Hearing Aid, Phonak, Widex
Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio vs Widex SmartRIC: Which Has Better Sound?
Neither wins on every kind of sound. The Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio uses a dedicated AI chip to separate speech from noise, which suits loud restaurants and gatherings. The Widex SmartRIC is built on PureSound with ZeroDelay for natural, low-delay sound. Your hearing test and a trial should make the final call.
Many of our patients arrive with these two names on a shortlist. At Ear Solutions in India, our audiologists fit both, alongside the wider range of Phonak hearing aids and Widex hearing aids. This guide explains the difference in plain words.
Quick summary
- Noisy rooms: the Phonak Sphere Infinio’s dedicated AI chip is aimed at following speech in crowds.
- Natural tone: the Widex SmartRIC’s PureSound with ZeroDelay aims for less tinny, more natural sound.
- Battery: Widex lists up to 37 hours. Phonak lists up to 56 hours for the Sphere at the time of launch, but real use is shorter with streaming and heavy features.
- Price: SmartRIC kits run from ₹1,55,000 to ₹7,50,000, and Sphere kits from ₹5,90,000 to ₹8,75,000.
- Deciding: your audiogram and a trial in your own daily places matter more than any spec sheet.
Key takeaways
- Try the Phonak Sphere Infinio first if speech in crowds is your biggest struggle.
- Try the Widex SmartRIC first if natural tone and your own voice matter most.
- Battery figures are the makers’ maximums, so plan around your own day.
- Check whether a kit price covers one device or a pair.
- Let your hearing test and a real trial decide, not the spec sheet.
What does “better sound” mean in a hearing aid?
“Better sound” usually means one of two things: how well you follow speech in noise, or how natural everything feels, including your own voice and music. The Phonak Sphere leans toward the first, and the Widex SmartRIC leans toward the second.
Be careful with any claim that one model wins outright. Most comparison figures come from the makers’ own research, and the SmartRIC has directional microphones too.
How does the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio handle noisy places?
Phonak describes the Sphere as the first hearing aid with a dedicated deep neural network chip, called DEEPSONIC, that processes sound with AI. Phonak says it gives exceptional speech clarity from any direction.
Phonak’s own field studies report up to 34% less listening effort for speech from a distance, with Speech Enhancer. That is Phonak’s figure, and results vary from person to person. The Sphere also uses AutoSense OS 6.0 to adapt to different environments.
Phonak’s India range also lists an updated Infinio Ultra Sphere next to the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio. Ask us which version is available when you book, because stock and levels can differ.
How does the Widex SmartRIC create natural sound?
The Widex SmartRIC is built on PureSound with ZeroDelay. Widex says this delivers the fastest sound processing in a digital hearing aid, designed to reduce the tinny, artificial quality of some devices.
Its L-shaped body sits higher on the ear to angle the two microphones for better directionality. Widex also says it applies directionality and noise reduction selectively, only in noisy situations where wearers need support. At Ear Solutions we fit the SmartRIC in four levels: 110, 220, 330 and 440.
Phonak Sphere Infinio vs Widex SmartRIC: how do they compare side by side?
The table shows two different priorities rather than a clear winner. Phonak spends its extra hardware on noise, while Widex builds its identity on sound.
| Feature | Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio | Widex SmartRIC |
|---|---|---|
| Sound focus | Speech in noise | Natural, low-delay sound |
| Processing | DEEPSONIC dedicated AI chip, AutoSense OS 6.0 | PureSound with ZeroDelay |
| Design | Rechargeable RIC | L-shaped RIC that angles the microphones |
| Battery (maker figure) | Up to 56 hours (at launch) | Up to 37 hours |
| Charging | Phonak charger; ask us for the charge time | 4-hour case charge; 30 minutes gives up to 8 hours |
| Phone calls | Hands-free calls, iPhone and Android | Confirm with us for your phone |
| Levels at Ear Solutions | i70 and i90 | 110, 220, 330, 440 |
Maker figures were last checked in November 2026. Real battery life depends on your hearing loss, streaming and the features you use.
Which is better for restaurants, meetings and family gatherings?
For crowded rooms, the Phonak Sphere Infinio is usually the first one we suggest trying, because Phonak designed it mainly to help you follow speech in noisy places.
The SmartRIC can still help in noise through its angled microphones. Widex says the L-shaped design improves hearing across listening environments, while its overall approach is to keep sound natural rather than process it heavily. If group conversation is where hearing fails you most, tell us, because it shapes which one we put on your ear first.
Which is better for music, your own voice and milder hearing loss?
For natural tone, the Widex SmartRIC is often the one we ask people to hear first. Low processing delay is Widex’s answer to the complaint that some first hearing aids sound hollow or tinny.
The Phonak Sphere is built around speech clarity in noise, so its sound can feel crisper and more processed. Some people like that clarity and some do not, so personal taste matters here. Your audiogram matters even more, which is why we do not decide this from specs alone.
Which sound will suit your ears?
A short hearing test shows how your hearing varies across pitches, which helps us decide what to trial first. Then you can hear the difference in a real clinic setting.
Book Your Free Hearing Test | See Phonak Hearing Aid Prices
How do battery, size and phone use compare?
Both are rechargeable. The SmartRIC gives up to 37 hours after a 4-hour case charge, and Widex says its portable charger holds up to five full charges. Phonak lists up to 56 hours for the Sphere, but notes that real runtime depends on streaming, hearing loss, sound environment and active features.
Plan around your own day, not the maximum number. We list the Phonak Sphere with hands-free calls and universal Bluetooth for both iPhone and Android, and Phonak allows pairing of up to 8 devices across the Infinio range.
On Infinio Ultra and newer models, Phonak says direct calls work when Bluetooth streaming is switched on in the myPhonak app. We could not confirm phone streaming for the SmartRIC, so bring your phone to the clinic and we will check both with you.
Try both on your ear as well, because comfort with glasses or hair matters in daily use. Our guide to Bluetooth hearing aids and their prices explains what to expect from streaming.
What do they cost in India?
Prices depend on the technology level, so the level you choose matters more than the brand. We confirm exact prices after your hearing test, and our hearing aid price bands show how the tiers work across brands.
Listed kit prices at Ear Solutions (₹)
| Model | Level | Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Widex SmartRIC Rechargeable Kit | 110 | 1,55,000 |
| Widex SmartRIC Rechargeable Kit | 220 | 2,45,000 |
| Widex SmartRIC Rechargeable Kit | 330 | 5,35,000 |
| Widex SmartRIC Rechargeable Kit | 440 | 7,50,000 |
| Phonak Audéo Infinio Sphere Rechargeable Kit | i70 | 5,90,000 |
| Phonak Audéo Infinio Sphere Rechargeable Kit | i90 | 8,75,000 |
Our Phonak quotes for the Sphere Infinio run ₹3,00,000 to ₹4,40,000 per device, so the kit prices above most likely cover a pair. Ask us to confirm in writing whether a kit covers one device or two, and what fitting and follow-up it includes. We also offer 0% EMI on select models.
Who should think twice before choosing either?
Not everyone needs a top-level device. If most of your day is quiet and one-to-one, a lower level may serve you well, and a lower level from either brand may fit your budget better. We would rather match the technology to your life than sell you more than you need.
A hearing aid improves hearing in many situations. It does not restore normal hearing, and neither model will make a loud room feel like a quiet one.
How do you decide between the two?
Start with a hearing test, then trial one at a time in the places that trouble you most, such as a restaurant, a family dinner or a quiet living room. Note which one you reach for. Ask us about trial terms and get the length and conditions in writing before you decide.
Conclusion
The Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio and the Widex SmartRIC are both premium rechargeable options, built for different priorities. Choose Phonak first if following speech in noisy rooms is your biggest problem, and choose Widex first if natural sound matters most to you. Either way, let your hearing test and a real trial on your own day make the decision. Call us on +91 9015 116 116 or write to [email protected] to arrange one.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Phonak Sphere Infinio or Widex SmartRIC (kaun sa hearing aid better hai)?
Neither is better for everyone. The Phonak Sphere Infinio is aimed at speech in noise, and the Widex SmartRIC at natural, low-delay sound. Your hearing test and trial decide.
What is the price of Phonak Sphere Infinio in India?
At Ear Solutions, the Audéo Infinio Sphere rechargeable kit is listed at ₹5,90,000 for the i70 and ₹8,75,000 for the i90. We confirm the exact price after your hearing test.
What is the price of Widex SmartRIC in India?
Our Widex SmartRIC rechargeable kits are listed from ₹1,55,000 for the 110 to ₹7,50,000 for the 440. Ask whether a quote covers one device or a pair.
What are PureSound and ZeroDelay?
They are Widex technologies. PureSound with ZeroDelay is Widex’s low-delay processing platform, designed to give a more natural sound.
Which has the longer battery life?
Phonak lists up to 56 hours for the Sphere at launch, and Widex lists up to 37 hours for the SmartRIC. Real battery life depends on streaming and features, so plan around your own day.