HearingAssist Eaze vs Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra

The HearingAssist Eaze is a budget-priced OTC hearing aid released in 2023, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.4/5 in our lab testing. At $399, it sits in the most affordable price tier of the OTC market, though it ranks #43 of 65 devices in its category. In our standardized testing, the Eaze demonstrates excellent feedback handling, scoring a perfect 5.0/5—0.46 points above the category average. This means users can expect stable performance without whistling during typical daily activities. However, the device shows limitations in other areas: speech clarity scores are mixed at 2.6/5 in quiet and low at 1.3/5 in noisy environments, both falling slightly below category averages. The most significant limitation is music streaming, which scored 0.0/5—nearly 2 points below the category average. Buyers who prioritize phone streaming for music or media should consider alternatives. Own-voice comfort is also mixed at 2.2/5, approximately 0.31 points below average for OTC devices. At this price point, shoppers have several higher-scoring alternatives to consider, including the Elehear Beyond and Apple AirPods Pro 2, which offer stronger overall performance. The HearingAssist Eaze may suit budget-conscious buyers who prioritize feedback stability over streaming capabilities and can accept modest speech performance in challenging listening situations.

The Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid priced at $4,898. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.9/5, placing it in the top 3% of the 36 prescription hearing aids tested and ranking #2 in its category. This device delivers exceptional speech performance in our testing. Speech in noise scored an excellent 4.5/5, a remarkable 2.55 points above the category average of 1.96/5—one of the largest margins we've measured in this critical metric. Speech in quiet also performed strongly at 4.3/5, exceeding the category average by 1.00 point. These results suggest the Sphere Infinio Ultra prioritizes speech clarity across challenging listening environments. Music streaming quality is solid at 3.3/5, sitting 0.66 points above the category average. Own voice comfort scored 2.8/5, which is above the category average but remains mixed in absolute terms—listeners sensitive to occlusion may notice this limitation. Feedback handling measured 4.2/5, which is strong in absolute terms though 0.51 points below the category average of 4.71/5. The Sphere Infinio Ultra is best suited for users who prioritize speech understanding, particularly in noisy environments, and who are prepared to invest in premium technology. Those seeking the highest feedback stability or improved own-voice comfort may want to compare alternatives, though this device's speech performance stands out as a category leader.