Phonak Sphere Infinio Ultra vs Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco

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.

The Rexton Reach R-Li T80, available exclusively at Costco for $1,500, is a behind-the-ear prescription hearing aid that earned an A grade and ranks #11 of 36 devices in its category in our lab testing. This 2024 release earned HearAdvisor's Expert's Choice Award, reflecting its strong overall performance. In our standardized testing, the Reach R-Li T80 delivered a SoundScore of 4.6/5, placing it in the top 28% of prescription hearing aids. Speech clarity stands out as a particular strength, scoring 3.9/5 in quiet environments—0.54 points above the category average. Own-voice comfort also impressed at 3.6/5, a full 0.85 points above average, suggesting wearers may experience less of the "talking in a barrel" sensation that can occur with hearing aids. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.8/5. Speech-in-noise performance scores 2.5/5, which is above the category average by 0.54 points but remains mixed in absolute terms—a common challenge across prescription devices. Music streaming similarly scores 2.7/5, slightly above average but not a standout feature. This device supports both iPhone and Android streaming, offers hands-free functionality, and uses rechargeable batteries. For Costco members seeking a prescription hearing aid with reliable speech clarity, strong own-voice comfort, and excellent feedback control at a mid-tier price point, the Reach R-Li T80 represents solid value in our testing framework.