Phonak Virto Infinio

The Next Era of Personalized Hearing: Introducing Phonak Virto Infinio

Jeff Hall

Hearing Aid Specialist

Published: Jan 13, 2026 | Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Medically reviewed by: Brad Ingrao, Doctor of Audiology

Brad Ingrao

Editor & Doctor of Audiology

Brad Ingrao, Au.D. has been in clinical practice since 1992 in a variety of settings including academia, private practice, educational audiology, the VA, and the hearing aid industry. More about Brad Ingrao

With the introduction of the Virto Infinio line, Phonak has deployed its new ERA chip platform into its custom portfolio, succeeding the previous (2022) Virto Paradise line. This platform is designed to provide custom solutions for individuals across the spectrum of hearing loss who prioritize discretion and anatomical precision.

The Virto Infinio family includes three models: the rechargeable, wireless Virto R Infinio (ITE/ITC), the non-wireless, disposable battery, acrylic-shelled Virto 10 NW O Infinio (IIC/CIC), and the ultra-discreet, non-wireless, disposable battery, titanium-shelled Virto Titanium Infinio (IIC/CIC).

The overall Infinio platform was initially introduced in August 2024 with the launch of the Audéo Sphere Infinio receiver-in-canal (RIC) model. The custom Virto devices, however, followed a staggered release schedule: the non-wireless disposable battery-powered models in January 2025 and the rechargeable & wireless Virto R in August 2025. 

Why the delay in launching Virto I? My guess—the exceptional market success and demand for the feature-rich Audéo Sphere—equipped with its dedicated DEEPSONIC AI chip—likely necessitated a strategic prioritization of production resources, resulting in the delayed availability of the custom Virto products.

What’s new with Virto Infinio?

The core engineering enhancement within the Virto Infinio is the ERA chip. This chip functions as the main processing engine, enabling new feature sets and enhanced performance over previous generations of Phonak custom products.

• ERA Chip Processing Power: The new platform features a processor with increased speed and efficiency, enabling the real-time orchestration of advanced features under the SmartSpeech Technology umbrella.
• Advanced Phonak Digital (APD) 3.0: This is the company's latest audiological fitting formula. It utilizes the ERA chip's speed to more accurately apply prescribed amplification gain across all frequencies. Phonak documentation cites this advancement as contributing to a 93% first-fit satisfaction rate in sound quality.
• AutoSense OS 7.0: This operating system handles automatic environmental classification and program selection. In the Virto R model, Version 7.0 is trained using artificial intelligence (AI) on 18 times more real-world data, which is reported to achieve 24% more precise environmental detection and a seamless shift between programs. The Virto 10 NW O and Virto Titanium utilize AutoSense OS 6.0.
• RightFit Customization & Biometric Calibration: This is a proprietary manufacturing process where a detailed, 1,600-point 3D map of the user’s ear is created. This Biometric Calibration predicts how sound is naturally filtered by the ear's unique anatomy, allowing the device to be designed to compensate for these acoustic effects. This process is claimed to result in custom shells up to 15% smaller and significantly reduces the need for device remakes.

The AI and Noise Reduction Differentiator

A critical technical distinction is that the Virto Infinio models do not incorporate the dedicated DEEPSONIC AI chip found in the Audéo Sphere RIC. The DEEPSONIC chip is responsible for the Sphere's reported up to 10 dB improvement in speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) via a specialized deep neural network.

In the Virto Infinio, all AI and noise reduction functions are managed by the ERA chip and AutoSense OS. While this platform still reports a significant improvement in speech understanding (up to 16%) and a reduction in listening effort (up to 45%), the physical size constraint of the custom shell necessitates the omission of the dedicated DEEPSONIC hardware, making the Virto line's ultimate noise reduction capability inferior to the flagship Sphere RIC model in chaotic listening environments.

How it looks & feels

All three models are custom-made to fit your ear anatomy exactly. Phonak uses a process called RightFit, which combines your ear impression or 3D scan with biometric modeling to optimize sound quality and physical comfort.

If you’ve ever worn a custom earplug or studio in-ear monitor, you’ll understand how snug and secure a properly made mold can feel. That same principle applies here. Once seated correctly, these hearing aids don’t move. Whether you’re skiing, biking, working out, or just on a phone call, they stay in place. That’s a big reason why people are drawn to this style—they just disappear into your routine.

Virto I-R (Rechargeable)

This is the most modern-looking of the three. Despite being packed with microphones, antennas, and a battery, it remains remarkably compact. It looks more like a premium earbud than a hearing aid and is available in skin-matching colors as well as black. You’ll find a single push-button on the faceplate for quick control, though most users will rely on the myPhonak app or tap gestures.

Battery life? Up to 30 hours on a single charge in calm environments, or around 16 hours with streaming. Charging takes 3 hours via Phonak’s “snap and charge” dock, which magnetically aligns the device into place. The only caveat: the charger doesn’t have an internal battery, so you’ll need a power source to use it.

How good is the Virto Infinio?

When evaluating how good a hearing aid really is, we usually lean on independent lab testing from HearAdvisor, a trusted third-party source for comparing hearing aid performance, especially in background noise. Unfortunately, HearAdvisor isn’t currently testing custom in-the-ear products like Virto.

That said, it’s worth noting that Virto Infinio runs on the same ERA chip found in Phonak’s flagship Audéo Sphere Infinio, which earned the top spot in HearAdvisor’s speech-in-noise testing. While Virto does not include the DEEPSONIC AI chip that helped Sphere achieve its standout scores, sharing the ERA platform still puts it in strong technical territory. 

On our end, we regularly collect reviews from verified buyers. We added Virto Infinio to our site at the end of January 2026, and we’ve already begun collecting written and video feedback from real-world users. If you're considering this product, you may want to bookmark this page. Objective reviews from actual wearers will be appearing here shortly.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Precise Anatomical Fit: The RightFit customization and Biometric Calibration process delivers a comfortable and acoustically precise custom shell, minimizing feedback and fit issues.

Rechargeability (Virto R): It is Phonak’s first rechargeable custom ITE, offering up to 30 hours of use and a full suite of features.

Full Wireless Feature Set (Virto R): Offers universal Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for hands-free calling and two-way streaming, along with the integrated Motion Sensor for improved directional hearing while moving.

Advanced Core Processing: The ERA chip, APD 3.0, and AutoSense OS 7.0 provide significant gains in sound quality and reduced cognitive listening effort.

Ultimate Discretion: The Virto Titanium utilizes medical-grade titanium to create the smallest, most durable Invisible-In-Canal (IIC) device Phonak offers.

Cons

Reduced Noise Performance: The omission of the dedicated DEEPSONIC AI chip means the Virto models do not achieve the industry-leading noise separation and high SNR levels of the Audéo Sphere RIC.

Feature Compromise on Discreet Models: The Virto Titanium and Virto 10 NW O models are non-wireless, eliminating all Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calling, app control, and key directional features (like StereoZoom 2.0).

Limited Power Source: The non-rechargeable models only use the small size 10 disposable battery, which restricts battery life to 3-5 days.

Size Trade-off (Virto R): Despite the "smallest custom rechargeable" claim, the Virto R ITC/ITE model is inherently larger than the CIC/IIC options and may be more visible or cause occlusion for some users.

Conclusion

The Phonak Virto Infinio line successfully addresses the core demands of the custom hearing aid market: discretion and precision. By coupling the new ERA chip's processing power with the highly detailed Biometric Calibration manufacturing process, Phonak delivers an advanced custom fit with notable improvements in sound quality and reduced listening fatigue over previous custom generations.

However, prospective users must weigh the benefits of discretion against the inherent technical compromise. The Virto line's lack of the DEEPSONIC AI chip results in a functional ceiling for noise reduction that is lower than the Audéo Sphere RIC. For the user whose lifestyle is dominated by highly complex and chaotic acoustic environments, the Audéo Sphere remains the superior performer. For the user prioritizing an invisible, anatomically perfect fit with excellent performance in all but the loudest settings, the Virto Infinio represents a compelling, next-generation custom solution.

Jeff Hall

Hearing Aid Specialist

Jeff is a California licensed hearing aid dispenser and the President of ZipHearing- one of the largest discount hearing aid suppliers in the United States. Jeff lives in San Diego, CA with his wife and 2 young daughters. You can learn more about hearing aids and watch Jeff on ZipHearing's Youtube channel.