The Evolution of Hearing Aid Batteries: From Disposable to Rechargeable

Hearing aids are among the most challenging medical electronic devices to design.
They integrate microphones, DSP chips, amplifiers, Bluetooth modules, and speakers
into an ultra-compact housing, while requiring stable, all-day performance.
As a result, hearing aid batteries must meet extremely strict requirements.

Key Battery Requirements for Hearing Aids

• Miniaturization: Ultra-thin and compact to fit in-ear or behind-the-ear designs
• Lightweight: Comfortable for 12+ hours of daily use
• Long battery life: All-day operation on a single charge
• Stable voltage: Ensures consistent sound quality and Bluetooth performance
• Safety & sustainability: Safe for skin contact and environmentally friendly

These requirements are common across many
medical device battery solutions,
especially for wearable and close-to-skin electronics.

From Zinc-Air to Rechargeable Batteries

For decades, zinc-air disposable batteries dominated the hearing aid market.
They are compact and offer good energy density, but also have clear limitations:

• Short lifespan and frequent replacement
• Performance affected by humidity
• High long-term usage cost
• Environmental impact from disposable waste

As modern hearing aids increasingly adopt Bluetooth connectivity, wireless streaming,
and AI-based audio processing, power consumption has increased significantly.
This has accelerated the transition to

rechargeable lithium polymer batteries,
which offer higher energy density and longer service life.

What Makes Hearing Aid Batteries Different?

Ultra-Small Size and Custom Shapes

• Typical thickness: 2–4 mm
• Capacity range: 15–50 mAh, customized for each device

Most hearing aid projects require

custom battery design
rather than standard off-the-shelf cells.

Stable Voltage and Safety Protection

• Nominal voltage: 3.7 V (operating range 2.8–4.2 V)
• Built-in protection against overcharge, over-discharge, short-circuit, and overheating

Sealed and Reliable Packaging

• Lightweight aluminum-plastic pouch structure
• Resistant to moisture, sweat, and earwax

This type of sealed structure is widely used in

ultra-thin batteries for wearable devices.

Integrated Charging Systems

• Contact or wireless inductive charging
• Battery and charging system designed as a complete solution

PKNERGY Custom Hearing Aid Battery Solutions

PKNERGY specializes in high-performance, miniaturized rechargeable batteries for
medical and wearable electronics. Our capabilities cover:

• Ultra-thin lithium polymer pouch batteries (as thin as 2 mm)
• Custom capacities from 10–50 mAh
• Integrated protection circuits for safe daily use
• Customized battery shapes, terminals, and packaging
• System-level integration including battery, protection circuit, and charging solution

Our solutions are also widely applied in

consumer electronics
and

industrial automation equipment
with similar space and reliability requirements.

Partner With PKNERGY

The hearing aid industry is rapidly transitioning from disposable zinc-air batteries
to rechargeable lithium technology. Choosing the right battery partner directly
affects product reliability, user experience, and market competitiveness.

If you are a hearing aid manufacturer, medical electronics developer,
or wearable technology company, PKNERGY is ready to support your next project
with reliable
custom battery solutions.

Contact PKNERGY

Email: sale@pknergy.com

Website: www.pknergy.com