Sonova unveils new AI-powered hearing-aid platform to support growth targets

Sonova's Anders Rosengren said Phonak EON is smaller, lighter and uses AI to improve speech clarity

Sonova launched its third hearing-aid platform utilising real-time AI on Monday, its latest effort to ​strengthen its position in a market that relies on ‌rapid technology upgrades to shorten replacement cycles and attract first-time users.

The Swiss company was the first one to roll out a hearing aid that used ​real-time AI to separate speech from background noise in ​2024.

Anders Rosengren, the head of research and development at ⁠Sonova, said the new Phonak EON platform offers a smaller, ​lighter device with an advanced AI that makes speech twice as ​understandable while requiring less listening effort.

The new platform is likely to be viewed as an important factor for Sonova to reach its medium-term growth targets that ​were met with investor scepticism in March.

"We expect EON adoption ​to build quickly among both replacement and new customers," said Oliver Lux, ‌president ⁠of Sonova's EMEA and Latin America regions.

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While Sonova did not disclose pricing details, Lux said EON was designed to support the company's premium market positioning at launch.

Monday's US launch will be followed ​by Australia and ​key European ⁠markets including Germany, France, Italy and Britain in mid-September, before a broader global roll-out.

Sonova continues to ​see positive market dynamics across its key markets, ​and especially ⁠in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, Lux said.

Under CEO Eric Bernard, who took office last September, Sonova has increasingly highlighted Asia-Pacific as a key growth ⁠region, ​where it seeks to expand volumes ​and strengthen its presence in faster-growing markets that are buoyed by ageing populations.