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Phonak is once again advancing the frontier of artificial intelligence (AI) in hearing care with the introduction of the Infinio Ultra hearing aid family. Building on the success of last year’s Phonak Infinio and Infinio Sphere, the new Ultra series targets two of the most persistent challenges faced by hearing aid users: a firmware update designed to enhance clear speech understanding from every direction and a new system for keeping earwax from degrading hearing aid performance.
Importantly, Infinio Ultra also does this with lower power consumption from its rechargeable batteries than the previous models.
Phonak's original Infinio family marked the company’s leap into real-time AI-driven sound classification, while Infinio Sphere brought Deep Neural Network (DNN) processing and spatial awareness with 360-degree voice enhancement to the lineup. Similarly, with Infinio Ultra, Phonak adds two new models that extend the platform’s reach into greater power efficiency, ease of use, and maintainability: Infinio Ultra R and Infinio Ultra Sphere.
HearingTracker audiologist Matthew Allsop talks about the feature upgrades that will mean the most to his patients.
As HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop points out in a subsequent video, owners of the former Infinio hearing aid line can gain the same benefits as Ultra with a software upgrade, via a firmware update, from their hearing provider (there may be a charge for this).
Phonak says the Infinio Ultra R and Infinio Ultra Sphere bring even more refined AI processing and environmental awareness to everyday listening. The upgraded DNN technology recognizes 18 times more real-world sound scenarios and identifies them with 24% greater accuracy, creating smoother and more natural sound transitions.
Phonak has updated its AutoSense 6.0 environmental listening classification system to AutoSense 7.0, which means the hearing aids should have an improved ability to identify sound scenes and do an even better job of adjusting their parameters in real time. This means they can automatically switch more effectively between speech in noise, speech in loud noise, or the more aggressive spheric speech in loud noise.
Music lovers may also appreciate a more nuanced approach: the AI has been trained to better distinguish among genres such as jazz, classical, electronic, and hip-hop, adjusting its sound response accordingly.
As Matthew Allsop notes in the above video, the new improvements are designed to provide you with “more of the right features at the right time without you needing to lift a finger.”
Easy Bluetooth connectivity remains a frequent pain point for hearing care providers and consumers alike. The new Ultra line now features one-step pairing with smartphones, tablets, and the myPhonak app—reducing setup time and confusion for new users. As with other recent Phonak products, users can maintain up to eight Bluetooth pairings and keep two devices connected simultaneously, enabling a seamless transition between calls, music, and media.
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The updated myPhonak app has also been refined, offering clearer language and faster access to key adjustments. The Infinio Ultra line also works seamlessly with the RogerOn ecosystem of wireless accessories (TV Streamer, PartnerMic, Roger microphones), further enhancing listening experiences.
The new hearing aids are “Auracast-ready,” meaning they still require a firmware update to become active. As Matthew mentions in his video above, Auracast is not available yet, and is not part of the Sphere -> Ultra firmware upgrade. Presumably Phonak will deliver this functionality at a later date.
The migration of wax and debris into hearing aid receiver ports has been a persistent problem for all RIC-style hearing aids, with the potential for reducing sound quality and even causing receiver failure. One of the standout innovations in Infinio Ultra is EasyGuard™, a patented wax-protection system that replaces traditional wax filters. The design uses an acoustically transparent membrane that seals the receiver from contaminants while allowing sound to pass freely, says Phonak.
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Instead of replacing filters, users can simply wipe the surface clean—a change that Phonak claims can reduce service visits by up to 38%. For many wearers, this could mean less maintenance, lower long-term costs, and more reliable day-to-day performance.
Introduced in 2024, Phonak’s Infinio Sphere was the first hearing aid to run on a separate, real-time large-scale Deep Neural Network (DNN) chip, giving it an exceptional ability to pull speech out of noisy, multi-talker environments. The Infinio Ultra Sphere continues that approach with the next generation of Phonak’s Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 engine—reportedly delivering clearer voices from all directions while operating with 30% more efficiency than before.
In addition to its slightly larger but still comfortable design, one of the few “knocks” on Infinio Sphere has been that, when switched into Sphere Mode during challenging listening environments, its battery life can become more limited. With the new Ultra Sphere, users can expect all-day battery life even in demanding conditions like restaurants or live performances. With 3 hours of the new Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 (SSC 2.0) engaged and 5 hours of audio streaming, the new Ultra Sphere will provide a minimum of 16 hours of use; without SSC 2.0 and streaming, it can provide up to 56 hours—rivaling some of the best use-times in the industry.
According to Phonak, these gains are made possible by the optimized AI chip, which processes complex acoustic data in real time rather than relying on slower classification and post-processing techniques.
“Phonak’s AI innovation introduced last year was a true game changer for our industry, but we knew it was only the beginning of a new era,” said VP of Phonak Marketing Oliver Frank in a press statement. “This year, we’re demonstrating our ability to push the technological boundaries even further in our pursuit of the best possible sound.”
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Among the first to experience the new technology was rock guitarist Paul Gilbert, who praised its simplicity and sound quality. “I've had the opportunity to try Infinio Ultra Sphere, and I would say to my musician friends, you've got to get those hearing aids—they make things so much easier,” said Gilbert.
Although the HearAdvisor lab has not yet had the opportunity to test Infinio Ultra, we plan to report on the results as soon as they are available. Phonak Infinio Sphere remains one of the highest performing prescription hearing aids tested to date, and it ranks in the top 5% of all hearing aids tested by the lab. It also has the highest hearing-in-noise lab scores of all prescription hearing aids.
Phonak Infinio Ultra R and Infinio Ultra Sphere are available to order through licensed hearing care professionals starting October 22, 2025.
For more details, please visit the Phonak website.
Sources: Phonak, HearAdvisor, and HearingTracker. This post has been updated for the two videos mentioned in the article.
Karl Strom ist der Chefredakteur von HearingTracker. Er war Gründungsredakteur von The Hearing Review und berichtet seit über 30 Jahren über die Hörhilfenindustrie.
