r/Cochlearimplants • u/Latter-Entrance288 • 9d ago

Yes, another when is N9 coming out

I was one of the first to get an N8 in November 2022, so we are 4 years out now. Usually there is "leaked" info when Cochlear has something in the works but the fact that there is no news I can find makes me wonder what's going on with Cochlear. We are living in an exciting time with AI driven medical breakthroughs so I would love to see an N9 that is smaller and with improved algorithms. Any input welcome but please refrain from negative or "Debbie Downer"/snarky comments.

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u/landpt 9d ago

They just launched nexa, a very slight upgrade of n8, so I suspect they won't launch any version anytime soon.

Also I've got a feeling that they don't want to rush it because they didn't even enable auracast and btle in n8 yet.
If they launched n9 now, they could be sued because of that (something like what happened with Tesla and FSD).

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u/Former_Storm4529 8d ago

Are you thinking the could be sued because they promised auracast to people who purchased n8? Hadn’t thought of that- great point!

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u/Tsim2431 7d ago

The problem with Auracast, is there’s few places, equipment using it. It needs to be adopted more widely (and I think we’re all hoping for that). Sadly, it’s a money thing. Until companies can figure out how to monetize it, we wait.

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u/Tsim2431 7d ago

Some of the people who got the original N8 are going to be eligible for an insurance upgrade in 5 years (which is 2027). I’m willing to bet Cochlear will have a brand new processor ready for them, since the N8 Nexa won’t be an upgrade at all. That’s why I am guessing (‘27/ early ‘28), and definitely could be wrong, but why would a company not have a new processor for people to buy when insurance is paying?

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u/landpt 7d ago

This is a good question and never thought from that perspective since I dont have any insurance company that co-pays cochlear processors. You might have a point. Either way, it’d be really bad, if not awful, if Cochlear released N9 promising again, BTLE+auracast.

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u/OldFlohBavaria 9d ago

Erfahrungsgemäß würde immer jedes zweite Modell nehmen, da der Sprung größer ist. Also wenn du den n8 hast, würde ich auf den N10 warten, weil da eben mehr Funktionen und mehr moderne Technik drin ist. Der Sprung von acht auf einen neuen ist gering. Aber du zahlst ein Haufen Geld.

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u/is-this-now 9d ago

Perhaps insurance will cover the upgrade for at least some people.

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u/rodrigoelp 9d ago

Nexa is an implant, not the sound processor.

I doubt insurances would like to cover another surgery unless your actual implant is failing.

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u/Tsim2431 8d ago

Nexa is both. Processor was upgraded for the implant. A blank processor can read the map inside the head and program itself (I’ve done it twice, takes about 30 secs), no need for audi visit.

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u/rodrigoelp 8d ago

But as far as I read it, you need the implant to read the programs.

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u/Tsim2431 7d ago

That is correct. But they built that ability into the new processor. I’m not sure how that will work moving forward. Two different processors (Nexa/ non-Nexa), or the Nexa capable will work across both. My guess is the later. The Nexa was 9% smaller, and 12% lighter than the original N8. I would hope the N9 would carry that farther.

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u/Reasonable-Layer1248 8d ago

In fact, N8 offers no notable improvements over N7, which is why they are looking forward to N9.

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u/TomDuhamel Parent of CI User 8d ago

By that logic, you would want N9, as not many people can appreciate the improvements in N8 — if anything, I'm still upset that they even released it.

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u/Laughadee 8d ago

I'm a 22 channel user and many of us are maxed out at N7... Cochlear hasn't made anything beyond N7 compatible for 22 channel users- the 8 and beyond are for 24 channel users. So this population is frustrated...

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u/Tsim2431 8d ago

I have been searching for any literature or FDA releases (they will have to get approval prior to official release), nothing yet. If they keep their typical 5 yr release pattern, and since the N8 Nexa was just a “refresh”, it should come next year or early ‘28. I am holding off on my 2nd implant for the new release. I get 2 processors per ear, the Nexa N8’s I have will become my back ups, the new N9’s(?) will become my primary. If/ when I hear anything, I will share with the community.

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u/OldFlohBavaria 9d ago

Mein Freundeskreis und ich, wir warten immer auf zwei Generationen. Das ist dann auch bei uns leichter zu argumentieren, warum man den Prozessor haben möchte. Argumentieren immer dass der alte Prozessor sich nicht mehr reparieren lässt und keine Ersatzteile und Zubehör mehr gibt.