Phonak Infinio Sphere hearing aids – precise and powerful in 2025 thanks to new dual technology
In August 2024, Phonak unveiled its latest chip technologies: ERA and Deepsonic. With these groundbreaking innovations, the Swiss manufacturer – part of the Sonova Group – introduced two new hearing aid platforms: Phonak Infinio and Phonak Infinio Sphere. These new chips represent a major leap forward in hearing technology and highlight Phonak’s commitment to top-tier quality and innovation. Many people are already benefiting from this cutting-edge technology.
The successful Phonak Lumity series has now been surpassed.
Table of contents
Phonak Infinio Sphere – What is new?
ERA Chip
AutoSense OS 6.0
You could think of AutoSense as the brain of the hearing aid. It gathers and processes all acoustic and sensor data to analyze your current listening environment. Based on this analysis, AutoSense automatically adjusts the hearing aid’s settings – for example, deciding whether to focus the microphones in one direction or use an omnidirectional mode, and how much noise reduction is needed. These adjustments happen in real time, allowing the hearing aid to respond seamlessly and autonomously to changing surroundings.
The new ERA chip significantly outperforms its predecessor, Prisma, in terms of processing power and memory. As a result, it delivers much faster and more accurate environmental detection, creating a smoother and more natural listening experience.
The ERA chip is built into both the Phonak Infinio and Phonak Infinio Sphere models.
Improved connectivity
Bluetooth performance has been increased sixfold compared to the previous model, giving you a much more stable connection.
Previously, you might have experienced interruptions when keeping your phone in your pocket, moving too far away from it, or being in environments with a lot of interference.
Phonak’s traditional approach was to connect only one hearing aid to the phone and have it relay the signal to the other side. Users could choose whether the left or right aid should act as the receiver.
Now, with the new Y-coil, both hearing aids continuously communicate and determine which one has the better Bluetooth connection – automatically taking over reception with no added effort from the user. This handoff happens entirely in the background.
Phonak has also improved shielding against interference, allowing for greater range. In ideal conditions, the distance to an Android phone can now be up to 200 meters.
According to Phonak, these improvements in range and signal quality were achieved without increasing the signal’s transmission strength.
You can pair up to 8 Bluetooth devices and have 2 connected at the same time. Whether you use iOS or Android doesn’t matter – streaming audio, making phone calls, and using the hands-free function all work seamlessly across platforms.
Auracast – Still pending?
Auracast is a modern technology that allows hearing aid users to receive audio signals directly and wirelessly from devices like TVs, speakers, or public information screens. It replaces traditional telecoil and loop systems and offers a simpler, clearer listening experience in both public and private settings.
The new ERA chip is already prepared for this feature. However, activation will require a future software update.
Deepsonic: Real-time AI for superior speech clarity
Deepsonic is the new deep neural network (DNN) unit built into Phonak Infinio Sphere hearing aids. This proprietary chip uses real-time AI to significantly improve speech understanding in challenging listening environments.
But don’t let the term “real-time AI” be misleading. As with other hearing aids using this phrase, the artificial intelligence is actually applied during chip development. The key difference from previous AI implementations is how it’s used: earlier versions relied on environmental classification to activate predefined signal processing algorithms.
Deepsonic, on the other hand, doesn’t just assess the environment – it’s fully focused on isolating speech and suppressing all types of background noise in any situation. This direct focus on speech minimizes the chances of misinterpreting an environment in ways that could impact speech clarity. You get the best possible speech support at all times, in real time, no matter where the voice is coming from.
Extended app features
The free myPhonak app has long been one of the most feature-rich options on the market.
Now it includes a new hearing aid finder to protect your investment. It shows the last known connection point between your hearing aid and smartphone. If your hearing aids are charged, the app can even help you locate them by displaying signal strength as you get closer.
The myPhonak app works with both Phonak Infinio and Phonak Infinio Sphere.
A new widget function makes daily use even more convenient – place the most important features right on your smartphone’s home screen for instant access.
Improved everyday durability
All RIC hearing aids from Phonak are now water-resistant. Thanks to a special coating, improved seals, minimal openings, and a newly designed, more robust speaker unit, these devices are built to withstand water and sweat. Whether you’re caught in heavy rain, working out, or sailing with friends – you can count on excellent sound quality without worrying about moisture.
Phonak Infinio vs. Phonak Infinio Sphere
Phonak has launched two product lines in its new Infinio family.
The key difference lies in the second chip: only the Phonak Infinio Sphere models include the additional Deepsonic chip. Standard Infinio models are powered solely by the ERA chip.
This also affects the size of the hearing aids:
Phonak Infinio: 1.13 x 0.49 x 0.34 inches; 0.085 oz (28.8 x 12.4 x 8.7 mm, 2.4 g)
Phonak Infinio Sphere: 1.26 x 0.55 x 0.37 inches; 0.106 oz (31.9 x 14.0 x 9.5 mm, 3.0 g)
This size difference is visually noticeable – Infinio Sphere may not be easily hidden behind every ear.
The dual-chip setup also requires a more powerful battery. As a result, charging time increases from 3 hours (Infinio) to 3.5 hours (Infinio Sphere).
Despite its stronger battery, the Phonak Infinio Sphere model can still reach its limits due to the high power demand of the Deepsonic chip. If you frequently find yourself in environments where the chip is constantly active – like a day at a trade show – your hearing care professional can enable a power-saving mode. This limits Deepsonic’s use to 3 hours per day. Alternatively, you can adjust the activation threshold so the chip only kicks in during truly difficult listening situations.
Model guide
Phonak’s model names become easier to understand once you know the system:
Example: Audéo I(-Sphere) 90-R
–> Audéo (formfactor)/ Infinio(-Sphere) (product line)/ 90 (technology level)/ R (technical feature)
Form factors
Audéo R: These are Phonak’s RIC (Receiver-In-Canal) devices, worn behind the ear with a small speaker placed directly in the ear canal, connected by a thin wire.
In the current lineup, Phonak has released two versions of this form factor, which differ in size.
Audéo R (Infinio Sphere) (only available in tech level 90 and 70)
Audéo R (Infinio)
Product line
- I: means Infinio
Technology levels
- 90: Premium level with top-tier comfort features
- 70: Business-class with excellent comfort and performance
- 50: Mid-range model with solid everyday functionality
- 30: Entry-level device with reliable basic features
Technical specifications
R: Rechargeable model with built-in battery
Conclusion
With the Phonak Infinio Sphere, an exciting new product has entered the market. Offloading neural network-inspired signal processing to a dedicated second chip significantly expands the device’s capabilities. Including Auracast-ready hardware – despite still using classic Bluetooth – was a forward-thinking move by the Swiss manufacturer. The only real room for improvement lies in battery performance.
Visit the manufacturer’s website here: Phonak
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