The DEEPSONIC Chip

The DEEPSONIC chip utilizes a vast Deep Neural Network (DNN), trained on 22 million audio samples through 4.5 million neural links. It executes an impressive 7.7 billion operations per second to accurately distinguish speech from background noise. To achieve this, it demands an immense amount of processing power—specifically, it boasts 53 times the processing capability of other chips available on the market.

Spheric Speech in Loud Noise

The DEEPSONIC chip is activated when the "Spheric Speech in Loud Noise" program is turned on, either automatically by the hearing aid through the Autosense OS 6.0 or manually by the user.

As per Phonak, users can experience up to a 10dB improvement in Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) when using the directional microphones feature and setting Spheric Speech Clarity to its maximum. They also claim that users are up to three times more likely to understand speech in challenging environments, from any direction, compared to two leading competitors. This results in up to a 36.7% improvement in speech comprehension.

Battery Life and Charging

Phonak states that the Infinio Sphere hearing aids provide up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge, which includes up to 3 hours of Bluetooth streaming for music or phone calls. Since the average hearing aid wearer uses their devices for 13 hours a day, 16 hours of battery life should be adequate for most users.

However, it’s important to note that the battery life is significantly reduced when the Spheric Speech in Loud Noise Program, which utilizes AI and the DEEPSONIC chip, is activated. With this program running, the battery life estimate drops to just 7 hours on a full charge.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Phonak has upgraded to Bluetooth version 5.3 (from 4.2), which doubles the transmission range, effectively addressing a major issue in their previous devices.

The Sphere Infinio can pair with up to 8 devices, with 2 active connections at a time. It is compatible with virtually any device that supports Bluetooth Classic, including most phones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. While many were hoping for LE Audio Bluetooth in these devices, Phonak has chosen to postpone LE Audio activation in favor of continuing with Bluetooth Classic.

Water Resistance and Durability

The Sphere Infinio hearing aids have received an upgrade in durability. Although they have a maximum published IP rating of 68, these hearing aids actually surpass this rating, similar to the previous generation Lumity Life models. This makes them among the most water-resistant hearing aids available, providing peace of mind in case you accidentally get caught in the shower or sweat heavily.