At Happy Ears Hearing Center, we have a wide catalog of industry-leading hearing aid brands. Our selections, particularly Starkey and Phonak, complement your lifestyle and enhance your hearing to help you participate in life with enthusiasm.
Choosing the right brand can be overwhelming. We’re here to help. Both Starkey and Phonak hearing aids deliver excellent results, but they suit different individual needs and wants.
Learn how to pick the best hearing aids for you so you can thrive and interact with the world around you.
Brand Overview — Starkey
Starkey has been in operation since 1967 and has kept up with the latest technological advancements. What sets Starkey apart is their seamless integration of modern technology with easy-to-use features to improve your hearing.
Using AI to Improve Hearing Technology
Starting in 2018, Starkey began launching AI-powered hearing technology with smartphone connectivity. It has remained at the forefront of new hearing tech with its latest release in 2025, Omega AI.
Omega AI: Starkey’s Most Advanced Hearing Technology Platform
Omega AI is Starkey’s newest and most advanced hearing aid technology platform, replacing Edge AI as the brand’s flagship system for sound processing, noise reduction, and speech clarity. Built on Starkey’s extensive AI research and patent portfolio, Omega AI represents a major evolution in how hearing aids adapt to real-world listening environments.
Unlike earlier generations, Omega AI delivers faster environmental analysis, more precise speech enhancement, and significantly improved background noise suppression. The platform continuously adapts in real time, allowing wearers to transition seamlessly between quiet rooms, busy streets, and crowded social settings without manual adjustments.
Key Omega AI advantages include:
- AI-driven noise reduction that actively suppresses unwanted background sounds
- Advanced speech enhancement, making voices clearer and more natural
- Dynamic environmental adaptation, adjusting instantly as surroundings change
- Improved sound directionality and spatial awareness
- Exceptional battery performance—up to 51 hours of use on a single charge, enabling extended daily or multi-day wear without frequent recharging
Starkey integrates Omega AI across a full range of custom and non-custom hearing aid styles, ensuring this advanced AI performance is available in the form factor that best fits each patient’s needs and preferences. Available Omega AI hearing aid styles include In-the-Ear (ITE), In-the-Canal (ITC), Completely-in-Canal (CIC), Invisible-in-Canal (IIC), Receiver-in-Canal (RIC), and Behind-the-Ear (BTE) models.
These options allow users to prioritize discretion, comfort, or power without sacrificing sound quality. Regardless of style, Omega AI delivers the same intelligent processing, clarity, and industry-leading battery life, whether the goal is an invisible fit or maximum amplification.
Brand Overview — Phonak
Phonak has been a leading hearing solutions brand for more than 75 years. It got its start in 1947 in Switzerland and has continued to produce globally renowned hearing technology.
Tinnitus Management Features
One of Phonak’s unique advantages is that it offers tinnitus management features in certain hearing aid models. Phonak aims to tackle all aspects of hearing limitations to provide you with a better quality of life.
Audéo Sphere™ Infinio
As one of the most popular Phonak hearing aid models, the Audéo Sphere™ Infinio offers all of the cutting-edge features users need and want. This model operates using a deep neural network chip, enhancing others’ speech and filtering out unwanted noise.
The Audéo Sphere™ Infinio offers universal connectivity, meaning it can pair with almost any smartphone (over 6,800 different models!) via Bluetooth.
Phonak Audéo™ R Infinio
The Phonak Audéo™ R Infinio is a great choice for people with single-sided deafness. This model uses specialized routing technology to make conversations more natural and reduce your listening effort.
Virto™ Infinio
If you need a discreet, high-tech hearing aid option, the Virto™ Infinio by Phonak may be right for you. These hearing aids are rechargeable and ideal for first-time hearing aid users.
Thanks to Phonak’s powerful sound optimization technology, the Virto™ Infinio reduces listening effort and tailors audio from your environment to meet your listening needs.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Starkey vs. Phonak
Achieving better hearing for more natural and effortless interaction with the world around you is the ultimate goal. When comparing Phonak vs. Starkey, you should think about the features you’ll use the most to make your life easier.
| Features | Starkey | Phonak |
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| Discretion & Style Options |
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| Rechargeable Models |
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| Bluetooth & App Features |
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| Health/Wellness Features |
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| Power & Severe Loss Solutions |
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| Customization |
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Are you still unsure which reigns supreme after comparing hearing aid brands? Take a look at the factors to consider when making your selection.
How to Choose Between Starkey and Phonak
Both Starkey and Phonak feature high-quality hearing technology. They can both integrate seamlessly into your lifestyle, depending on which features you value most.
These are the key factors to consider when analyzing Starkey hearing aids comparisons, Phonak hearing aids comparisons, and the similarities they both share.
Level of Hearing Loss
Consider Starkey vs. Phonak sound quality. Mild to moderate hearing loss typically responds well to a wider range of hearing aid styles. Starkey offers more styles, including behind-the-ear options to help with severe hearing loss.
Phonak’s sharp, contrasted audio feeds and behind-the-ear (BTE) options may work better for those with severe hearing loss. BTE models are generally considered ideal for severe loss, and Phonak leads the way with their specialized BTE styles.
Lifestyle Needs
Think about the health, wellness, and technological features you value.
Starkey’s app offers superior health and wellness tracking options. Their fall detection features and companion app for caregivers give you peace of mind. If you value health data more than other features, Starkey might be the right choice.
However, Starkey hearing aids have limited connectivity with Android phones and a narrower range of compatible devices. You cannot connect to multiple devices at one time with Starkey products.
Phonak’s universal connectivity makes them the ideal choice if you value multi-device and multi-media usage. Their app offers custom programs to enhance your hearing experience. For technologically minded folks, Phonak wins in this category.
Custom ITE vs. Versatile BTE/RIC
Starkey offers more in-the-ear options and is the go-to for hearing aid customization. They can create a uniquely designed pair of hearing aids to match your ear canal shape and offer a discreet wearing experience.
Phonak has cutting-edge BTE and RIC options, and these styles are usually more powerful for users with severe hearing loss. The versatility is there, but you may not have the in-the-ear options you’d get with Starkey hearing aids.
Comfort With Technology and App Use
Phonak’s universal connectivity puts them at the top of the list for tech lovers and those comfortable using multiple devices at once. You get the ability to create custom programs for your hearing aids in their app.
Starkey’s app is more focused on health and wellness tracking, as well as finding lost hearing aids. If you’re less comfortable with advanced technology and app usage, Starkey’s in-app features are sufficient.
Overall Hearing Aid Options
The Starkey brand offers a large number of styles to choose from, from in-the-ear (ITE) to completely-in-canal (CIC) options, giving you the chance to find what fits your needs best.
Why Audiologist Guidance Makes All the Difference
You’re not alone in choosing your hearing aids. Getting professional help from an audiologist ensures you get the exact right fit based on individual testing and hearing exams.
With a team assisting you, you can decide whether the Starkey or Phonak products are better suited for your needs. By considering that Starkey provides more intuitive personalization via AI, better adjustment to changes in the environment, and longer durability, it is an option to keep in mind and ask your audiologist about.
Audiologists can perform hearing aid fittings and real ear verification to make sure your chosen style works for you. They can also provide follow-up care to check on your hearing aids’ performance and make adjustments as needed.
At Happy Ears Hearing Center, we’re here for long-term support. We’ll guide you through the selection process and far beyond by performing annual hearing exams and helping with related issues like vertigo, balance problems, and cognitive functioning.
Schedule Your Starkey or Phonak Consultation Today
Our expertise and wide range of available hearing aid brands ensure you get the hearing care you need, right when you need it. The Happy Ears Hearing Center team can help you with demos of hearing aid models and perform personalized in-office fittings.
We’re here for you in multiple locations:
Schedule an appointment at Happy Ears Hearing Center to get started today!
