Is Phonak a good hearing aid brand?

Phonak is a world-renowned leader as a trusted hearing aid manufacturer, with more than 70 years of experience and locations in 100 countries.

Widex´s head office is located near Copenhagen, Denmark, and the company has locations throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa.

Does Widex MOMENT stream to Android?

Yes, Widex MOMENT users can directly stream from Android or iOS devices.

What does the myPhonak app do?

The myPhonak app offers you remote control functionality, allowing you to adjust volume settings for your Phonak hearing aids. You can program advanced hearing aid settings, such as noise reduction and microphone directionality, and even personalize settings for using devices or making telephone calls.

How long do Widex rechargeable batteries last?

Charging your Widex rechargeable batteries will give you 16–29 hours of use.

Phonak vs. Widex — A Side-by-Side Comparison

Updated: Nov 07, 2022

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Phonak vs. Widex — A Side-by-Side Comparis...

Chapter:

Audéo Paradise
Evoke

Key Takeaways

Phonak and Widex both offer online hearing tests that can help you determine the type and degree of hearing loss present.
Phonak and Widex offer a wide variety of types and styles of hearing aids, making them capable of helping with mild to profound hearing loss.
Neither company sells direct-to-consumers, which means you’ll visit a retailer or hearing specialist to purchase.

Both Phonak and Widex offer similar style options for hearing aids, including:

Receiver-in-canal (RIC)
Behind-the-ear (BTE)
In-the-ear (ITE)
Completely-in-canal (CIC)
Receiver-in-ear (RIE)

Have your family or loved ones told you that you seem disconnected during conversations? Are you struggling to concentrate in loud environments? If so, it’s possible you may be experiencing some degree of hearing loss and could benefit from hearing aids.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15% of American adults aged 18 and older (roughly 37.5 million individuals) report experiencing some trouble hearing. Additionally, about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.

The first step in determining the need for hearing aids is to ascertain whether or not you have hearing loss. This can be done through an appointment with an audiologist or hearing specialist or through a free online hearing test. These experts will determine if your degree of hearing loss is mild, moderate, severe, or profound. They can also determine if your type of hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or a mix of both. Determining your type and degree of hearing loss can help you choose an appropriate hearing aid.

When shopping for hearing aids, you may be surprised to learn there are many models and styles to choose from. Two popular hearing aid companies, Phonak and Widex, offer high-tech options, giving you a variety of ways to improve your hearing and quality of life. This article compares the options available with Phonak and Widex.

Phonak Overview

Audeo Paradise

Phonak is a global provider of hearing solutions, with locations in 100 countries. Started in 1947, Phonak has developed technology to overcome obstacles people face that impact their hearing. Phonak has a wide variety of options for hearing aids, each equipped with different features and styles to fit your specific needs. Available device options include:

Audeo Life
Virto Paradise
Virto M-Titanium
CROS P
Lyric
Bolero Marvel
Audeo Paradise
Naida Paradise
Sky Marvel

AginginPlace.org has expert reviewers who have listed out specific information on each of the Phonak devices. Phonak offers multiple applications to help tailor an individual’s experience with its devices. The myPhonak app can be used with Bluetooth-enabled smartphones to make real time adjustments to your hearing aid devices. You can set preferences and change those settings depending on the environment you’re in or if you are making a phone call or watching TV. The brand´s devices also allow for noise cancellation and speech focus options.

Phonak offers Roger directional microphones, which can help your hearing aids distinguish voices from background noise or during group discussions.

Widex Overview

Widex EVOKE

Widex is another top-rated global hearing aid manufacturer, with more than 60 years of experience. Widex is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and has been recognized for its efforts in using sustainable energy for its headquarters and production. The options available through Widex continue to demonstrate the company’s experience in the development of advanced and innovative hearing solutions. These device options include:

Widex MOMENT
Widex EVOKE
Widex UNIQUE

Comparison of Phonak and Widex Features

As you can see from the table below, the features available with Phonak and Widex are very similar.

	Phonak	Widex
Tinnitus masking	Yes	Yes
Severe/profound hearing loss solution	Yes	Yes
Noise cancellation	Yes	Yes
Speech focus	Yes	Yes
SmartPhone app	Yes	Yes
Device streaming	Yes – no max number of devices	Yes
TV connector	Yes	Yes
Directional microphone	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth connectivity	Yes	Yes
Trial period	30 days	30 days
Warranty	1-year international warranty, ask hearing care professional about local warranty	2-3 years
FDA approved	Yes	Yes

Tinnitus masking
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Severe/profound hearing loss solution
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Noise cancellation
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Speech focus
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

SmartPhone app
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Device streaming
Phonak	Yes – no max number of devices
Widex	Yes

TV connector
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Directional microphone
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Bluetooth connectivity
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Trial period
Phonak	30 days
Widex	30 days

Warranty
Phonak	1-year international warranty, ask hearing care professional about local warranty
Widex	2-3 years

FDA approved
Phonak	Yes
Widex	Yes

Price Comparison

Neither company sells direct-to-consumers, which means you’ll have to contact a local retailer or hearing specialist to be fitted with and purchase Phonak or Widex hearing aids. Prices will vary between different retailers, but prices of equipment from both companies are quite similar. For your reference, our experts have summarized pricing estimates for Phonak and Widex devices.

Other Hearing Aid Brands We Recommend

Expert reviewers at AginginPlace.org have also looked at other hearing aid brands. Here are some alternative companies that offer quality products for hearing loss:

Summary

Finding the right hearing aid device can seem overwhelming, but companies like Phonak and Widex make it easy to personalize their products to suit your specific needs. Both companies offer cutting-edge technology, providing users with the most advanced equipment in hearing support.

Why You Can Trust Our Expert Review

4,000+ Hours of research

11 Experts consulted

17 Brands considered

18 Models considered

10 Models selected

Our experts research and recommend products that can help give you a better quality of life. Using our high standards and rigorous testing methodology, we’ve spent more than 4,000 hours, collectively, researching the best hearing aids to help you find the device that’s best for you. Throughout our research process, we did the following:

Consulted with audiologists and geriatric care experts
Mystery shopped the brands
Surveyed hundreds of hearing aid users
Tested various models of hearing aids
Interviewed experts in the field
Read thousands of verified customer reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

: Phonak is a world-renowned leader as a trusted hearing aid manufacturer, with more than 70 years of experience and locations in 100 countries.
: Widex´s head office is located near Copenhagen, Denmark, and the company has locations throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa.
: Yes, Widex MOMENT users can directly stream from Android or iOS devices.
: The myPhonak app offers you remote control functionality, allowing you to adjust volume settings for your Phonak hearing aids. You can program advanced hearing aid settings, such as noise reduction and microphone directionality, and even personalize settings for using devices or making telephone calls.
: Charging your Widex rechargeable batteries will give you 16–29 hours of use.

WRITTEN BY

DANIELLE PAGANO

Writer & Contributor

Danielle Pagano is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner currently practicing Internal Medicine in rural Illinois. She has extensive experience in primary and long term care, including preventive medicine and complex chronic disease management. Danielle has participated in several medical mission trips, serving communities in Brazil, Kenya, and Ethiopia. As a working mother of three young children, Danielle appreciates spending her time outside connecting with nature while hiking or running, or relaxing with her husband.