIC, 10 NW, 312 NW | 74.6% |
| Phonak Virto Paradise 70 | $5,916 | 35.8% | 312, Titanium IIC, Titanium CIC, 10 NW, 312 NW | 16.7% |
| Phonak Virto Paradise 50 | $4,950 | 35.4% | 312, Titanium IIC, Titanium CIC, 10 NW, 312 NW | 6.1% |
| Phonak Virto Paradise 30 | $4,410 | 36.6% | 312, Titanium IIC, Titanium CIC, 10 NW, 312 NW | 2.6% |
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