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At the start of this week’s EUHA Conference in Nuremberg, Germany, Oticon unveiled the Oticon Zeal™, described by the company as “the world’s most discreet, complete hearing aid.” Zeal combines a nearly invisible in-the-ear (ITE) instant-fit form factor with advanced connectivity, rechargeability, and the company’s latest second-generation AI sound processing—a technological mix never before achieved in such a small device.
“This is the hearing aid I’ve been asking for for years,” enthuses HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop in the video below. “It’s rechargeable, discreet, and fits straight out of the box—and yes, it even has Bluetooth connectivity. It might just be the perfect middle ground between a receiver-in-canal (RIC) and a custom in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.”
Oticon is positioning Zeal behind Oticon's flagship hearing aid family, Oticon Intent; Zeal offers consumers maximum discretion with little compromise, while Intent prioritizes performance and rechargeability in its tried-and-true behind-the-ear (BTE/RIC) form factor.
Oticon reports that Zeal will be rolled out in phases across global markets, beginning with select regions in late 2025. The company also announced a new miniBTE power rechargeable addition to the Intent product family that will be introduced on a similar timeframe.
With Zeal, Oticon introduces what it calls a new category of hearing aids: NXT In-the-Ear. The design is intended to break down barriers to getting hearing help by bridging the gap between RIC and custom ITE styles—offering same-day fitting convenience combined with the performance and intelligence of a full-featured premium aid. Unlike traditional custom devices that require ear impressions, Zeal is modular and pre-fit, using a range of medical-grade silicone domes or optional custom tips for comfort and retention. In this way, its outward design is similar to the prescription-fit Signia Silk IX or the OTC hearing aid, Eargo 8.
“With Oticon Zeal, we’ve created the completely new hearing aid category NXT in-the-Ear, a real gamechanger in the industry,” said Ole Asboe Jørgensen, President of Oticon Brand, Global, in a press statement. “For the first time, we’ve successfully integrated our proven technology and full functionality into a discreet in-the-ear device. This isn’t just another hearing aid; it’s a barrier-breaking solution where users don’t need to compromise on discreetness or functionality. It eliminates stigma, attracts those who’ve avoided treatment, and empowers hearing care professionals to reach more people who need help.”
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According to Oticon, Zeal's fully encapsulated body was tested on more than 1,500 ears to ensure optimal retention, discretion, and comfort.
Oticon Zeal is powered by the same Deep Neural Network (DNN) 2.0 sound-processing platform that drives the company’s flagship Oticon Intent hearing aid. This always-on AI engine continuously analyzes the acoustic environment to enhance speech clarity and suppress noise in real time, supported by MoreSound Intelligence™ and SuddenSound Stabilizer™ for adaptive control in complex listening situations.
Clinical testing from Oticon’s Centre for Applied Audiology Research demonstrated that Zeal delivers performance on par with the company’s premium behind-the-ear device, Oticon Intent, and in-ear Oticon Own SI, providing equivalent access to speech cues and clarity across a wide range of hearing losses.
In laboratory simulations of noisy environments, Zeal achieved up to 6 dB of speech clarity enhancement at +5 dB SNR ratios, and its performance remained consistent across acoustic couplings—from instant-fit domes to custom earmolds—allowing clinicians to achieve optimal results right from the initial fitting
Compared with leading same-day-fit competitors, Zeal showed a 24% relative improvement in Speech Intelligibility Index (SII), up to 3.4 dB of improved speech clarity, and as much as 17 dB of stronger attenuation of sudden sounds, providing both clearer and more comfortable listening. According to the researchers, these results confirm that hearing care professionals can “confidently achieve the maximum possible speech clarity for clients right from the start,” without the need for custom earmolds in most fittings.
HearingTracker and the independent HearAdvisor lab have not yet had the opportunity to test Zeal, but we hope to report on the results as soon as they're available.
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Achieving this performance in such a small form factor required a novel encapsulation manufacturing process, adapted from medical-grade technologies used in pacemakers and, of all things, windmills. All electronic components are molded into a single, sealed module, improving durability and resistance to moisture and corrosion while allowing for a smaller, smoother shell.
“Oticon says the components are molded into one solid unit,” observes Allsop, “meaning fewer repairs and better protection from moisture—something that’s typically a problem in in-the-ear hearing aids.”
One of Zeal’s most distinctive design features is its wraparound antenna, which doubles as both a retention arm and an extraction cord. After about a day of use, the flexible antenna molds naturally to the user’s ear, ensuring a secure fit. It also serves as a Bluetooth LE Audio antenna, enabling direct streaming, hands-free calls, and compatibility with the Oticon Companion app for on-the-fly adjustments of volume, treble, bass, and program settings
Oticon Zeal also introduces Google’s Fast Pair™—the first time this feature has appeared in any hearing aid. With Fast Pair, Android users can instantly connect their Zeal or Intent devices with a single tap, and the pairing automatically syncs across other Android devices linked to the same Google account, says Oticon.
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“Oticon Intent and Oticon Zeal are the world's first hearing aids to offer Google Fast Pair, a testament to our strong collaboration with Google,” says Oticon Senior Product Manager Frederik Gundelach. “Together, we have pioneered the most effortless way to connect Oticon LE Audio hearing aids to Android LE Audio devices, setting a new standard for accessibility, to the benefit of millions of hearing aid users across the globe.”
In a LinkedIn post to HearingTracker, Oticon VP of Audiology Virginia Ramachandran said that Auracast™ broadcast audio support is available at launch, providing future access to next-generation public-venue audio experiences.
Zeal uses a 312-size rechargeable lithium-ion battery, providing up to 20 hours of use on a single charge (can vary depending on hearing loss, sound environment, age of batteries, and audio streaming). Its portable SmartCharger delivers up to 3 full recharges on the go, with fast-charge capability that restores 4 hours of power in just 15 minutes. The charger’s built-in lithium-ion battery is ideal for travel or extended outings where access to power may be limited.
According to Allsop, Zeal is an ideal choice for several groups:
For hearing care providers, Zeal offers a new same-day-fit option that can expand clinic offerings to more patients—including those deterred by the delay or stigma of traditional custom aids
Oticon’s Intent™ remains the flagship RIC product, featuring four integrated sensors and Oticon’s most advanced AI system. The company says Intent and Zeal are two products designed to complement one another: Intent for those prioritizing performance and rechargeability in a behind-the-ear form, and Zeal for those who prefer maximum discretion without compromise.
With Zeal, Oticon has delivered on a long-standing wish list: a rechargeable, discreet, app-connected in-ear hearing aid that offers premium AI-driven performance without the wait or compromise of custom earmolds. For both professionals and consumers, it marks a significant shift toward hearing technology that looks—and fits—more like the future of personal audio.
“With Oticon Zeal, hearing care professionals have access to superior clarity, audibility, and feedback freedom,” says Oticon Director of Audiology Susanna Løve. The MoreSound Technologies serve as the audiological foundation for Oticon Zeal, and most importantly, the second-generation AI sound processing means we have a highly trained, highly effective method of helping hearing aid users hear the world the way it should sound.”
Oticon reports that Zeal will be rolled out in phases across global markets, beginning with select regions in late 2025. The company also announced a new miniBTE power rechargeable addition to the Intent product family that will be introduced on a similar timeframe.
This article has been edited. The original article stated that Auracast would be available shortly after launch, while it was later learned that it is available now.
Karl Strom ist der Chefredakteur von HearingTracker. Er war Gründungsredakteur von The Hearing Review und berichtet seit über 30 Jahren über die Hörhilfenindustrie.
