Oticon Intent vs Oticon Real

The Oticon Intent is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2024, priced at $4,898. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.7/5, ranking #1 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested—placing it in the top tier of the category. Speech performance is a standout strength. Speech in quiet scores an excellent 4.6/5, running 1.17 points above the category average. Speech in noise reaches a solid 3.7/5, which is 2.15 points above average—a meaningful advantage for challenging listening environments. Music streaming also performs well at 4.0/5, sitting 1.36 points above the category norm. Feedback handling is excellent at 5.0/5, slightly above the already-high category average. The notable weakness is own-voice comfort, which scores a low 1.3/5—falling 1.45 points below the category average. Users who are sensitive to the sound of their own voice may find this less comfortable than competing devices. The Oticon Intent is best suited for listeners who prioritize speech clarity across varied environments and streaming quality, and who can tolerate potential own-voice occlusion effects. At premium pricing, it competes with devices like the Phonak Sphere Infinio (4.65/5) and Signia Active Pro IX (4.61/5). This device earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024.

The Oticon Real is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid released in 2023, priced at $4,798. In HearAdvisor's lab testing, it earned an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.4/5, placing it at #9 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested—in the top 22% of its category. This device demonstrates excellent speech performance in our testing. Speech in quiet scored 4.6/5, which is 1.17 points above the category average of 3.43/5. Speech in noise also performed well at 3.1/5—a solid absolute score that sits 1.55 points above the category average of 1.55/5. These results suggest strong audibility and clarity across varied listening environments in our lab protocol. Feedback handling is strong in absolute terms at 4.0/5, though this falls 0.71 points below the prescription hearing aid category average of 4.71/5. Own-voice comfort scored 2.4/5, which is mixed and sits slightly below average. Music streaming registered 2.8/5—above the category average by 0.16 points, but only mixed in absolute terms. The Oticon Real offers both rechargeable and disposable battery options, iPhone and Android streaming, and hands-free functionality. It has received HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award in both 2023 and 2024. This device may suit users who prioritize speech clarity and versatile connectivity, though those particularly sensitive to own-voice quality or who stream music frequently may want to consider alternatives.