The Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra measured 4.4/5 for speech in noise in tuned lab testing versus 3.7/5 for the Oticon Intent, a meaningful margin for anyone who struggles most in restaurants or group conversations.
Check out our comparison of the Oticon Intent vs Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.
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Summarized with AI assistance from our human-researched product information, in-lab testing, objective sound measurements, and expert ratings.
The real choice here is speech clarity in noise versus music streaming quality: Infinio Ultra pulls ahead in noisy conversation (4.4/5 vs 3.7/5) and costs about $300 less, while Intent sounds notably better for streamed music (4.0/5 vs 3.3/5) and adds a telecoil.
Choose the Oticon Intent if you want the stronger music-streaming performance (4.0/5 lab score vs 3.3/5), a telecoil for use with venue induction loops, and a few more adjustment bands (24 vs 20) for your audiologist to fine-tune.
Choose the Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra if speech-in-noise performance is your top priority — its 4.4/5 lab score beats Intent's 3.7/5 by a wide margin — and you want to pay roughly $300 less per pair.
Infinio Ultra scored 4.4/5 in tuned lab testing versus 3.7/5 for Intent, a real-world-relevant gap for anyone who struggles most in restaurants or group settings.
Intent measured 4.0/5 for music streaming against Infinio Ultra's 3.3/5, making it the better pick for wearers who stream music often.
Infinio Ultra runs about $300 less per pair than Intent, a modest but real gap at this price tier.
Intent offers 24 adjustment bands versus 20 on Infinio Ultra, giving a fitting audiologist slightly finer control when tuning gain across frequencies.
Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.
Oticon Intent is a top-tier flagship with excellent lab-verified speech performance, strong streaming and connectivity, and smart features like 4D sensors and fast charging, though its slightly bulkier fit, simpler button controls, and the still early LE Audio and Auracast rollout may be drawbacks for some users.
Read full reviewPhonak’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.
Read full reviewOticon Intent achieved a SoundScore of 4.70/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #1 of 35 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.91/5.
Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra achieved a SoundScore of 4.58/5 in HearAdvisor lab testing. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.91/5.
Intent offer excellent moisture and dust protection with an ingress rating of IP68. Both the hearing aids and case are well build and ready for daily use.
Phonak Audéo Sphere Ultra have an excellent build quality with a robust, portable charging case and a high ingress rating of IP68.
With a battery life of up to 20 hours, longer without streaming, Intent should last you all day. This is an improvement over their previous generation Real which offered up to 16 hours.
Audéo Infinio Ultra offer around 17 hours of use per charge under normal use and streaming conditions. When using the new Sphere mode, battery life is around 10 hours which is an improvement over the original Sphere Infinio model. They take 3 to 4 hours to recharge, and a 30-minute quick charge can provide an additional 6 hours of use.
I found Intent to offer easy and stable wireless connection. Their audio quality while streaming music, and during hands-free calling, was good and comparable to other prescription hearing aids.
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.
I found the Companion app easy to navigate and use. Other prescription hearing aid companies offer more in-depth apps, but there is still plenty of opportunity to customize settings from your mobile device. The HearingFitness component is also a nice feature for those who like to actively track their progress.
I found the MyPhonak Hearing Aid app easy to use with many useful features, including health and fitness tracking.
Oticon Intent were extremely comfortable and lightweight in my ears. In general, hearing care providers can make numerous physical changes to prescription hearing aids like Real to improve comfort.
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.
Intent are sleek modern looking prescription hearing aids offering a smaller overall size than their previous generation Real. They also allow you to customize the look of your hearing aids with an array of color options.
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.
Oticon Intent 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 3.4/5 based on lab performance and public display price.
Intent are easy to use and adjust either with the multi-function button or Oticon Companion app. I had no issues making adjustments with either.
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.
Prescription hearing aids like Real are fit by hearing care providers so you should receive quality care. The Oticon Companion app also opens the possibility for remote programming and virtual follow-up appointments.
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.
Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.
HearingTracker partners with HearAdvisor to provide recordings and performance data from an acoustic laboratory that follows standard scientific procedures. All hearing aids are fitted and performance-tested for mild sloping to moderate hearing loss. All audio samples cutoff above 10kHz.
Compatible accessories for each hearing aid
As a break-through in hearing technology, Marvel hearing aids feature RogerDirect™ which allows the Roger technology to stream directly to Marvel hearing aids without having to attach an external receiver. This major innovation makes Roger technology easier to use and more attractive for a broader group ranging from mild to profound hearing loss. Roger technology makes use of intelligent and adaptive algorithms that continuously measure and precisely analyze noise levels to keep the Roger signal clearly audible above the background noise.
Direct contact charger with magnets for secure device fitting.
Charger with integrated battery
Oticon CROS sends a wireless signal via Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) from the poorer ear to a receiver on the better ear.
The new Oticon CROS PX is rechargeable and offers TwinLink™ dual streaming technology, which provides access to more sounds in challenging listening environments and handles wireless streaming at the same time.
The Oticon Phone Adapter 2.0 enables hearing aid users to connect to their landline phones via the ConnectClip accessory. Wireless, hands-free phone conversations are enabled when the ConnectClip is worn on the body.
A hearing aid charger for Oticon Intent hearing aids. Includes a power bank for charging on the go.
The myPhonak app allows you to access remote support, information about their hearing aids, and a hearing diary. The app also allows you to adjust the volume and pitch of your hearing aids, and change program settings.
Transmits audio to your hearing aids from a distance, lets you make hands-free phone calls, and adjusts your hearing aid volume and program settings.
App that lets you adjust the volume, mute your hearing aids, and change listening programs. Includes streaming EQ and remote care.
The Phonak RemoteControl provides a discreet way to control your Phonak hearing aids.
Phonak Roger Table Mic II is a microphone dedicated for working adults who participate in various meetings. It selects the person who’s talking and switches automatically between the meeting participants.
Discreet remote microphone that helps to boost your partners voice in one-to-one conversations in noise.
Streams TV audio directly to your hearing aids at the volume you choose with an effective range of up to 45 feet.
Phonak Roger Select is a microphone specifically designed to help boost your hearing performance and keep you at the heart of the conversation.
The Phonak TV Connector is a wireless accessory that streams audio directly from your TV or stereo system to your Phonak hearing aids, transforming them into wireless stereo headsets. Enjoy high-quality sound, independent volume control, and a long transmission range of up to 15 meters.
Phonak Roger On is an advanced remote mic accessory developed by Phonak. It is designed to improve speech understanding in noisy environments, over distance, and when many people are speaking simultaneously. Equipped with MultiBeam 2.0 Technology, it provides a boost in understanding by capturing voices from all directions. The Roger On can connect to a variety of multimedia devices and is fully compatible with almost all hearing aids and cochlear implants that have a T-coil or a Roger receiver.
The Verdict
If your hardest listening situations are restaurants, meetings, or parties, the Infinio Ultra's lab-measured edge in speech-in-noise (4.4/5 vs 3.7/5) combined with its roughly $300 lower price makes it the more defensible buy for most people chasing clarity in noise.
The Intent counters with better music streaming and a telecoil, so it's the stronger pick if you stream music often or rely on induction loop systems in public venues.
Which is right for you?
Both are current flagship-tier devices with strong professional support and comfort scores well above the site-wide average, so you're not choosing between a good option and a bad one — you're choosing which listening priority matters more to your daily life.
Both devices improved substantially after professional tuning in lab testing (Intent to 4.9/5, Infinio Ultra to 5.2/5), so confirm your provider performs REM rather than relying on first-fit defaults.
Bring a real conversation-in-noise scenario and a favorite playlist to your fitting appointment, since Infinio Ultra leads on the former and Intent on the latter.
Intent includes a telecoil that Infinio Ultra's feature list does not list, which matters if you regularly rely on venue induction loops.
The Phonak Audéo Infinio Ultra measured 4.4/5 for speech in noise in tuned lab testing versus 3.7/5 for the Oticon Intent, a meaningful margin for anyone who struggles most in restaurants or group conversations.
The Intent costs roughly $300 more per pair than the Infinio Ultra. That premium is easier to justify if you value its stronger music streaming (4.0/5 vs 3.3/5) or its telecoil, but not if speech in noise is your main concern, where Infinio Ultra actually scores higher.
The Oticon Intent, with a lab-measured music streaming score of 4.0/5 compared to 3.3/5 for the Phonak Infinio Ultra.
Yes, both are prescription hearing aids fitted by a hearing care provider, and lab testing showed both improve substantially with professional tuning using real-ear measurements rather than default settings.