Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses vs. Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra

Nuance Audio Glasses seamlessly combine prescription eyewear with discreet over-the-counter hearing enhancement, offering solid performance in speech clarity but with some limitations in battery life and audio streaming.

Phonak’s Infinio Sphere delivers genuinely standout speech clarity in loud, noisy places thanks to its DEEPSONIC “Sphere mode,” but you’ll trade some discretion and may wrestle with fit or Bluetooth pairing to get that top-tier performance.

Nuance Audio Glasses achieved a SoundScore of 3.9/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #20 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra achieved a SoundScore of 4.9/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #3 of 39 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 4.19/5.

Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses have an IPX4 rating, which means they can withstand light splashes of water but may require extra care to ensure long-term reliability. Fortunately, their delicate components are less susceptible to moisture damage since they aren't positioned inside the ear like traditional hearing aids.

Phonak Audéo Sphere Ultra have an excellent build quality with a robust, portable charging case and a high ingress rating of IP68.

Nuance Hearing Glasses use internal lithium-ion batteries that provide up to 8 hours of use. To extend battery life throughout the day, Nuance recommends using them situationally and turning them off when not needed. Recharging takes approximately 3 hours.

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. They take 3 to 4 hours to recharge, and a 30-minute quick charge can provide an additional 6 hours of use.

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Phonak Infinio Ultra are compatible with both iOS and Android, offering wireless audio streaming and hands-free calls. Pairing is now easier directly from your phone's Bluetooth menu.

The Nuance Audio mobile app is user-friendly and available for both iOS and Android devices. It includes useful features such as volume control, microphone directionality, and noise reduction. Nuance hearing glasses are preset-based and use 4 default programs for adjustment, but they are not customizable based on a hearing test.

I found the MyPhonak Hearing Aid app easy to use with many useful features, including health and fitness tracking.

Nuance Hearing Glasses are comfortable, lightweight, and fit similarly to other broad-rimmed eyeglasses. If you're accustomed to wearing both glasses and hearing aids, you may feel less encumbered since there's no need to fit both glasses and hearing aids on your ear.

Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio Ultra were extremely comfortable and lightweight in my ears. In general, hearing care providers can make numerous physical changes to prescription hearing aids to improve comfort.

Nuance Audio currently offers two frame styles that may appeal to different aesthetic preferences. However, the frames are larger than traditional eyeglasses to accommodate the internal hearing components.

Phonak's new Audéo Sphere Infinio Ultra model shares the same notably larger size as the original Phonak Infinio Sphere. This is needed for its increased AI processing. While the larger size may be more noticeable, Sphere Ultra remains comfortable, and your provider should have no trouble adjusting the fit to your preference.

Nuance Audio Glasses has a value score of 3.3/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra has a value score of 3.5/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses are easy to use, especially if you're already accustomed to wearing glasses. However, care is required when placing them on the charger, as they must be in a specific orientation to magnetically lock and charge properly.

Infinio Ultra are easy to use and adjust using either the large multi-function button or MyPhonak app. I had no issues making adjustments with either.

Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses can be ordered and picked up in-store, where a vision professional will provide basic fitting guidance. Remote technical support is also available online and through the Nuance Audio mobile app. However, remote programming and support from a hearing specialist is not currently offered.

Prescription hearing aids like Infinio Sphere Ultra are fit by hearing care providers so you should receive quality care. The MyPhonak app also opens the possibility for remote programming and virtual follow-up appointments.