.jpg)
- Background noise
- Quiet and TV
- Music Streaming
Background
Widex hearing aids are popular among musicians, tinnitus sufferers, and those who appreciate natural sound quality. Since the company started in 1956, Widex has been committed to creating innovative solutions that improve the lives of individuals with hearing impairments.
Widex offers a range of models, including their flagship receiver-in-canal. SmartRIC uses the same internal processing chip but remixes the physical with a new L-shape near the top of the ear to improve acoustics.
What makes the Widex SmartRIC special?
Let's look at some of the standout features of the new SmartRIC.
Design
The Widex SmartRIC integrates the performance of the Widex Moment chip, known for its ability to produce incredibly natural sound, with a discreet and stylish design that appeals to today's fashion-conscious users. While other brands offer a similar slim design, such as Phonak and Signia, Widex has a slight advantage in design. The stylish, L-design is the shortest of its kind on the market, according to Widex.
Battery Life
Remarkably, the Widex SmartRIC gets an impressive 37 hours of wear time on a single charge, ensuring users can rely on their hearing aids throughout the most demanding of days. That's also good news for those who do a lot of streaming during the day, meaning even full-time streamers get a full day of charge. And in case you forgot to charge, a mere 30-minute quick charge provides 8 hours of wear time.
Sound Quality
The Widex SmartRIC distinguishes itself with a unique microphone placement that differs from traditional Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) devices, offering wearers more effective support in background noise. This thoughtful design means that the directional microphones are more in the horizontal plane, and better able to pick up on your conversation partner thanks to the L-shaped 20 degree curve at the top of the hearing aid.
Our Take
We believe that Widex enthusiasts will be particularly thrilled with this new form factor—its sleek and contemporary design does not compromise on performance. Coupled with the notable increase in battery life, users can indulge in prolonged periods of uninterrupted, high-quality sound. Another nice added bonus is the reduced wind and handling noise in the SmartRIC. Enhanced listening comfort in noisy environments is always a welcome new feature, and we like how Widex achieves this thanks to the strategic microphone placement while still keeping a low profile.
Additionally, we're fans of the portable charging solution that comes with the WidexSmart RIC. This portable charger is a game-changer for frequent travelers or individuals living in areas prone to power outages, ensuring the hearing devices are always ready for use. Additionally, the Widex SmartRIC is available in an array of colors, including a trendy rose gold, adding a touch of personality and style for those who seek a bit more fun in their choice of hearing aid. However, it's worth considering this might not be the best fit for users who have a preference for traditional, disposable batteries.
- Focused on sound quality, delivering clear sound with the lowest delay in the industry.
- Includes industry leading tinnitus features.
- Widex SmartRIC hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth streaming capabilities.
- Smallest slim RIC design on the market.
- Enhanced battery life means battery won’t run out, even with constant streaming.
- No disposable battery option.
- Remote programming requires an accessory.
- Widex hearing aids are a premium product that may be out of the budget for some.
- Widex SmartRIC is a fully customizable, prescription hearing aid appropriate for mild-severe hearing loss
- If you have severe hearing loss, your care provider may fit you with a custom earmold to reduce feedback
- If you have profound hearing loss, you may be a better fit for a high-powered BTE style (currently available in Widex's previous generation, Widex Moment)
- Widex SmartRIC is a prescription device fit and programmed by a professional
- Widex RemoteLink neck loop is required for remote follow-up programming (requires registering in the hearing clinic's software)
- Widex has the fastest processing time among all major hearing aid manufacturers
- Widex is a favorite choice of musicians and audiophiles
- The SmartRIC features microphones at a 20-degree, near horizontal placement on its unique L-shape. This placement is especially helpful in background noise for better directional focus.
- Widex SmartRIC comes in in a comfortable receiver-in-canal style that is easy to wear all day
- Sits behind the ear with a receiver (speaker) that reaches into the ear canal
- Widex SmartRIC is the shortest slim RIC on the market
- Choose between five color options, including neutral colors (tech black, dark cherry, honey blonde, silver grey) and fun colors (rose gold)
- Widex SmartRIC comes with rechargeable batteries and a rechargeable case that holds 5 days of charge
- Get 37 hours on a 4-hour full charge (no streaming)
- A quick charge of 30 minutes yields 8 hours of battery life
- Widex SmartRIC allows Bluetooth streaming, music listening, and phone calls across all models. iPhone users can take calls hands-free, while Android users must keep their phones close to pick up outbound audio
- Widex SmartRIC uses Apple's MFI connection and Android's ASHA connection to stream content through Bluetooth
- Widex SmartRIC is reasonably easy to handle but does require the wearer to place the hearing aid behind their ear and insert the receiver into the ear (consistent across all behind-the-ear styles)
- Widex SmartRIC includes a push button for on-the-go volume and program changes
- Widex SmartRIC is water resistant with an IP rating of 68
- This hearing aid can withstand dust and water submersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes
- Remote care: to access remote care, you'll need the RemoteLink neck loop and Widex Remote Care app
- Customization: volume, programs, MySound personalization
- Tinnitus masking: created by your hearing care professional or using the Widex ZEN app
- Find my hearing aid: yes - app feature
- Health tracking: not available
Pricing
The national average price for Widex SmartRIC 440 hearing aids is around $7,200 per pair.
Our research indicates that the best pricing and care packages are currently available through ZipHearing. ZipHearing offers a pair of Widex SmartRIC 440 hearing aids with one year of unlimited care for $4,298 per pair.
Process
ZipHearing will match you with a local clinic near your zip code and pre-negotiate a lower price (typically 25% less than the national average).
Fill out the form on this page to get matched with a local clinic.
Our readers are consistently happy with ZipHearing's offering and give the company 97% 5-star ratings on Trustpilot.
Widex SmartRIC comes in several technology levels. Each device looks identical from the outside, but on the inside, each technology jump offers more sophisticated sound processing and special features. In general, wearers opt for the top technology they can reasonably afford.
The key differences between tech levels mostly come down to background noise management.
Widex SmartRIC 440
- 15 bands of customization
- 11 background sound analysis settings
- Includes background noise Speech Enhancer
Widex SmartRIC 330
- 12 bands of customization
- 7 background sound analysis settings
- Includes background noise Speech Enhancer
Widex SmartRIC 220
- 10 bands of customization
- 4 background sound analysis settings
- Does not include background noise Speech Enhancer
Widex SmartRIC 110
- 10 bands of customization
- 3 background sound analysis settings
- Does not include background noise Speech Enhancer
Review Widex's full feature matrix here.
What people are saying:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
ZipHearing
.jpg)
