Comparing the Oticon Own SI with the Own: What's improved and what's stayed the same?

Comparing the Oticon Own SI with the Own

Understanding the difference between two great hearing aids from the same manufacturer

Overview    |    What you gain and what you lose    |    What they share    |    Choose Own SI if...    |    Choose Own (original) if...    |    Key takeaways    |    Conclusion

Overview

If you're researching Oticon's custom in-the-ear hearing aids, you've probably encountered both the Own SI and the original Own - and honestly, working out which one you need isn't entirely straightforward.

Both are custom-moulded hearing aids that sit in your ear rather than behind it, both look remarkably discreet, and both come from the same manufacturer. So what's actually different?

The short answer is that Own SI launched in March 2025 as an upgrade to specific models in the Own range, which first appeared in 2022. Here's where things get interesting, though - Oticon hasn't replaced the entire Own family, just the two smallest models.

The really important bit: What you gain and what you lose

Here's where the comparison becomes more complicated. Own SI only comes in two styles - Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) and Completely-in-Canal (CIC). These are the absolute smallest custom hearing aids Oticon makes, and frankly, they're virtually invisible in 9 out of 10 ears.

The original Own comes in five styles: IIC, CIC, In-the-Canal (ITC), In-the-Ear half-shell, and In-the-Ear full-shell. This matters because the larger ITC and ITE styles in the Own range include Bluetooth connectivity, whilst the Own SI models don't have Bluetooth at all.

So the trade-off is this: Own SI gives you the latest AI processing in the two smallest possible styles, but you lose wireless connectivity. The original Own gives you Bluetooth in the larger styles, but with older processing technology.

What about those missing styles?

At the time of writing, if you want an ITC, ITE half-shell, or ITE full-shell with the newer Sirius chip and DNN 2.0, they don't exist yet. Oticon is in the process of updating its custom line, but they've only released the two smallest models so far.

This means if you want a larger custom hearing aid with Bluetooth connectivity, you'll need to choose the original Own with the older Polaris chip.

What they share

Despite the chip difference, these hearing aids share more similarities than you might expect:

• BrainHearing technology - both use Oticon's philosophy of supporting your brain's natural way of processing sound, giving you access to the full sound scene rather than just focusing narrowly on speech in front of you.
• Custom-moulded fit - both require an ear impression from your audiologist to create a hearing aid perfectly shaped to your unique ear anatomy. This ensures comfort and security that off-the-shelf hearing aids can't match.
• Excellent sound quality - both deliver clear, natural sound that Oticon is known for, particularly for people with high-frequency hearing loss, where consonants become difficult to distinguish.
• Wide hearing loss range - the IIC and CIC models in both ranges can fit hearing loss up to about 90 dB, whilst the larger styles in Own can go up to 100 dB, covering mild to severe hearing loss.
• Disposable batteries - and here's the frustrating bit - neither range offers rechargeable options. In 2025, this feels rather dated. You'll be changing size 10 batteries (for IIC and CIC) every 3-5 days. The larger Own styles use size 13 batteries, which last slightly longer.
• Five colour options - both come in Beige, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, and Black to match your skin tone. Own SI also offers Transparent, Transparent Blue, and Transparent Red options for those who want their hearing aids to stand out rather than blend in.
• Four technology levels - both are available in levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, with level 1 being the premium tier offering the full feature set.  Oticon Own offers an even lower level - the 5.
• Push-button controls - both can be fitted with an optional push button for volume control and programme changes, though this depends on your ear canal size.
• Tinnitus masking - both can be programmed with tinnitus relief sounds if you need them.

Choose Own SI if:

You prioritise invisibility above all else and want the absolute smallest possible hearing aids with the latest AI processing. The IIC model is genuinely invisible in most ears, and the CIC is only slightly larger.

If discretion is your primary concern and you don't need Bluetooth connectivity, Own SI delivers the most advanced technology Oticon has ever fitted into a custom hearing aid this small.

You want the newest processing technology and don't need smartphone connectivity. The Sirius chip and DNN 2.0 represent genuine advances in how these tiny devices handle challenging listening environments, particularly restaurants and social gatherings.

You have mild to severe hearing loss that can be accommodated in an IIC or CIC style. Your audiologist can determine this based on your audiogram and ear canal anatomy.

Choose Own (original) if:

You need Bluetooth connectivity for streaming phone calls, music, or other audio directly to your hearing aids. The ITC and both ITE styles in the Own range offer full wireless connectivity with compatible devices, which the Own SI simply doesn't have.

You prefer a larger custom hearing aid that's easier to handle. The ITC and ITE styles are less fiddly to insert and remove, have larger batteries that last longer, and are easier to manage if you have dexterity issues. They're still custom-moulded and fit entirely in your ear - just not as deeply as the IIC and CIC.

You want app control. The Bluetooth-enabled Own models connect to the Oticon ON app, giving you control over volume, programmes, and various settings from your smartphone. Without Bluetooth, the Own SI has no app compatibility whatsoever.

You have a more severe hearing loss. The ITC and ITE models can accommodate more powerful receivers for hearing loss up to 100 dB.

The battery situation

Let's be frank about this - it's disappointing that neither range offers rechargeable options in 2025. Starkey has managed to create rechargeable custom hearing aids, so it's clearly possible, but Oticon hasn't made this leap yet.

For the IIC and CIC models in both ranges, you'll be dealing with tiny size 10 batteries. These are fiddly little things that need changing every few days, and the packaging can be genuinely difficult to open if you have arthritis or reduced finger dexterity.

The larger Own styles use size 13 batteries, which are easier to handle and last a bit longer, but they're still disposable.

If rechargeable batteries are essential to you, you'll need to look at Oticon's behind-the-ear models like the Intent or Real instead.

Key takeaways

✔️ The main difference is chip technology - Own SI uses the newer Sirius chip with DNN 2.0, whilst Own uses the Polaris chip with first-generation DNN. This represents better AI processing in Own SI.

✔️ Own SI only comes in two sizes - IIC and CIC only. If you want ITC or ITE styles, you've just got the the original Own for now.

✔️ No Bluetooth in Own SI - this is a significant loss. If you want wireless streaming or app control, you need the larger Own models with Bluetooth.

✔️ Both are custom-moulded - you'll need an ear impression taken, which means working with a proper audiologist rather than buying online.

✔️ Neither is rechargeable - disappointingly, both ranges use disposable batteries. Size 10 for IIC/CIC, size 13 for larger Own styles.

✔️ Own SI is more invisible - if discretion is your priority, Own SI's IIC model is genuinely invisible in 9 out of 10 ears.

✔️ Original Own offers more versatility - five styles versus two, with Bluetooth connectivity in the larger models.

✔️ Professional fitting is essential - custom hearing aids require expert assessment, accurate impressions, and precise programming to work properly.

✔️ We offer both - as truly independent audiologists, we can recommend either based on your hearing loss, lifestyle, and priorities - not on which makes us more profit.

✔️ Free home visits available - we can do the full assessment, take impressions, and fit your custom hearing aids at home across the UK.

Conclusion

Here's the honest assessment - if you absolutely need the smallest possible hearing aids and don't care about Bluetooth connectivity, Own SI represents Oticon's most advanced custom technology. The Sirius chip and DNN 2.0 are genuine improvements, and the processing power is impressive for such tiny devices.

However, if you want Bluetooth streaming, app control, or simply prefer a slightly larger hearing aid that's easier to manage, the original Own with its Bluetooth-enabled ITC and ITE models might actually be the better choice - even though the chip is technically older. The Polaris chip and first-generation DNN are still excellent technology that works very well.

The frustrating reality is that Oticon has only partially updated its custom range. Ideally, there would be ITC and ITE models with the Sirius chip and Bluetooth connectivity, but those don't exist yet. So you're choosing between cutting-edge processing in ultra-small packages (Own SI) or slightly older processing with more features and connectivity (Own).

Either way, proper fitting by a qualified audiologist is absolutely essential. Custom hearing aids only work properly if they're made from accurate ear impressions and programmed precisely to your hearing loss.

This is where our audiologists come in - we can take proper impressions, help you decide between these options based on your actual needs rather than marketing claims, and ensure you get the best possible outcome.

With free home visits across the UK, we can do all of this in the comfort of your own home if that's more convenient.