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ReSound Vivia: AI-Powered Hearing Aids with Intelligent Focus—What to Expect
ReSound has launched Vivia, a new AI-powered hearing aid designed to improve speech clarity in noisy environments. Introduced in early February 2025, Vivia is ReSound's latest flagship hearing aid, designed to deliver exceptional speech-in-noise performance while maintaining a discreet design and long-lasting battery life.
Vivia, which follows closely on the heels of ReSound's previous generation Nexia hearing aids, offers three models that include the world’s smallest AI-powered micro-receiver-in-ear (microRIE) hearing aid. All integrate artificial intelligence processing, Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast, and an upgraded Intelligent Focus system that prioritizes speech based on where the user is looking.
HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop provides an overview of ReSound Vivia hearing aids, including available models, AI functions, battery life, and key features. Closed captions are available on this video. If you are using a mobile phone, please enable captions clicking on the gear icon.
What we love about ReSound Vivia
AI-powered noise reduction: Uses a deep neural network trained on 13.5 million speech sentences to enhance speech clarity in noisy environments. Intelligent Focus: Prioritizes speech based on where the user is looking, making conversations more natural in complex settings. Compact design: Vivia microRIE hearing aid is among the smallest on the market, offering great performance, along with discretion and comfort. Bluetooth LE Audio & Auracast: Supports next-generation wireless streaming and public audio broadcasting compatibility; one model available with telecoil + Auracast technology. Long battery life: Up to 30 hours of use on a single charge or 20 hours with streaming and AI noise reduction enabled. Quick charge capability: A 10-minute charge provides an additional 2.7 hours of use. Multiple model options: Available in rechargeable and disposable battery versions in four technology levels, as well as a CROS model for people with single-sided deafness. Charger options: microRIE comes with optional desktop, standard, or premium chargers, the latter providing 3 extra charges for on-the-go power. App control and tap features: Includes programmable push buttons and app-based controls for user convenience.
Drawbacks
Unverified real-world performance: Marketing claims look promising, but independent testing is needed to confirm AI effectiveness. Potential battery drain: AI-powered features may reduce battery life faster, especially with Intelligent Focus engaged for long periods. Limited available styles: Launching first in RIE styles; no custom in-the-ear (ITE) or traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) models available. Auracast adoption still growing: While ReSound is definitely ahead of its competitors relative to LE Audio and Auracast, public venues have yet to widely implement Auracast broadcasting technology.
A New Level of Hearing Aid Performance
According to ReSound, the Vivia’s AI-driven noise reduction has been trained on 13.5 million speech sentences and can process up to 4.9 trillion operations per day to separate speech from background noise. The company also claims that 64% of users report better speech comprehension in noise compared to other AI-assisted hearing aids, and that 89% prefer the new Intelligent Focus over ReSound’s previous generation of noise reduction technology.
Battery life is another notable feature, with up to 30 hours on a single charge (or 20 hours with streaming and Intelligent Focus enabled). A quick 10-minute charge reportedly provides an additional 2.7 hours of use.
How These Claims Hold Up: Independent Testing to Follow
While these marketing claims sound impressive, independent real-world testing is necessary to validate them. Over the coming weeks, we'll evaluate the ReSound Vivia's speech-in-noise performance, battery efficiency, and user experience compared to those of leading competitors in the HearAdvisor test lab and in the real world.
Stay tuned for our full review—sign up for our newsletter (at the bottom of this page) to be the first to know when our in-depth analysis goes live.
In the meantime, here's what we know about this latest flagship hearing aid from ReSound.
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Vivia Models
ReSound Vivia is currently offered in 3 models:
- microRIE: A rechargeable Bluetooth wireless model that comes with the choice of 3 chargers (desktop, standard, or premium); there is also a CROS version of the microRIE for people with single-sided deafness.
- RIE 61: A Bluetooth wireless model that uses a size 312 disposable battery, and
- RIE 62: A Bluetooth wireless model that uses the slightly larger size 13 disposable battery for greater hearing loss/power demands.
All are app-controlled and have a programmable push button, and the Vivia microRIE also features tap controls. The RIE 62 comes standard with a telecoil, and the other models can access telecoil (induction loop) systems via the MultiMic+ accessory.
Vivia is available in four tech levels (9, 7, 5 and 4, with 9 being the most advanced) and 10 color options, including the newly added Navy Blue and Red, which were not available in the previous Nexia family. Below is a quick comparison chart of Vivia features. For a more detailed look at the hearing aid features in each tech level, please see the charts at the bottom of the page.
| Model | Battery | Bluetooth/App | Hands-free calling | Tap control | Telecoil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivia microRIE | Rechargeable | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Vivia RIE 61 | Size 312 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Vivia RIE 62 | Size 13 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Comparison chart of Vivia model features (please use gray scroll bar to see all features.
ReSound Vivia: New AI-Driven Tech with an Ear for Real-life Communication
Hearing in noisy environments is one of the biggest challenges for people with hearing loss. ReSound’s new Vivia hearing aids take a fresh approach by combining DNN-based noise reduction with an improved directional microphone system.
Intelligent Noise Tracker
One of the standout features of ReSound Vivia is its Intelligent Noise Tracker, an advanced AI-driven noise reduction system designed to make speech clearer without distorting it. Traditional noise reduction systems often struggle with sudden background sounds—like clattering dishes, laughter, or traffic—sometimes reducing speech clarity in the process. They can also eliminate or distort some sounds (e.g., a crackling fire, children playing, the buzz of a restaurant) that make you feel "in the present" or that actually accentuate your experience.
According to a white paper1 that summarizes three separate company studies undertaken by the company, ReSound's Intelligent Noise Tracker uses a deep neural network (DNN) trained on millions of real-world speech sentences and noise samples. This AI-powered system continuously analyzes the sound environment in real time, more effectively distinguishing between speech and unwanted noise than conventional noise reduction methods.
Instead of applying static noise filtering—which can sometimes reduce voice clarity—Intelligent Noise Tracker is designed to dynamically adjust its settings based on the complexity of the background noise. This ensures that the listener hears speech more naturally, without sudden changes in volume or quality.
Improved Directionality
ReSound Vivia features an upgraded 4-microphone binaural beamformer, designed to enhance speech clarity by focusing on voices while preserving natural sound awareness. This system extends directional processing into lower frequencies (down to 250 Hz), providing up to 2 dB better speech-in-noise performance—especially for users with occluding (closed) ear fittings (speech understanding is typically thought to increase by up to 10-12% for every 1 dB of speech-in-noise improvement).
Real-world benefits: User preference and performance
Three ReSound studies showed that listeners overwhelmingly preferred the new Intelligent Focus feature over previous noise reduction systems. In tests, 89% of users chose Intelligent Focus over legacy noise reduction, particularly in environments like cafés, cars, and busy streets. Additionally, Vivia’s AI-powered noise reduction performed as well as another leading premium brand that uses DNN processing—except its DNN is said to be 17 times more efficient meaning longer battery life and a smaller device.
ReSound's Leadership Bluetooth Wireless Innovation
Vivia hearing aids are compatible with Apple and Android devices for audio streaming from various sources. With compatible Apple devices, Vivia doubles as a hands-free headset, eliminating the need to speak into your phone during calls and providing seamless communication. The hands-free feature requires an iPhone 11 or later.
For Android devices, Vivia can directly stream phone calls to the hearing aids, but hands-free calling is not supported (i.e., you'll need to speak into the phone receiver, but you'll hear the person on the line through your hearing aids). To enable hands-free calling on Android, you can utilize the Phone Clip+ accessory, which can be paired with your hearing aids and clipped to your lapel, which is particularly useful while driving. This accessory is usually sold separately.
Among many technology "firsts," ReSound led the way in wireless streaming for iOS devices. The company is the first—and currently the only—to have an active connection for Auracast broadcast streaming (several other hearing aids with Bluetooth LE Audio are "Auracast-ready,” but they need a firmware update to actually receive Auracast).
Auracast allows for shared audio experiences by turning an Auracast-enabled device (e.g., smartphone, iPad, computer, etc.) into a transmitter that can then broadcast its audio signals to as many as 1,000 other Auracast-enabled receivers like hearing aids, earbuds, and audio headphones. This means you can tune into and receive transmitted audio from a specific TV, airport gate, lecturer, arena, museum PA system, etc.
You can also use an Auracast transmitter to turn your smartphone or audio device into a broadcast channel so people can listen to your music, podcasts, or other audio files.
While we think Auracast is set to revolutionize large-area public audio transmission, it will take some time for Auracast to be rolled out—potentially several years before it's in widespread use across a variety of popular venues. For those who want both telecoil (induction loop) and Auracast broadcast tech, you can opt for the Vivia RIE 62.
Who Is It For?
ReSound Vivia is launching in RIE models first, with plans to expand to other designs. If you struggle to hear conversations in noise and want a more natural, effortless listening experience, Vivia could be a game-changer.
ReSound's Nexia hearing aid family offers a wider range of styles—including tiny custom in-the-ear (ITE) and traditional behind-the-ear (BTE) models—for those looking for more discreet in-ear options or whose hearing loss demands more power, respectively.
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