with the release of the shpere infinio’s, i wish phonak would make a BTE version with BLEA
The BTE (Naida) models are usually something like 10 months behind the RIC (audeo) release. Maybe June next year?
WH
What’s BLEA? I’m reminded of Lucy in Peanuts.
Bluetooth LE Audio , Phonak Infinio will support this newer Bluetooth standard.
There is a possibility that Sphere will not come to the Naida hearing aids
Because the Ultra Power version was released with replaceable disposable batteries until now. The Sphere requires a higher current, and must obviously be a rechargeable version. And if it is, he will have to put a bigger battery in order to last longer in the sphere option.
I have a feeling that Phonak won’t do it because NAIDA is not a priority product for them. Let’s wait and see what happens, if the sphere option is important to you, you can go to Starkey, they have Edge mode, something similar to Sphere. Wait and see what Phonak will release first.
I forgot to mention that Stsrkey doesn’t have a BTE version of the Edge AI hearing aid yet.
Not only Naida, but Oticon Xceed too. All people with severe and profound hearing loss are unprofitable for manufacturers despite the fact that they have a greater need for superpower hearing aids.
Not wanting to argue with you, but you say that the Naida is not a priority for Phonak. I don’t know how this can be true based on what we know. Phonak is the only manufacturer who have brought out SP and UP BTE versions of a premium hearing aid recently. They brought out the Naida UP in 2023 and followed up with an SP Naida earlier on this year, in April 2024. I know because I wore it for 4 months before swapping for the Xceed.
What’s more, Phonak brought out an upgraded version of the Roger On iN V3. So they are committed to helping those with severe/profound loss.
I don’t see why they will not release the Sphere in a BTE form factor within 18 months.
They are the only manufacturer to my knowledge who have a recent superpower BTE. Most date back to 2019 (Oticon) or the early 2020s.
I don’t see any point in releasing SP versions of hearing aids if the UP versions are being released. If someone needs SP, then they will better be served by UP version. I think the market offerings should be simplified. The manufacturers are offering BTE 312 models with 105db fitting range, BTE Power/SuperPower 13 model with 120db range and UltraPower model with 120db range. I think BTE 105 models should be dropped. If someone needs to be fit for greater than 100 db loss, they can be served by a single SP/UP BTE model with 120db fitting range.
Other recent SP offerings with Android streaming support are Starkey Evolv AI Power Plus BTE 13 and Signia Intuis SP 4. Recent BTE (105db max fitting range) models are Resound Nexia NX88-DWC Rechargeable and Widex Moment BTE 13 D.
Let’s see what happens, I could be wrong too. What I wrote are just hunches.
Phonak has not yet offered a motion sensor and tap control in the UP version. To be able to have that, they have to make a rechargeable version. If it is going to have a sphere, the battery must be twice as big on an already large hearing aid. Maybe they will conclude that it is too big and unattractive…
I think it will be Naida Infinio only, without Sphere features.
They could offer motion sensor and tap control with conventional batteries if they wanted to. I’m not so sure about feasibility of high-current-draw AI with conventional batteries (possibly implant-type batteries) using current chip technology. But as technology advances and current draw drops, it’ll presumably become more feasible.
Oh, I disagree. More people can fit into the SP than the UP. Someone who could go into the PR can also be fit by the SP. We also fit the SP on a lot of babies and the UP is pretty big on them.
I think the Naida probably WILL be launched in the Infinio line, but not with the Sphere and not next. Custom rechargeable will be the next release, which they had planned to bring out sooner but ran into some issues.
it’s the audio platform for BLE
I really hope not. If it’s one thing that I have a severe problem with understanding speech is in noisy environments. If the infinio sphere is helping people already with these, Phonak would be criminals not to provide a BTE version to folks with my level of loss.
I hope that Sphere will come to BTE so that everyone can enjoy that feature.
Question for you, would you mind if the bte version was rechargeable? Because the sphere consumes more power, the bte could be even thicker like it would have two 675 batteries in it… or a rechargeable battery as big as two 13a batteries.
Some compromises will be needed to have a sphere
@markoo355 - I’m open to rechargeable. Not going to be able to have hearing aids otherwise soon. I’ve railed against rechargeables on these very forums in the past but the Infinio Sphere rechargeables seem acceptable to me. Now all I need is for them to come in 1. BTE, 2. With CROS unit compatible.
I’d guess six more months for Naida. They just pushed the virto.
WH
The sound recover feature of the NAIDA is part of the Audeo. I’ll be happy with a BTE custom ear mold version that includes that and CROS.
Update for Phonak - I want/need the Phonak Infinio Sphere in BTE form factor w/custom ear mold and CROS available. Thank you.
i’m open to rechargable, i have trouble changing the battries of a disposable hearing aids, so rechargable BTE would be a good fit for me