Test report: Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP

The Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP in review

Phonak Infinio Sphere heißt die neuste Gerätegeneration aus dem Hause Phonak. Das Lumity gilt damit als überholt und erhält daher einen Abzug in der Gesamtbewertung.

Today we have a hearing aid in the classic sense called Naida Lumity 50 UP on our test agenda. The manufacturer Phonak designed it for moderate to severe hearing needs and for wearing behind the ear. In terms of price, it is a model from a good, mid-range quality level. So, let's take a look:

Hearing comfort

Our first test category is hearing comfort. Actually, we could also say sound comfort, because that is mainly what it is about. Does the hearing aid sound very technical or nicely natural? Are there too many background noises amplified, or do they remain quite well in the background? In this device from Phonak, solid comfort programming by the audiologist is possible. Noise reduction is a very traditional feature; it filters out all chaotic, uniform sounds from the environment and reduces their loudness. In the Naida Lumity 50 UP, background noise is reliably detected, but only moderately reduced. Phonak is likely to impress all outdoor enthusiasts with this device, as wind is not only pleasantly dampened, but speech understanding should continue to function without problems. Unfortunately, the Naida Lumity 50 UP does not include an impulse sound suppressor. The more bands the equalizer in the hearing aid has, the more reliably speech and background noise can be separated. The sound can also be better shaped. The Naida Lumity 50 UP has 16 bands and is therefore one of the more powerful models. Spatial hearing may be a bit difficult at first, but once you understand how the microphones behave in certain situations, you can estimate directions and distances quite reliably. Artificial intelligence is also used in the signal processing of the Naida Lumity 50 UP. This enables a much more realistic analysis of the hearing environment, and especially clarity in noisy surroundings is significantly improved.

Rating Hearing comfort: 2,8

Operation & connectivity

Most functions of this Phonak model are activated automatically. However, it is sometimes very useful to have the option to expand the functionality a bit further. In our test, we found out what options we have here. The simplest way to operate it is always a button directly on the hearing aid. This model has one as well. It can be programmed according to your wishes. Do you want a manual volume control? No problem, the button allows for stepwise adjustment of the volume. Or do you need different special programs for your professional life or hobbies? These can also be activated via the button. If you prefer to keep everything in automatic mode, you can simply ignore the button or even have it deactivated. If desired, there is a remote control for the hearing aid. This allows for effortless volume adjustment. The handling is not only child’s play, but no one will notice that you are adjusting your hearing aids.

For some time now, there has been a trend to adjust hearing aids louder or quieter using voice commands. The idea is really good, but Phonak hasn't reached that point with this device yet. Don't worry, this feature would be nice, but it's not essential. This Phonak model does not have control via a simple fingertip, as certain sensors in the housing would have been needed for that.

In our opinion, an app is better than a remote control, as everyone has a smartphone in their pocket. The app for the Naida Lumity 50 UP is very good; it has a lot of clever features that make hearing in difficult situations much easier. It is quite complex, but you can quickly find your way around. You can practice in demo mode. There are also a few surprising additional tools - have fun discovering! The Naida Lumity 50 comes with a 2.4 GHz antenna and allows us to enjoy binaural phone calls. This gives us an advantage over normal hearing individuals. We find this great and are happy to give points.

Rating Operation & connectivity: 1,7

Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP:

Simplicity & security

Our analysis also deals with the everyday usability of hearing aids. This concerns robustness but also special comfort features that should make daily use as easy as possible. We expected a bit more support in everyday hearing when it comes to automatic situation detection. While the situations "Quiet" and "Noise" are recognized, the sound environment is usually a bit more complex. We give a big plus point for the automatic acclimatization assistant. It gradually increases the starting volume in very small steps until my hearing goal is reached. This significantly eases the adjustment to the new sound.

The Naida Lumity 50 UP is not rechargeable; it is powered by hearing aid batteries. Unlike rechargeable batteries, it does not need to be charged daily; however, after a few days, the size 675 battery needs to be replaced.

The hearing aid is rated in IP protection class 68. This guarantees comprehensive protection against the ingress of dust. Water also cannot easily damage the hearing aid. Thus, it is well equipped for outdoor activities, where it can get wet and dirty. However, do not go swimming or bathing with the hearing aids. Bath additives or even the salt content in seawater can change the composition and ultimately cause harm.

Rating Simplicity & security: 2,5

Extras

We all like goodies, so let's take a look at the extras that might be hidden in the hearing aid. We particularly liked the optional tinnitus program. There are relatively many people who occasionally or frequently suffer from a ringing or buzzing in their ears. The tinnitus program in the Naida Lumity 50 UP is essentially just a sound generator. It aims to produce broad-band noises or sounds that gently and pleasantly stimulate all hearing areas. The tinnitus is drowned out and is no longer perceived as disturbing.

We find the remote maintenance service exciting, which can be utilized. If someone doesn’t have the opportunity to go to the audiologist, they can contact them via the app, briefly describe their hearing problem, and then receive a data package with a new hearing aid configuration. If it sounds good, they can upload it to their hearing aids.

With hearing aids, you can do much more than just hear. Here in the Naida Lumity 50 UP, for instance, there is an option to analyze your movement data. Then you can check in the evening how far you have walked. This type of health tracking is interesting for many customers, so additional features may be added through future updates. With devices like this one from Phonak, our reviews are getting longer, as there are now also intelligent additional functions. Various assistants make your life easier and are personalized in the app. It's not absolutely necessary, but it’s a lot of fun. For that, we give it a good rating.

Rating Extras: 1,1

Conclusion: Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP

With an overall rating of 2.63, this model holds its own in the mid-range. It has a fairly decent comfort feature set on board, which is adequate for typical everyday moments and creates a satisfying listening experience.

 

Our Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP review was created on January 30, 2024 and lastly updated on August 20, 2024. The overall rating of 2,63 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..

 

 

 

FAQ

How noticeable is the Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP for others?

It is in size class M, so it appears rather large. We primarily had the impression for outsiders in mind.

What is the price of the Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP?

The price range in which the Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP is approximately offered in Germany is between €2,000.00 and €2,500.00. The performance of the device corresponds to the price. In the test, it achieved an overall rating of 2.6 (satisfactory).

Is the Phonak Naida Lumity 50 UP suitable for my hearing loss?

This behind-the-ear hearing aid is suitable for a moderate to severe hearing loss. You can compare other hearing aids from this fitting range with the Naida Lumity 50 UP from Phonak: Hearing Aid Comparison.

How good is hearing with the Naida Lumity 50 UP from Phonak?

This behind-the-ear device received a performance rating of 2.8 (satisfactory) in the test report for the area of "hearing comfort." Important for hearing comfort is, among other things, noise suppression. Here, the Naida Lumity 50 UP from Phonak achieves 3 out of 5 stars. For the reduction of wind noise, it receives our 'excellent' rating (maximum 5 out of 5 stars). The signal processing in this hearing aid takes place in 16 different adjustable channels (the best hearing aids currently have 24 channels).

 

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