Benefits of upgrading your device

Hear your best by getting access to our latest technology. Learn about the latest improvements in sound processors and how to upgrade.

Why upgrade?

Technology is such an integral part of our life, and it just keeps getting better, easier and more accessible.

Just as the technologies in smartphones, cars and TVs keep improving, Cochlear constantly innovates to improve your hearing solution for comfort, performance and usability.

The Cochlear™ Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor comes highly recommended: 9 in 10 Nucleus 7 users who upgraded say they would recommend making the switch.*#9

New technology to help you hear your best

We design our sound processors to help you hear your best. Whether you prefer a sound processor that sits off the ear or behind the ear, you can experience the comfort of the world’s smallest sound processors.1 With the latest hearing performance technology that helps you hear your best in different situations8, you can embrace a world of possibilities.2-5

Find out how upgrading to the latest sound processor can help you get more out of life.

2 out of 3 Cochlear™ Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor recipients surveyed say they now hear better in noisy environments.*^9

Choose the sound processor that fits your lifestyle

The same performance features. You choose the wearing option that best suits your lifestyle.

Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor

Cochlear Nucleus 8 in blackExperience improved comfort and our best hearing technology yet, with the world's smallest and lightest behind-the-ear sound processor. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor features SmartSound® iQ 2 with SCAN 22-4,7,* and improved ForwardFocus# to help you hear better8 and focus on what’s important. These smarter features now even better sense changes in your environment and automatically adjust for clearer sound while also reducing distracting background noises. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor helps you move through your day with confidence – no matter where it takes you.

Discover Nucleus 8 Sound Processor

 

Kanso® 3 Sound Processor

Cochlear Nucleus Kanso 3 in blackDiscover the comfort of the world’s smallest and lightest rechargeable off-the-ear sound processor6. The Nucleus Kanso 3 Sound Processor features the latest intuitive hearing technology, which automatically adjusts your listening settings to help you feel confident and hear your best, even in challenging environments.2-4 Connect to what you love, focus on what matters and explore the freedom of the Kanso 3 Sound Processor.

Discover Kanso 3 Sound Processor

Water-safe.+ Ready for your life.

Water-safe Nucleus 8 and Kanso 2 Sound ProcessorsSwim in the pool, bathe, or get caught in the rain without the need for additional accessories. The Nucleus 8 and Kanso 3 sound processors are IP68-rated, which means they are dust-tight and water-safe.+

If you think you may be eligible for an upgraded device, please contact your clinic directly to discuss your options.

Contact clinic

Disclaimer

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.

Apple, the Apple logo, FaceTime, Made for iPad logo, Made for iPhone logo, Made for iPod logo, iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

For a list of compatible Apple and Android devices go to www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

* Based on a survey of over 380 recipients who upgraded from the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 to the Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor. Surveyed recipients who upgraded from Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor to Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor with SmartSound® iQ2 with SCAN2 and ForwardFocus technology enabled.

# ForwardFocus is a clinician-enabled feature that can be user-controlled or automated.

^ Compared to use with the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor.

§ Battery life varies for every user, according to the age of the battery, programs used each day, your implant type, the thickness of skin covering your implant, and the size and type of battery. Typical expected battery life is calculated using default map settings used with a CI600 Series or CI500 Series implant.

+ The Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with the rechargeable battery module and the Kanso 3 Sound Processor meet the IP68 rating of the International Standard IEC60529 of freshwater waterproof. These processor configurations were tested by continuous submersion in freshwater for 60 minutes at a depth of 1 meter and functioned as intended. Cochlear offers the Aqua+ accessory for additional protection during extended water use, in salty or rushing water environments. For additional information, please refer to the appropriate user guide.1,2 1. Cochlear Limited D1980144 CP1110 IEC60529 IP68 Certificate & Test Report 2. Cochlear Limited. D1671736. CP1150 IEC60529 Ingress Protection Test Report IP68.

References

  1. Cochlear Limited. D1631375 Nucleus 8 Sound Processor Product Definition.
  2. Wolfe J, et al. Evaluation of a wireless audio streaming accessory to improve mobile telephone performance of cochlear implant users. International Journal of Audiology. 2016;55(2):75-82.
  3. Wolfe J, et al. Improving hearing performance for cochlear implant recipients with use of a digital, wireless, remote-microphone, audio-streaming accessory. J Am Acad Audiol. 2015 Jun;26(6):532-9.
  4. Warren C, Nel E, and Boyd P. Controlled comparative clinical trial of hearing benefit outcomes for users of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Sound Processor with mobile connectivity. Cochlear Implants International (2019 Feb); 20(3)19.
  5. Cochlear Limited. D1864200 SCAN-X Design Description.
  6. Mauger SJ, Warren C, Knight M, Goorevich M, Nel E. Clinical evaluation of the Nucleus 6 cochlear implant system: performance improvements with SmartSound iQ. International Journal Of Audiology. 2014, Aug; 53(8): 564-576. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
  7. Mauger S, Jones M, Nel E, Del Dot J. Clinical outcomes with the Kanso™ off- the-ear cochlear implant sound processor. International Journal of Audiology. 2017, Jan 9; 1-10. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
  8. Nel E, Hong W, Playford J & Mashal M. A clinical and real-world investigation of cochlear implant recipient speech performance in noise with the automation of ForwardFocus, International Journal of Audiology. 2025, Oct 4. [Sponsored by Cochlear]
  9. Internal data (March, 2025) ROI Rocket, Recipient Survey