Phonak Infinio Ultra Sphere Review: Lab Performance and Pricing

Quick Verdict

Audéo Infinio Ultra Sphere from Phonak is the company’s flagship prescription hearing aid and one of the best hearing aids we've tested for helping you follow conversations in loud, hard-to-hear environments—restaurants, parties, meetings, and anywhere background noise tends to dominate. The reason the original Sphere stood out when it launched in mid-2024 wasn’t just the “AI” label but also the fact that its Deep Neural Network (DNN)-based processing, which Phonak calls Spheric Speech Clarity, provided real-world, noticeable improvement in difficult listening situations.

The “Ultra” part isn’t a new device but instead is an important firmware upgrade introduced to the Sphere platform in late 2025. This means Ultra Sphere has the same core hardware and looks the same as the previous model, but adds important updates that improve overall performance and efficiency. Importantly, the Ultra update is available to all new purchasers and all previous Sphere users.

What did our independent testing show?

The independent HearAdvisor lab results confirm that Ultra Sphere continues to rank among the top 5% of prescription hearing aids and retains Sphere’s strong sound performance rather than trying to reinvent it. Where Ultra really makes a difference is in everyday usability: it offers much better battery life, and it features EasyGuard domes designed to reduce earwax-related repairs and service trips back to the provider.

HearAdvisor lab testing indicates Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra is in “top performer” territory, with an overall SoundScore of 4.58 (out of 5) and an A SoundGrade. The headline result on Sphere remains the same: speech in noise measured 2.88 points above the category average—that’s a big margin, and it's consistent with what Sphere has been about from its beginning.

Also important to note: the professional tuning matters. With an EasyGuard Vented coupling, the initial fit scored 3.27, but after professional tuning, it climbed to 4.13 (with speech-in-noise improving to 4.40). That’s a real-world reminder that premium devices deserve premium fitting.

What’s special about Infinio Sphere Ultra?

Sphere Ultra is special for one key reason: it’s still one of the best “speech in noise” solutions that HearAdvisor has tested. On the platform side, Ultra moves Sphere forward with AutoSense OS 7.0 (claimed to be 24% more accurate at detecting tough environments like noisy restaurants) and Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0, which is designed to make the system better at recognizing when you actually need the AI-driven heavy lifting.

One of the only real "knocks" on the original Sphere was its shorter battery life when in the “Spheric Speech / Loud Noise” mode. The Ultra rollout fixes that: Phonak says you can stay in the intensive Sphere mode for about 10-11 hours versus ~7 hours prior to the update.

While not nearly as glamorous or headline-grabbing, EasyGuard is an important, practical upgrade, particularly for users who battle wax-related maintenance issues.

How much does Infinio Ultra Sphere Cost?

HearingTracker data indicates Infinio Ultra Sphere can be purchased for as low as $3,598 per pair if you opt for the lowest Ultra Sphere tech tier (I70). However, in many or most cases, the price will be closer to $5,000 or more per pair, depending on the hearing aid tech level, clinic and provider, services offered, and your hearing loss and individual needs.

A deeper dive into Phonak Infinio Ultra Sphere

So, I've provided the top-line results on Phonak Infinio Ultra Sphere above. Now, let's take a closer look at Infinio Ultra Sphere: what it is, what it's like to use, and its pros and cons.

When Phonak unveiled the original Infinio Sphere in August 2024, it was one of the first times an “AI” feature didn’t just feel like a marketing buzzword. It actually did something you could hear—especially in loud, chaotic places. In October 2025, Phonak launched the Ultra firmware update after collecting about one year of new real-world data from over one million fittings.

Dual chips make for a larger hearing aid

When I first saw the Phonak Infinio Sphere, the first thing I noticed was that it is notably larger than other receiver-in-canal hearing aids I've reviewed. This is mostly because of its two-chip architecture, which consists of the core ERA chip that is found in all Infinio hearing aids and the DEEPSONIC chip, a Deep Neural Network (DNN) processor unique to Sphere models that drives the Spheric Speech Clarity—removing background noise and accentuating speech when activated.

If you ask me, the benefits of Sphere's performance outweigh its slightly larger size.

Sphere comes in seven different color options. There are also two technology levels (I90 and I70), and the "Model Comparison" section at the bottom of this page (when choosing "Sphere" at the top) shows the differences in cost and available features between them. All Infinio models are built to battle moisture and dust, and have the highest attainable Ingress Protection (IP68) rating for hearing aids.

But my primary question in the HearAdvisor lab was: Does the Ultra upgrade really make Sphere notably better? Does it move the needle?

I've had the opportunity to use Sphere Ultra for a few months. Below, I’ll walk through: 1) what’s changed; 2) what HearAdvisor measured in the lab, and 3) what I think the tradeoffs look like.

First: Why Sphere mattered in the first place

I’m usually skeptical when companies make big AI promises. But Sphere was one of the first times an “AI-based” feature resulted in a noticeable improvement—mainly because of Phonak’s DNN-based speech-in-noise processing, which drives Phonak's Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 system.

Is the new processing in Ultra a night-and-day difference? No. Very little in audio ever is. But it does make for meaningful improvements...

The four updates that make Infinio Ultra Sphere genuinely better

In my view, Ultra brings a handful of updates, but here are four that matter most in real life:

1) Longer-lasting battery life in Sphere mode

Although the original Infinio Sphere's processing was impressive, the elephant in the room was the DNN's hungry power consumption, bringing battery life down into “this might not last my day” territory. Ultra’s most practical promise is smarter, more efficient power use. In Phonak’s own positioning, Ultra is designed to deliver all-day use, with battery-life figures of up to 56 hours under ideal conditions (i.e., in quiet with no streaming) and about 10-11 hours when Sphere mode is continuously engaged—probably more time than most people will need for very noisy situations.

2) Smarter automation + retrained “Sphere” processing

Part of the battery conservation story relates to smarter automation for when and how to use the power-hungry AI. With the Ultra update, DEEPSONIC is now more efficient and has been trained on 18 times more real-world data and real-life sound samples. AutoSense 7.0 is reported to be 24% more precise at classifying sound scenes based on these expanded training datasets.

3) A connectivity overhaul built around the ERA chip

Phonak’s ERA connectivity platform is designed for stable “universal” Bluetooth behavior, which should mean faster, more reliable pairing. Like Phonak's previous hearing aids, it includes two active connections and pairing with up to eight devices, but also features a redesigned one-step connectivity experience as part of the Ultra update. (However, the first time I paired Ultra to my iPhone, I ran into some… let’s call them creative bugs. But the intent here is clearly better stability and less fiddling.)

4) EasyGuard domes: boring-sounding, but actually important

The idea here is to get the same acoustic performance from the ear-tips in your ears, but with a better fit and fewer earwax maintenance issues. I took some measurements, and we’ll come back to that later. Phonak describes the system as a membrane-based wax-protection approach designed to reduce wax-related issues and improve day-to-day usability.

Getting Familiar with Ultra Sphere

In many of my reviews, I go through the device's unboxing. However, because Infinio Ultra Sphere is a prescription hearing aid, your provider will do that with you—and they’ll probably make it more fun than I ever could.

That said, I do want to point out the charging case, because it’s actually quite nice. It’s small, light, easy to travel with, and most importantly… it just works. It features clear LED indicators, and the hearing aids magnetically lock into place without being hard to remove.

On the hearing aids themselves, there is a multi-function rocker switch on the back that controls features like volume and program changes.

I will inevitably mention device size a few times in my review, because it is an important selection factor for some people, particularly those torn between an Infinio Ultra Sphere or the smaller standard (non-Sphere) Infinio—which is also a very solid hearing aid in its own right. Both Infinio models support tap controls, and you can customize those in the app, which is something I really like from a usability standpoint. However, I’ll admit, tap controls and I have a complicated relationship…so I usually end up avoiding them altogether. You can personalize the tap functions for your needs (see Matthew Allsop's tips in the video below) or, like me, opt to deactivate them altogether.

Wireless features and the myPhonak app

The myPhonak app is a free, user-friendly tool for controlling your Phonak hearing aids, and it is available for both iOS and Android users. Installing the app is highly recommended, as it unlocks impressive customization.

Your provider should help you pair the hearing aids to your smartphone and other devices. The Ultra update includes near-instant Bluetooth pairing, faster handshakes between multiple devices, and stronger reconnection capabilities.

Once you’re in the app, you’ve got the standard controls you’d expect: volume, program changes, and manual access to Sphere Speech Clarity. You can switch from Automatic to Speech in Loud Noise whenever you like; however, if you stay in the Automatic program, Phonak's AutoSense OS should automatically switch you into the appropriate programs, including the Spheric Speech in Loud Noise mode.

If you want to go deeper into the app, tap “Adjust” to fine-tune settings like your Equalizer preset and Noise Reduction, then save those changes as a custom program.

You can also get remote assistance through the myPhonak app from your provider (if they support this feature). During the video call, they can make adjustments to most hearing aid settings. For additional technical support, Phonak offers a consumer helpline at (800) 679-4871. However, for most issues, your provider will remain your primary point of contact. There is also a “Find My Hearing Aids” function.

Overall, this is solid, mature app functionality — nothing flashy, but nothing missing either. And honestly, this level of control is now something you can expect from major manufacturers, and even from many OTC devices.

One area where Phonak does differentiate a bit is the Health tab. It gives you some light activity tracking, which isn’t universal across all hearing aids yet. It’s fairly basic, but if health features matter to you, it’s worth knowing it’s here. If you’re very focused on health and safety features, Starkey’s Omega AI platform is still the more comprehensive option, with things like fall detection and balance-related tools.

Video: Tips on using Infinio Ultra Sphere from an Audiologist

Here’s a video from my colleague, Matthew Allsop, a partner and practitioner in one of the largest hearing aid practices in London, that provides “pro tips” for using the myPhonak app and Ultra Sphere.

Lab Performance of Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra Sphere

In HearAdvisor lab testing, Phonak Infinio Ultra Sphere (I90) landed firmly in top-tier territory with a SoundScore of 4.58 (out of 5), an A SoundGrade. The headline result—and what makes Sphere so special in the first place—is speech in noise: Ultra measured 2.6 points above the category average, which is a large margin.

Just as important, the data reinforces something we at HearingTracker say all the time: the fitting matters. Ultra’s score improved from 3.27 at the initial manufacturer default to 4.13 when professionally tuned. The take-home message is that you can buy a premium product, but to get the best performance out of it, you still want a premium fitting from a professional who adjusts the hearing aids using real-ear measurements and best practices.

One important clarification about our testing: in the original hands-on review, we believed we were evaluating Phonak’s Spheric Speech in Loud Noise program—the DEEPSONIC-powered mode that relies more heavily on AI processing—but the hearing aids were actually set to the standard Speech in Loud Noise program, which leans more on directional processing such as StereoZoom (see my short video below). That means the earlier result should not be interpreted as Spheric Speech Clarity underperforming. After follow-up with Phonak and Sonova researchers, the dedicated Spheric program was rechecked and performed more in line with expectations. The practical takeaway from this is reassuring: if you stay in the Automatic program rather than manually locking the aids into a Standard noise program, AutoSense OS should switch into the appropriate listening modes—including Spheric Speech in Loud Noise—when the environment calls for it.

When you compare Ultra Sphere to the original Sphere, the lab story is less “new leap” and more “careful rebalance.” In tuned testing, the two are extremely close, with small shifts across metrics: speech in quiet (4.8 Sphere vs 4.7 Ultra) and speech in noise (4.6 vs 4.4) are essentially in the same neighborhood, while Ultra shows improvement in own-voice comfort (2.3 vs 2.8) and feedback handling (3.6 vs 4.2), with a lower music streaming score (4.0 vs 3.3). Also see the “Sound Performance Lab Results” section at the bottom of the page, which includes sound samples recorded in different environments.

Two things likely nudge the differences in the above table: the ear coupling changed (Closed Vented Dome vs EasyGuard Vented), which can affect occlusion and streaming tonality, and the software versions differ (as they should).

As stated above, my big question was whether Infinio Sphere Ultra actually delivers measurable audio performance improvements over the original Sphere. Sphere Ultra earned an A SoundGrade, which is exactly what you’d expect at this level, and provides a significant and careful rebalance for hearing in noise.

My takeaway: Ultra builds on Sphere’s core strengths in noise, while adding a bit toward better comfort/feedback stability (and day-to-day ownership).

Real-life wearing of Infinio Ultra Sphere

You can view the HearingTracker scores for our real-life testing in the box on the right for important factors like Build Quality, Battery, Bluetoooth, App Features, Comfort, etc. You'll also find a sound sample of Infinio Ultra Sphere for your own listening assessment (we suggest you use a good pair of headphones when doing this). Essentially, Ultra Sphere scores exceptionally well in every category except Design and Value, due to its larger size and higher price tag, respectively.

The overall HearingTracker score for Ultra Sphere was 4.5 out of 5, placing it in the top 5% of all hearing aids we've evaluated to date.

HearingTracker contributor Digby Cook—a longtime hearing aid wearer who has severe-to-profound hearing loss and is very reliant on his hearing aids—published an article about his first-hand impressions of the Ultra update. Not surprisingly, in his day-to-day use, Digby says the most obvious change with Ultra Sphere is battery life: he describes the original Sphere’s Spheric Clarity mode as impressive but power-hungry. The Ultra update eased his “battery anxiety,” even after long days that included many hours in the Spheric mode. For example, he had one day end near midnight but still had 28-32% battery remaining, noting the right aid tends to work harder due to its Bluetooth duties.

Digby also liked Ultra Sphere’s AutoSense 7.0 refresh, which he thinks improves the Ultra Sphere's directionality, especially outdoors—on walks, he can better follow his wife while still maintaining awareness of his surroundings.

A big added plus was the Ultra upgrade calmed Digby's worries about buying a product that might soon be knocked off the "flagship" pedestal: the Ultra Sphere's hardware is the same, but the firmware/software is a significant overhaul that all current Sphere users can benefit from. Given that most hearing aid manufacturers launch new products every 1-2 years, think Digby's point is a good one: It would be great to see more hearing aid manufacturers offer major product upgrades that are backwards-compatible (via firmware updates, domes, etc.) for previous users.

Finally, HearingTracker editor Karl Strom, who has a mild to moderate hearing loss, also says he was impressed with Ultra Sphere's speech-in-noise capabilities. However, he notes that there can be a trade-off in sound quality when it switches into Spheric Clarity mode, with voices sometimes becoming more "tinny,” probably due to the aggressive sound processing that accentuates higher frequencies. Additionally, he says the directional system can momentarily mistake your intended listening target, instead focusing on a louder or adjacent speaker (e.g., another nearby table in a restaurant). Karl emphasized that both of these are small sacrifices for hearing well in noisy environments, but are worth giving potential users a "heads-up" about.

Wireless Accessories

Phonak offers some excellent accessories, like its TV Streamer and PartnerMic, which can enhance your listening experience. Speak with your provider to determine how these accessories might fit your needs.

Phonak also features a line of advanced wireless microphones known as Roger. While often overlooked, these devices can provide speech benefits that surpass even the most sophisticated hearing aid algorithms. Below is Matthew's review of the Roger On V3, showing why it's one of the hearing industry's most versatile accessories. There is also a full list of accessories at the bottom of this page.

Final Verdict

This is one of the easier conclusions I’ve had to draw:

• If you already wear Sphere. Ultra is best thought of as a platform improvement delivered through firmware—a meaningful refinement aimed at usability, efficiency, and ownership. Talk with your provider about the Ultra update process and especially about trying the EasyGuard domes.
• If you’re a first-time buyer or coming from older prescription hearing aids. Sphere Ultra has one of the strongest lab records we’ve measured—particularly for speech-in-noise performance—if you’re willing to accept the trade-offs that come with this flagship product (notably, a higher price tag and a slightly bulkier design).

Other alternatives to Sphere

Although this review focuses on the Audéo Infinio Ultra Sphere, Phonak also offers two "non-Sphere" Ultra models—both of which contain the ERA chip (but not the DNN-powered DEEPSONIC chip) and use the new AutoSense 7.0 for more precise listening in noise:

Audéo Infinio Ultra R: A rechargeable RIC-style hearing aid with AI that has universal connectivity, up to 31 hours of battery life, the EasyGuard earwax protection system, and is CROS compatible for people with unilateral (one-sided hearing loss).

Virto R Infinio: A sleek, discreet, custom-made, in-ear rechargeable hearing aid with universal connectivity.

If you are considering an alternative to Phonak Infinio, is it worth looking into Oticon Intent Hearing Aids. Intent was released in 2024 and offers similarly advanced audio processing, wireless capabilities, and good battery life.

Like the Phonak Infinio Sphere, the Oticon Intent incorporates advanced dual-chip AI-driven features, including the DNN 2.0 and MoreSound Intelligence 3.0. These technologies aim to deliver adaptive sound processing and enhanced real-time noise reduction, making them particularly appealing for challenging listening environments.

Our online community has shared valuable insights about the Oticon Intent:

• Sound Quality: Many users highlight the device’s ability to provide a natural listening experience, especially in noisy environments.
• Battery Life: Users report that the longer battery life is noticeable, particularly during extended daily use.
• Connectivity: While wireless features are robust, some users mention occasional connectivity issues similar to those experienced with other high-end hearing aids.

When comparing the Oticon Intent to the Phonak Infinio Sphere, both models excel in leveraging AI for improved sound clarity, with Phonak Sphere having the edge. However, your individual hearing needs, lifestyle, and preferences should guide your decision.

Before you buy them! Hear Matthew's perspective.

HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop shares his perspective on the Phonak Sphere. Note that this video was made before the Ultra Sphere update, which, as explained above, introduced notable improvements to things like battery life and connectivity.