Oticon Intent vs Widex Moment SmartRIC

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 Widex Moment SmartRIC is a premium behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid priced at $3,398, earning an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.2/5 in our lab testing. It ranks #12 among 36 prescription hearing aids tested, placing it in the top 31% of its category. This device demonstrates particular strength in speech understanding. Speech in quiet scores a strong 4.0/5, which is 0.57 points above the category average. Speech in noise performance is 1.35 points above the prescription category average, though the absolute score of 2.9/5 reflects the inherent challenge this listening situation presents for all hearing aids. Own-voice comfort also stands out at 3.7/5, measuring 0.95 points above average—a meaningful advantage for wearers sensitive to how their own voice sounds. Professional tuning makes a notable difference with this device. The normalized Initial Score of 4.1/5 improves to 4.5/5 after tuning, a 0.4-point gain that underscores the value of working with a hearing care professional. Music streaming delivers solid performance at 3.1/5, sitting 0.46 points above the category average. Feedback handling scores 3.5/5, which is solid in absolute terms, though 1.21 points below the category average—worth discussing with your provider if feedback stability is a priority. The SmartRIC has earned Expert's Choice Awards in both 2023 and 2024. It supports rechargeable batteries, iPhone and Android streaming, and hands-free calling. Consumers who prioritize speech clarity and own-voice naturalness, and who plan to work with a professional for optimized fitting, will find this device delivers strong overall performance in our testing framework.