TL;DR ReSound Vivia 9 is a flagship microRIE hearing aid with a dedicated AI chip that delivers strong battery life, future-proof Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast support, and one of the most discreet form factors on the market. It's a great fit for active users who want the latest AI-driven speech-in-noise processing in a tiny package, though independent lab testing suggests its noise reduction is solid rather than category-leading. We're an authorized ReSound retailer with a 60-day risk-free trial.

ReSound made a bold claim with Vivia 9: the world's smallest AI hearing aid. That's a big swing in a market where every flagship is fighting for the same shelf of words: smaller, smarter, clearer. So we put on our skeptic hats and dug into the specs, the independent testing, and the real-world performance. The short version is that Vivia 9 mostly delivers, with a few honest caveats worth knowing before you buy. Here's our full breakdown of ReSound Vivia, what makes it different from the rest of the ReSound lineup, and who should actually consider it.

What Makes ReSound Vivia 9 Special

Vivia 9 is the top tier of ReSound's Vivia family, which launched in 2025 as the brand's flagship platform. Three things make this hearing aid stand out:

• A dedicated AI chip in a tiny package. Vivia uses a dual-chip architecture: ReSound's established 360 chip handles general sound processing, and a separate Deep Neural Network chip handles noise reduction. ReSound managed to fit both chips into the smallest microRIE shell on the market without making the device bigger.
• Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. Vivia is one of the first hearing aids to ship with full Bluetooth LE Audio support, and it includes an Auracast Assistant in the ReSound Smart 3D app for connecting to public broadcasts in airports, theaters, and lecture halls.
• All-day battery life. Up to 30 hours per charge in standard use, or roughly 20 hours when streaming half the day or using the AI-powered Intelligent Focus feature.

The "world's smallest AI hearing aid" claim is ReSound's official marketing language, and it specifically refers to rechargeable microRIE devices with onboard AI processing. In that narrow category, the claim holds up. If you're comparing across all flagship form factors (including custom in-the-ear models from competitors), other premium aids can match or beat the Vivia 9 on size alone, but they don't all have the same AI chip architecture.

Is ReSound Vivia a Good Hearing Aid?

For the right user, yes. Vivia 9 is a strong pick if you want premium technology in a discreet form factor and you value future-proof connectivity. Independent reviewers consistently note three big strengths:

• Comfort and discretion. The microRIE shell is genuinely small, sits well behind the ear, and works comfortably alongside glasses. Multiple color options help it blend with hair or skin tone.
• Connectivity. Vivia is one of the few hearing aids on the market today that fully supports Auracast, the new Bluetooth standard for public broadcast streaming. If you spend time in airports, theaters, or large meeting venues that adopt Auracast, you'll have access to direct streaming most other hearing aids can't deliver yet.
• Battery life. ReSound's power efficiency is real. Vivia gets you through a full day of streaming and AI processing without anxiety about running out of charge.

A balanced view also requires noting where Vivia 9 falls short. Independent lab testing from HearAdvisor gave Vivia 9 a SoundGrade of B and ranked it #20 out of 34 prescription hearing aids tested, with mid-tier speech-in-noise performance. That's a solid score, but it's not the absolute top of the category. ReSound's AI noise reduction works well, but reviewers have noted that the marketing oversells how dramatically it changes the listening experience compared to the next tier down.

For a head-to-head against another flagship, our ReSound Vivia vs Starkey Edge AI comparison breaks down which one wins in different scenarios.

What Are the Common Problems with ReSound Vivia?

No hearing aid is perfect. Honest pros-and-cons reporting matters more than marketing copy when you're spending real money. Here are the issues Vivia 9 owners and reviewers have flagged:

• Android Bluetooth quirks. Some Android phone models have connectivity issues, particularly with hands-free calling. iPhone pairing is generally smoother. If you're an Android user, ask us to confirm compatibility with your specific phone before you order.
• AI noise reduction is solid, not jaw-dropping. Reviewers who expected Vivia's DNN to outperform every competitor found the real-world benefit more modest than the marketing suggests. It works, but it's not a magic bullet, especially in the most challenging restaurant or party environments.
• Programming flexibility is limited. Vivia 9 offers 17 processing channels at the premium tier (10 at the entry tier), which is fewer than some competing premium aids that offer up to 24 channels. For most users this won't matter, but for complex high-frequency hearing losses, fitting precision can be slightly less exact than with some other flagship platforms.
• AI features only on the top tier. The dedicated DNN chip and Intelligent Focus feature are exclusive to Vivia 9 and only in the rechargeable model. If you opt for Vivia 7 or 5, you get the platform without the headline AI processing.
• Adjustment period is real. Like every premium hearing aid, Vivia takes a few weeks of consistent wear before your brain adapts to the new sound profile. Some new users mistake this adjustment period for a problem with the device.

The good news is that most of these are addressable through proper fitting and remote adjustments, both of which we handle through our licensed hearing care providers. Our free online hearing test or your existing audiogram gives our team what they need to program Vivia 9 to your exact hearing profile before it ships.

How to Understand the AI Tech (Without the Buzzwords)

The DNN inside Vivia 9 was trained on 13.5 million spoken sentences mixed with real-world background noises (traffic, cafeterias, wind, dishes clattering). Through that training, the chip learned to recognize speech patterns and separate them from competing noise.

If you want a deeper technical explanation of how DNNs work in hearing aids, AudiologyOnline has a clear primer on the topic. The short version: DNN processing is genuinely different from older noise-reduction techniques. But "AI hearing aid" doesn't mean the device thinks for you. It means a small piece of dedicated silicon is constantly making decisions about which sounds to enhance and which to suppress, faster and more accurately than older processing could.

ReSound's specific implementation prioritizes power efficiency, which is part of why Vivia 9's battery life holds up so well even with AI processing active.

How Does Vivia 9 Compare to Other ReSound Tiers?

Vivia comes in three technology levels. The platform, build quality, and connectivity are identical across all three. What changes is processing channels, automatic features, and access to the AI chip.

The Vivia 9 jump is real if you spend significant time in noisy environments. If your listening life is mostly at home, in the car, and with family, Vivia 7 or Vivia 5 gives you the same modern platform and connectivity for less. Our hearing specialists can walk you through which tier actually fits your day-to-day listening, rather than defaulting everyone to the flagship.

Does Costco Sell ReSound Vivia?

No. Costco does not sell ReSound-branded hearing aids. ReSound left Costco in 2021, and GN (the parent company that owns ReSound) replaced it with the Jabra brand at Costco. The current Costco offering is the Jabra Enhance Pro 30, which is built on the same underlying platform as Vivia and shares much of the same AI chip technology.

That said, Jabra Enhance Pro 30 and ReSound Vivia 9 are not identical products. Differences worth knowing:

• Different software. Jabra Enhance Pro 30 uses Costco's fitting workflow and the Jabra Enhance Pro app. Vivia uses ReSound's Smart 3D app and is fitted through ReSound's professional software.
• Different feature sets. Vivia 9 includes tinnitus relief features that Jabra Enhance Pro 30 does not.
• Different support models. Costco hearing aids are tied to Costco hearing centers for adjustments. With us, all adjustments happen remotely with our licensed hearing care providers, on your schedule, with no time limits or session caps.

If you specifically want ReSound's flagship technology with full ReSound software support, you cannot get that at Costco. If you don't mind the Jabra branding and Costco's clinic model, the Pro 30 is a perfectly reasonable alternative.

What Do ReSound Vivia Hearing Aids Cost?

ReSound Vivia is positioned in the premium tier of the prescription hearing aid market. Through traditional clinics, Vivia 9 typically runs in the high four-figures per pair. We offer the same Vivia hearing aids, with the full manufacturer warranty and licensed remote fitting, for thousands less than typical clinic pricing.

Because pricing varies by tier (Vivia 9, 7, or 5), receiver power, and any custom earmolds you may need, we share specific pricing by phone. Call (855) 603-3541 to get a quote, or browse our discount hearing aids page for an overview of how our pricing model works.

There's also a wider three-way picture worth understanding when you shop for any premium hearing aid online:

Buying ReSound Vivia from an unauthorized online seller is a real trap. The device may arrive without a valid warranty, and ReSound will not honor service through unauthorized channels. We've covered this in more depth in our guide on whether to buy hearing aids online.

What Is the Life Expectancy of a ReSound Hearing Aid?

Most prescription hearing aids, including ReSound, are designed to last about five to seven years with proper care. Some users get more, some less, depending on how they're worn, how they're cleaned, and the conditions they're exposed to.

A few practical pointers to maximize Vivia 9's lifespan:

• Wipe the hearing aids down with a soft, dry cloth daily. The microRIE shell has all-weatherproof nanocoating, but moisture and earwax are still the leading causes of failure.
• Replace the microphone filters when they get clogged. Vivia uses replaceable mic filters that you can change at home, which is a meaningful upgrade over older ReSound models that required clinic visits for cleaning.
• Keep them in the charger or a dehumidifier overnight, not loose on a nightstand.
• Schedule remote check-ins with our hearing care providers if anything sounds off. Small adjustments early prevent bigger issues later.
• The IP68 rating means Vivia is dust-tight and resistant to brief submersion, but it's not a swimming hearing aid. Take them off before pools, showers, and saunas.

ReSound's three-year manufacturer warranty covers most defects and component failures during that window. Beyond the warranty, repairs are still available through ReSound's service network, which is one of the reasons buying from an authorized retailer matters so much.

What Is the Best Model of ReSound Hearing Aid?

For most users in 2026, Vivia 9 is the best ReSound hearing aid. It's the newest flagship platform, has the most advanced AI processing, full Auracast support, the longest battery life, and the smallest form factor. If you want ReSound's best, this is it.

But "best" depends entirely on what you need. Here's how Vivia 9 stacks up against other premium AI hearing aids we carry:

Each of these flagships has a distinct sound signature and a different design philosophy. ReSound and its Jabra cousin tend to be bright and snappy. Phonak is more directional and focused. Oticon is open and natural. Starkey leans into AI features beyond pure hearing. None of them is universally "better." It really comes down to which approach matches your preferences and your daily listening life. Our Phonak vs ReSound comparison goes deeper if you're weighing those two specifically.

What to Expect When You Buy Vivia 9 from Us

The remote process is more straightforward than most people expect. Here's what happens:

1. You either submit your existing audiogram or take our free online hearing test. If you have a recent test, you can submit your audiogram directly.
2. We program your Vivia 9 to your hearing profile before it ships.
3. The hearing aids arrive at your door, pre-fit and ready to wear.
4. You schedule a remote first-fitting appointment with one of our licensed hearing care providers, who fine-tunes settings while you wear them.
5. Ongoing remote adjustments are unlimited, with no time limits and no session caps.
6. You have 60 days to decide if Vivia 9 is right for you. No restocking fees if you return them.

The Bluetooth setup is genuinely easy on iPhone. On Android, we'll walk you through pairing during the first fitting and confirm everything works the way it should. If you're a heavy TV watcher, ReSound's optional TV-Streamer+ accessory pairs cleanly, and our guide on watching TV with hearing aids covers the full setup.

Is ReSound Vivia 9 Right for You?

Vivia 9 is a strong choice if you want a premium AI hearing aid in the smallest possible form factor, plan to take advantage of Auracast as it rolls out in public venues, and want a bright, crisp sound signature. It's less of a slam dunk if you primarily need maximum speech-in-noise dominance over every competitor, in which case Phonak's flagship may suit you better.

The way to know for sure is to talk it through with one of our hearing specialists, who can match your hearing profile and lifestyle to the right tier of Vivia, or steer you to a different flagship if Vivia isn't the best fit. We're an authorized ReSound retailer with full manufacturer warranties, licensed hearing care providers handling all remote fitting, and a 60-day risk-free trial on every purchase.

Talk to one of our hearing care experts or call us directly at (855) 603-3541 Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Vivia 9 and the older ReSound Nexia?

Vivia replaces Nexia as ReSound's flagship platform. Both support Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, but Vivia adds the dedicated DNN chip for AI noise reduction, longer battery life, a slightly smaller microRIE shell, and replaceable microphone filters. If you already own Nexia, you don't need to upgrade. If you're buying new, Vivia 9 is the clear pick.

Can I use Vivia 9 with my Apple Watch?

Yes. Vivia is compatible with Apple Watch through the ReSound Smart 3D app, allowing you to adjust volume and switch programs from your wrist.

Is Vivia 9 good for severe hearing loss?

Vivia covers a wide range of hearing loss from mild to severe, and Vivia 9 specifically supports custom earmolds for more significant losses. For severe-to-profound losses, our hearing specialists may recommend custom earmolds rather than standard domes to capture more sound and reduce feedback. Talk to us about your audiogram before you order so we can match the right receiver power and earpiece.

Does Vivia 9 have tinnitus relief features?

Yes. ReSound includes tinnitus management features in Vivia that can be configured during your fitting. This is one of the differences between Vivia 9 and the Costco-only Jabra Enhance Pro 30, which lacks tinnitus features.

Is the 60-day trial really risk-free?

Yes. If you decide Vivia 9 isn't the right fit within 60 days, return the hearing aids for a full refund with no restocking fees. We'd rather you find the right device than keep one that doesn't work for you.

Can I switch from Vivia 9 to a different ReSound model during the trial?

Yes. If we determine during the trial that a different tier or model would serve you better, we can work with you to make the switch within the 60-day window. Just call us and we'll figure out the best path forward.