Hearing aid review: Unitron Moxi Smile

Koorosh Nejad
Jun 22
4 min read

Updated: Jun 25

Unitron hearing aids are not a new kid on the block. I tried a pair of Unitron Moxi a long time ago, and to be honest, I was not impressed with the sound or their performance in a noisy environment, so until now, we have been reluctant to bring them on board on HearingNow. But now things have changed. The latest model, Unitron Smile, is about 90% similar to Phonak Infinio, inside out. It holds the same Phonak ERA chipset, looks exactly the same, and is now even made in Switzerland, just like Phonak Infinio hearing aids, so I was keen to give it a try. The good news is that they are at a much favourable price point compared to Phonak Infinio hearing aids

Unitron Smile - technical review of hearing aids - HearingNow

Are Unitron Smile hearing aids made in Canada?

No. Unitron is a Canadian-based company owned by Sonova, the owner of Phonak hearing aids. While a significant amount of research and development at Sonova is conducted in their Canadian and other research centres, the Unitron Moxi Smile is manufactured in Switzerland.

Are Unitron Moxi Smile hearing aids better than Unitron Vivante and Unitron Blue hearing aids?

The answer is a solid yes. We believe that using the ERA chipset in Unitron Smile hearing aids places them on par with Phonak Infinio hearing aids. The ERA is AI-trained for optimum and precision of understanding of the settings needed in each soundscape and, for several reasons, is superior to other technologies used in the older generation of Unitron hearing aids, such as Vivante, Blue and Stride. Please check the Unitron Smile page on the Unitron website.

What is the battery life of Unitron Smile rechargeable hearing aids?

The battery life of Unitron Moxi Smile S-R hearing aids is 20 to 24 hours. It takes 3-4 hours for a unit to go full charge from empty. Please note that the battery run time of hearing aids also depends on the level of your hearing loss, the number/period of hands-free calls and streaming.

What are the highlights of Unitron Moxi Smile S-R?

Unitron Moxi Smile uses the same ERA chipset as Phonak Infinio for sound processing
Unitron Moxi Smile hearing aids use the same V6.0 speaker unit as the Phonak Infinio line of hearing aids for improved dynamic range and sound quality
AI-trained Integra OS expertly detects 8 key listening environments and automatically optimises the listening experience for the ever-changing soundscape.
Improved HyperFocus for rich conversation in loud noise environments. Listen to the demo
Speech Enhancement with Soft Speech reduces listening effort in low complexity environments, leading to less fatigue.
Universal connectivity for compatibility with any Bluetooth-enabled device.
More stable, better sounding hands-free calls and streaming with up to 6x more wireless transmission power.
Increased range, with the ability to move double the distance from the Bluetooth source and remain connected.
AI Dome Proposer - More accurate dome recommendations powered by AI models trained on thousands of successful fittings.
IP68 water and dust proof.
Find my Unitron - track and locate your Unitron Smile hearing aids on the Unitron App.

What shapes and forms are Unitron hearing aids available?

Unitron hearing aids are available in RIC, BTE, IIC, CIC and ITC models.

Unitron Smile hearing aids - technical review - HearingNow

Are Unitron hearing aids effective in hearing speech in the background noise?

As demonstrated in the video below, the Unitron Moxi Smile hearing aids are constantly scanning the background sound to adapt to the best setting of the aids for that particular background sound. They use a sophisticated HyperFocus algorithm to suppress the noise at the side and back of the wearer.

I have tried Phonak Infinio i90 and also tried Unitron Smile S-R9, and I hardly noticed much difference between the two in a quiet environment, streaming music, speech in a noisy environment and speech in a loud noise. This page on the Unitron website demonstrates the performance of different settings of the Unitron Smile S-R9 hearing aid in noisy environments with a recorded sound. Please note that the operating system of the hearing aid is constantly scanning the soundscape and adapts to one of these settings automatically as it sees fit. Your audiologist can also set up manual settings for each of the soundscapes.

Does Unitron Smile come in battery powered model?

Same as Phonak Infinio, the Unitron Smile only comes in a rechargeable model. When I asked about a possible battery powered model the Phonak/Unitron representative responded that it is a possibility but the trend among all the hearing aids manufacturers is to shift to rechargeable models only as it gives a better seal to the inner components, hence a higher degree of reliability to the hearing aids specially when exposed to moisture and dust. Unitron Smile comes with a standard or a power-pack rechargeable unit.

What are the differences between Unitron Smile S-R hearing aids?

Unitron Smile S-R hearing aids come in 4 different technology levels: 9, 7, 5 and 3. The S-R9 is the top of the range. My advice is to consider the top-of-the-line model to ensure you take advantage of all the processing power of the hearing aid, especially if you often find yourself in a conversation in noisy or very loud environments. Otherwise, if your lifestyle is very isolated and quiet, then lower tech models could also satisfy you fairly well.

What colours are Unitron Smile available in?

Unitron hearing aids are available in the following colours.

Can Unitron Smile connect to my Android mobile phone?

Unitron Smile uses the latest classic Bluetooth 5.3 protocol that has a better sound quality and longer range. Using a classic Bluetooth means that the streaming and hands-free calls through Unitron Smile will be more stable than other hearing aids, especially with Android mobile phones. Please see this article on the best hearing aids for Android mobile phones.