Oticon Intent versus Starkey Edge AI hearing aid comparison
Koorosh Nejad- May 4
- 8 min read
These two hearing aids are some of the best hearing aids of 2025. This article will provide an unbiased comparison between the Oticon Intent and the Starkey Edge AI hearing aids. Please leave your questions at the end of this page or contact me if you have any questions.
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Common ground
Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI hearing aids are both:
Good for mild to profound hearing loss, starting from fitting with silicon domes up to minimoulds and full earmoulds.
Both use artificial intelligence (AI) and deep neural networks (DNN) for improving the understanding of speech in noisy spaces.
Water and dust resistance up to IP68 with double coating for extra protection.
For a better comparison between Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI hearing aids, I will compare them in 6 different categories:
Speech intelligibility in a noisy environment
Natural sound and music
Form factors, severe to profound, ALD
Connectivity, Bluetooth, LE audio, Auracast
Battery life
Vanity, size, colours
Oticon Intent | Starkey Edge AI | Discussions | |
Speech intelligibility | Oticon Intent uses DNN 2.0 trained with 12 million sound samples, uses 4D sensor, resulting in 11 dB SNR improvement and up to 12 dB of noise reduction. The Intent offers 35% better speech understanding compared to Oticon Real. | Starkey Edge AI uses G2 DNN, resulting in 10-13 dB SNR improvement. Starkey Edge AI 24, 20 and 16 use 24, 20 and 16 channels for gain adjustment, respectively. Activation of the AI and DNN processing in Starkey Edge is rather manual. You can activate the AI-DNN processing by double-tapping the hearing aid on through the Starkey app on your mobile phone or Apple Watch. The Edge mode can then stay activated, which will automatically adapt to the soundscape. | Based on independent lab tests and tons of customer feedback who had a chance to try both Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI hearing aids, the Oticon Intent does a better noise management and speech intelligibility in a noisy environment. Please note that the profile of your hearing loss, the fitting, and the setting of the hearing aids can have a direct impact on any hearing aid's ability in noise management and SNR improvement. |
Natural sound and music | Oticon Intent also received an upgrade on Oticon receiver units with a better integrity, shape and angle. Oticon's amplifier and receiver are among the best on the market when it comes to high-frequency hearing loss. | Starkey Snapfit 2.0 receivers were also upgraded for integrity, shape and a wider dynamic range, which resulted a better sound quality, especially for listening to streaming music. | I have tried both hearing aids myself, and I can say that I like the sound of both almost equally the same. If you try these two hearing aids, please note that the fitting and the setting of the aids can have a major role in the quality of the sound you perceive. |
Form factors, tech levels, ALD | Oticon Intent has a rechargeable CROS, but it has no battery-powered model. The Oticon Own SI is the latest product from Oticon in CIC and IIC with an AI-DNN processing chip. All Oticon Own custom-made models are battery-powered. Oticon's assistive listening device range of products is quite limited to the Oticon remote microphone. On the other hand, Phonak Roger devices can improve the listening experience much better. This gives a leap ahead to Phonak Sphere for people with severe to profound hearing loss. | Starkey Edge AI comes in a full range of form factors and is much more complete than any other model. The flagship comes in 312 RIC T and mini RIC, and battery-powered, as well as a miniRIC and a RIC T rechargeable. The Edge AI has a full range of custom-made products, including invisible IIC and CIC and rechargeable ITE and ITC. The Starkey Edge CIC takes a 312 battery, and it is the only CIC that has Bluetooth capability. Starkey Edge also has a 312 battery-powered and rechargeable CROS system. | Starkey Edge, without doubt, offers the most complete form factor models of hearing aids for its Starkey Edge AI platform. Starkey Edge AI and Oticon Intent both lack a strong range of remote microphones. In my opinion, the Starkey Edge can satisfy a much bigger customer group with different needs right away. So my vote goes to Starkey Edge AI. |
Connectivity, mobile app | Oticon Intent uses ASHA, LE Audio Bluetooth, and is Auracast-ready. I found the Oticon app adequate in terms of functionality, but it falls way behind the level of functionality and adjustments that myStarkey app offers. | Starkey Edge uses ASHA, LE Audio Bluetooth, and Auracast. I found the Starkey superior to the Oticon Companion app (please see more details at the end of this article). Starkey Edge can receive Auracast broadcasting, but since Auracast is not widely accepted yet then this does not provide a meaningful benefit to the user right away. Only the Starkey Edge AI RIC T and 312 RICT have telecoil. | In our in-house comparison of the Bluetooth range, Oticon Intent ranked better than Starkey Edge AI. I experienced that when I had my mobile phone in my pocket, the reception of the music streaming was not stable on the opposite side hearing aid. The problem does not exist with Phonak products, and it is a tad better with Oticon Intent compared to Starkey Edge AI. |
Battery life | 24 hours of run time for the Oticon Intent when fully charged. The aid is always in AI-DNN mode. It takes only 2 hours for Oticon Intent to charge from empty to a full battery. | Starkey Edge can be in Edge mode as needed and still gives the user a 30-40 hours run time in the miniRIC and 50 hours of run time in the case of RIC T rechargeable models. Such a battery life is the longest in the industry for any type of hearing aid, yet with the one with AI-DNN processing. Starkey Edge AI also comes in a 312 battery-powered RT model that offers more options to the patient. | Both Starkey Edge AI and Oticon Intent have desktop and portable chargers. However, given the longer battery life and the option of a battery-powered model, there is not much to discuss here; my vote on battery life goes to Starkey Edge AI. |
Vanity | The Oticon Intent is not the smallest size of all the RIC hearing aids. Oticon used a battery size 13 in Oticon Intent compared to the older models Oticon Real and Opn, which use a 312 size battery. | Starkey Edge AI miniRIC is the smallest hearing aid on the market in 2025. Also, Starkey Edge comes in a much wider range ot colour. | Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge are about the same size. Please see a comparison shot at the end of this article. |
Tips on how to choose between Phonak Infinio Sphere and Starkey Edge
Lifestyle: If you regularly hold conversations in a very noisy environment, the Phonak Infinio Sphere can provide the best experience for speech understanding for you. Examples of such lifestyles are: those working in exhibitions, showrooms, entertainment and festivals, dining and restaurants, noisy assembly lines, or people visiting (or working in) pubs and busy bars regularly. If you visit busy restaurants only a couple of times a week, then either Oticon Intent or Starkey Edge AI can provide a happy balance between the performance, vanity, battery life and other aspects of a premium hearing aid.
CROS and biCROS: Starkey Edge AI and Oticon Intent both offer a rechargeable CROS system. In addition, Starkey Edge AI offers a 312 battery-powered CROS system, which will be quite handy for those who use their hearing aids for extended hours, or use a lot of phone calls and streaming, which demands a battery-powered model.
Vanity and size: The Oticon Intent is quite in the same size range as Starkey Edge AI, so there is not much difference in choosing one versus the other.
Connectivity: If you need to use your hearing aids connected to multiple devices, for example, to your laptop, tablet and your mobile phone, then Phonak Infinio Sphere scores higher than both Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI, otherwise both Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge Ai comes in telecoil model, both have LE Audio Bluetooth and both are Auracast ready, One quick note that in our in-houose test the range of Bluetooth was a bit longer for Oticon Intent versus Starkey Edge AI. See the full article on Bluetooth range comparison of premium hearing aids here.
Battery life: The battery life of Starkey Edge Ai is superior to Oticon Intent. Nevertheless, it makes sense to buy your hearing aids from a provider who can offer a 5-year warranty so you don't have to pay out of your pocket for a battery replacement for the 5-year warranty period.
Which hearing aid is better: Oticon Intent or Starkey Edge AI?
No audiologist has a direct answer to this question. There are several factors in play. The answer to this question very much depends on the lifestyle of the patient and your wants and needs. The best is to reflect on the content of this article and book an online telecare session to discuss your options for the best hearing aid on the market with an audiologist.
Which one does a better job of hearing speech in background noise, Oticon Intent or Starkey Edge AI?
As you can see below, as per an independent assessment by HearAdvisor, Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI rank quite closely in the First Fit tuning and the tuning with REM when it comes to background noise. Also, in a speech in noise assessment again, Oticon Intent ranked slightly higher than Starkey Edge AI.
How does the fitting of the hearing aid impact its ability in noise management and speech understanding in a noisy environment?
I need to emphasise that just like older generation hearing aids, the AI and DNN-driven hearing aids need to be professionally tuned up to be able to provide the clarity and the best performance in noise management and speech intelligibility in a noisy space. Doing a REM (real ear measurement) is necessary to boost the speech patterns in such a hearing aid. If the fitting of your hearing aid is open, then the hearing aid will be amplifying the sound for the frequencies that you have hearing loss, but it cannot do much to control the noise. It is simple physics, the noise will travel through the open domes. For better noise management, you need to consider a closed and ideally a power fitting (double dome fitting, or earmould). In a closed fitting, the hearing aid can use the processing ability it has to control the noise and help improve the hearing of speech in a noisy environment.
Which one is bigger, Oticon Intent, or Starkey Edge AI?
As per the following image, you can see that Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge are almost in the same size range. I would say that the shape of the Starkey Edge AI miniRIC allows it to be more discreet behind your ears.
Which hearing aid has a better mobile app, Oticon Intent or Starkey Edge AI?
Starkey Edge AI has one of the best mobile apps in the market. It allows customisation and saving programs for the users. It also has a built-in translator section, but more interestingly, it has a fall detector alarm that can send SMS texts to 3 preset phone numbers in case of an emergency if the wearer of the hearing aid falls. This feature alone makes the Starkey Edge AI a popular choice among seniors with concerns about falling. In summary, myStarkey mobile app offers some unique features in addition to Oticon Companion app, such as:
Customisation and saving of programs
Fall detector - It can send a notification SMS to 3 preset contacts
Health tracking and monitoring - Can record and summarise a series of health variables and usage of the hearing aids and send them to your carer or physician.
Reminder - You can set it up to receive a reminder to take your medicine at such and such time.
Balance monitoring
Telecare - For remote adjustment and reprogramming
Hearing aid self-check
At the end of this article, I would like to draw your attention to Dr Cliff's comparison of Oticon Intent versus Starkey Edge AI hearing aids:
Free telecare consultation
Do you have any questions about Phonak Infinio Sphere or Oticon Intent hearing aids? Book a free telecare consultation about Oticon Intent, Phonak Infinio Sphere or other models of hearing aids now.
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