Jabra Hearing Aids Review 2023: Why Jabra Is a Smart Choice

This content is researched and written based on extensive testing by an external reviews team and does not reflect the views or opinions of Everyday Health’s editorial team. Everyday Health may earn a commission from purchases of products featured in this article.

Public awareness of the importance of hearing health is growing, but the most common treatment for hearing loss — hearing aids — has been out of reach for many people due to the high cost of hearing aids.

The most recent figure from the federal government states that the average price of prescription hearing aids is $4,600 per pair. That is changing, however. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sought to lower the cost barrier in October 2022 by opening the way for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids to enter the market in their own regulatory category. It’s already helping, as most OTC hearing aids currently cost between $200 and $3,000 per pair.

Jabra Enhance is one OTC hearing aid manufacturer that sells devices online and offers remote audiology support to customers, depending on the package you choose. In this way, the company provides quality hearing aids at a lower cost compared with prescription manufacturers. While Jabra Enhance hearing aids can’t meet everyone’s needs, they can provide a solution for certain people with hearing loss.

In our reviews team’s research and hands-on testing of more than a dozen hearing aid brands, we found that Jabra Enhance is a standout among the devices sold online and one of the best hearing aids on the market. Read on to learn about the features, costs, warranty, and customer service offered by Jabra Enhance to see if they’re a good fit for you.

Underlying Research

• 2,500 hours researched
• 13 experts consulted
• 30 brands considered
• 96 models considered
• 600-plus users surveyed

Our experts have spent more than 2,500 hours conducting thorough research on hearing aids. Throughout this process, we did the following:

• Deeply researched the hearing device category
• Consulted with audiologists and hearing device experts
• Mystery shopped 30 brands
• Surveyed more than 600 hearing aid users
• Read and reviewed current studies published in this space
• Read thousands of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot

Our reviews team chose to review Jabra Enhance hearing aids for three main reasons:

1. Impressive Battery Life Respondents to our survey of 600 hearing aid users chose rechargeable batteries as the second-most desired hearing aid feature, behind digital noise reduction. Two of the three Jabra Enhance hearing aids are rechargeable, and the rechargeable models have some of the longest battery life in the industry (30 hours on a single charge).
2. Long Free Trial Period For OTC hearing aids, a long and free trial period is essential to determining whether the hearing aids are right for you. Jabra Enhance has the longest free trial period of any OTC hearing aid we’ve seen (100 days vs. an average of 45 days).
3. Extensive Warranty Similar to a long trial period, an extensive warranty can help give you peace of mind that you have support and options if you have an issue with your hearing aids. Jabra Enhance has the longest warranty of any OTC hearing aid we’ve seen when you choose the premium package (three years vs. an average of one year). More than 68 percent of survey respondents needed to have their hearing aids repaired at least once during the warranty period, which further reinforces the value of an extensive warranty.

Pros

• Longest trial period and warranty of any online hearing aid, depending on the package
• Rechargeable battery life of 30 hours per charge, with a case that holds up to three charges
• One of the few online hearing aids with Bluetooth streaming capability
• Competitive pricing for the range of features offered
• Free, unlimited telehealth support from the Jabra Enhance audiology team for three years after purchase, depending on the package
• Convenient online process
• Easy-to-navigate app for volume changes and listening profile adjustments
• Five color choices offered with each model

Cons

• Only one style (receiver-in-canal)
• Not suitable for people with severe, profound, or one-sided hearing loss
• Users need to be comfortable with technology to make adjustments and get support through the app
• No in-person customer support offered for adjustments, fitting, or troubleshooting

*Price depends on the package you purchase. Hearing aids in the basic package are $200 less than the premium package.

• $1,195 (basic package) and $1,395 (premium package) per pair
• Receiver-in-canal
• Disposable zinc-air batteries
• Less advanced sound technology than Enhance Select 100 and 200

The Enhance Select 50 is the brand’s entry-level device, a slim receiver-in-canal model that sits behind the ear. The receiver rests in the ear canal, connecting to the unit behind your ear with a tiny wire encased in tubing (see image below).

The Enhance Select 50 is the only Jabra Enhance model with disposable batteries, which last 3 to 10 days, depending on the amount of Bluetooth streaming used. You’ll receive a year’s supply of batteries along with your hearing aid purchase.

Jabra Enhance includes Bluetooth streaming technology with all of its models, a feature that’s standard with prescription brands but not available in every online hearing aid brand. Enhance Select hearing aids can be connected via Bluetooth to all Apple devices and Androids with OS version 9.0 or later.

Enhance Select 50 Technology

The Enhance Select 50 doesn’t have the same level of technology as the 100 or 200 models, but it does include the following features to improve hearing ability:

• Directional microphones help you focus on conversations in front of you and reduce background noise; the scope of the focus can be remotely adjusted by the Jabra Enhance audiology team in the fitting software.
• Noise reduction cuts down on noise around you that can interfere with conversations.
• Feedback cancellation reduces whistling that can occur with sound amplification.

Due to the Enhance Select’s lower price point and more basic sound processing technology, this model is best for people who spend much of their time in quiet settings with little or no background noise.

• $1,495 (basic package) and $1,695 (premium package) per pair
• Receiver-in-canal
• Rechargeable battery

For $300 more per pair, the Enhance Select 100 includes the same technology and features as the Enhance Select 50 with the added convenience of rechargeable batteries.

As noted above, when our reviews team conducted a survey of 600 hearing aid users, rechargeable batteries were the second-most important feature to customers, behind noise reduction. Hearing aid batteries are tiny, and our team found it challenging to switch out the disposable batteries in the Enhance Select 50. People with dexterity or eyesight problems may prefer the ease of rechargeable batteries.

Jabra Enhance is a leader among online manufacturers in this area as well, with batteries in the Enhance Select 100 and 200 lasting up to 30 hours on a single three-hour charge (with 50 percent Bluetooth streaming). That’s the longest charge we’ve found among any online brand and even longer than some prescription hearing aids. In our review of the best OTC hearing aids, the average battery life was about 20 hours. We also like the quick-charge option, which gives you eight hours of power from a 30-minute charge.

Added Features of Enhance Select 100

In addition to the features included with the Enhance Select 50, the 100 model adds the following:

• Improved noise reduction for better speech understanding
• Music mode to help you hear live music with better sound quality
• Enhanced direct audio streaming for fuller sound when streaming music and other audio to your hearing aids

People who want the ease of rechargeable batteries and are happy with the midrange sound quality offered by Jabra Enhance may like the price and features of the Enhance Select 100.

• $1,795 (basic package) and $1,995 (premium package) per pair
• Receiver-in-canal
• Rechargeable battery

The Enhance Select 200 comes with the brand’s most advanced hearing technology and may be a good choice for users who are frequently in more challenging listening environments, such as situations with background noise.

Like the Select 100, the rechargeable batteries in the Select 200 are advertised to last up to 30 hours on one three-hour charge. The quick charge option in this model is a one-hour charge that gives up to 15 hours of power.

Jabra Enhance includes its most advanced sound-processing technology in the Select 200 model. Its feedback cancellation — called DFS Ultra III — provides better clarity when listening to music. An extended frequency bandwidth allows for a more full and balanced sound quality, more than what is offered by some prescription brands.

This model is also the only Enhance Select device that automatically adjusts the sound based on your listening environment. For example, if you’re in a quiet restaurant that suddenly becomes busy, the Enhance Select 200 will automatically reduce background noise. The Enhance Select 200 could be a great choice for people who can afford to spend more for better sound processing.

Keep in mind that there are prescription hearing aids with even more complex software and the capacity for greater fine-tuning by a hearing specialist in person for the same or lower cost as the Select 100 or 200. If you’re considering either model, it’s worth checking out a few prescription hearing aid brands at a hearing clinic to see how they compare before you make a final decision, or review the prescription picks in our best hearing aids review.

With the recent introduction of OTC hearing aids to the market, some of which look identical to earbuds, you might be wondering about the differences between hearing aids and amplification devices, also known as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs). The two categories may seem similar at first glance, but important differences can influence your hearing health.

Function

Both hearing aids and PSAPs amplify sound for the user, and most also have the ability to reduce feedback and background noise. But while hearing aids are meant to improve hearing for people with hearing loss, PSAPs are intended for people with normal hearing, according to the FDA.

PSAPs are often used when a user wants to enhance environmental sounds, such as when hunting or bird-watching. They can also be used to cancel out background noise so users can focus on conversations or music. One of the most important differences between hearing aids and PSAPs is that PSAPs cannot be programmed to a person’s hearing loss profile like hearing aids can, and they may even cause damage to the ears if the volume is turned too high.

Government Regulation

The two products are regulated very differently. Hearing aids are regulated as medical devices by the FDA, so companies must adhere to guidelines for labeling, design, fit, and sound performance. PSAPs are considered consumer electronics, which means that like any headphone or earbud, they don’t have to meet any FDA requirements for sale. Not surprisingly, the quality and performance of PSAPs can vary much more than hearing aids.

Jabra Enhance released new basic and premium package options. Basic packages come with:

• Your choice of Jabra Enhance Select OTC hearing aids
• One-year warranty with loss and damage protection

Premium packages come with:

• Your choice of Jabra Enhance Select OTC hearing aids
• Three-year warranty with loss and damage protection
• Three-year access to professional hearing care with the Jabra Enhance Audiology Team

Generally, hearing aids in the premium package cost $200 more per pair than those in the basic package.

Jabra Enhance was born out of a partnership between direct-to-consumer hearing aid manufacturer Lively and sound tech company Jabra in November 2022, with a mission to “empower people with hearing loss to connect to their world through effortless technology and delightful care.”

Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids range from $1,195 to $1,995 per pair. This is in the midrange of prices you’ll find for OTC hearing aids, according to our research. Brands that cost less, such as Audien at $249 per pair, have more basic sound processing and don’t offer the same functionality as Jabra Enhance.

The more expensive OTC brands like Audicus, which cost up to $2,998 per pair, set themselves apart by offering multiple styles and more options for in-person support. Still, Jabra Enhance is a strong competitor in the OTC hearing aid market, with the longest rechargeable battery life of any brand, an impressive three-year warranty, and the longest trial period among OTC hearing aids.

If you’re concerned about paying the full cost upfront, Jabra Enhance offers third-party financing through its lending partner, Bread. On approval of a credit application, you can make payments with no interest for up to 18 months.

If you have results (known as an audiogram) from a previous hearing exam, you can upload them to the Jabra Enhance website. If you have not had an exam, you can take the Jabra Enhance online hearing screening. The screening tests your hearing in each ear at 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz. It takes several minutes to complete the steps for each ear. You’ll need to enter your name and an email address to receive your results.

When you purchase the basic package, you can choose one of three preset programs that best addresses your hearing loss. But when you purchase the premium package, the company’s audiology team will use either the exam you uploaded to the website or the results from the online screening to program your new devices to match your hearing loss profile before sending them to you. Once you receive them, you’ll have a virtual one-on-one appointment with a member of the Jabra Enhance audiology team to set up your devices, fit them in your ears with the correct tips, and learn how to clean, charge, and use them.

A hearing specialist can’t do everything remotely that they can do in person, such as checking the physical fit of your hearing aids. Still, remote support may be the right choice for people who can’t get to a clinic due to distance, health concerns, or other issues that confine them to their home. Our reviews team spoke with Nicholas Reed, a doctor of audiology and assistant professor of audiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who says that while telehealth can provide excellent care for people with hearing loss, people should start with an in-person hearing test if they have never had one.

Customer Service

Jabra Enhance can be reached by phone at 800-854-2772 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Saturday through Sunday.

You can also reach customer service via live chat by clicking the chat button on the company's website or by email at support@jabraenhance.com.

The free Jabra Enhance Select app allows you to do the following:

• Change the volume.
• Adjust the listening settings.
• Contact the Jabra Enhance audiology team for remote support.

In testing, our reviews team found the app easy to navigate. Jabra Enhance customers tend to agree. The app has a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars on the App Store and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google Play. One participant in our focus group of hearing aid users who owns Jabra Enhance hearing aids has used the app to adjust his devices and to get remote help, and he’s been pleased with its ease of use as well.

Jabra Enhance Select offers the best warranty and trial period of any hearing aid manufacturer that our reviews team researched. Let’s take a look at the details.

Enhance Select Trial Period

The 100-day trial period offered by Jabra Enhance is longer than any other brand on the market, which includes both OTC and prescription hearing aid companies. Most states require a minimum 30-day trial period for hearing aids, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America, but Jabra Enhance offers more than 3 times that, giving you plenty of time to make sure your new hearing aids are a good match for your hearing needs and lifestyle.

Enhance Select Warranty

Jabra Enhance offers one of the best warranties our reviews team found among OTC hearing aid companies. The premium package offers three years of coverage against manufacturer’s defects and three years of loss and damage coverage, so you won’t have to worry about paying for repairs or replacements within that time frame. There is a deductible of $195 per device to repair or replace hearing aids that are lost, damaged, or stolen.

The coverage on charging cases is slightly different, with three years of repair coverage and one year for replacement for lost or damaged cases, including a $175 deductible. Accessories such as TV streamers, remote controls, and mics come with a one-year repair warranty.

When shopping for hearing aids, you’ll find a wide range of options. Among other OTC brands, the less expensive options include Audien, Lexie, MDHearing, Go Hearing, and Lucid Hearing. These devices can all be purchased without a prescription — online or at stores that sell health technology — but the lower price tag includes fewer features in certain models.

Eargo is another OTC hearing aid in the same price range as Jabra Enhance. The selling point of this brand’s four models is that they are all rechargeable in-the-canal hearing aids, so they’re almost invisible when inserted. You’ll sacrifice directional microphones and Bluetooth streaming due to the small size, though, and the batteries last only half as long as Jabra Enhance, at 15 hours on a full charge.

If you’re looking for long rechargeable battery life, superior sound processing, and in-person support, consider prescription models such as the Signia Pure Charge & Go AX, Phonak Aduéo Lumity, or Widex Moment. All three of these hearing aids offer a 30-hour battery life like Jabra Enhance, and they are prescription devices that can be programmed for your audiogram results and adjusted in person by a hearing professional.

Keep in mind that if you have severe or profound hearing loss, you won’t find an OTC listening device that will address your needs, as OTC devices are only appropriate for perceived mild to moderately severe hearing loss. To treat your severe or profound hearing loss, you’ll need to see an audiologist for a full hearing test and ear exam so that you can get a prescription hearing aid that’s tailored to your specific needs.

It’s always a good idea to have an in-person hearing exam at a clinic before purchasing any type of hearing aid, even for mild hearing loss, so that an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist can examine your ears and make sure there are no underlying medical conditions causing your hearing loss. They can also get a more accurate picture of your hearing loss and obtain specific measurements of how well you hear at each sound frequency, with and without background noise.

One of the potential risks of self-diagnosing your hearing loss is that some cases don’t need to be treated with hearing aids but with surgical intervention or simple earwax removal instead.

It’s important to consider a company’s reputation and the experience of other customers before making a purchase. Our reviews team combed through dozens of Jabra Enhance customer reviews to find out what others are saying about this brand.

Jabra Enhance has an A+ business rating with the BBB. The rating is based not on customer reviews for its products but a number of factors, such as business practices, how long a business has been in operation, and whether they’re timely in responding to customer complaints. While Jabra Enhance is a new brand, both Jabra and Lively have long-standing reputations as sound tech and hearing aid companies, respectively, committed to quality production and reliable customer service.

In addition to a company’s reputation, think about the features you’ll use in a hearing aid. One person in our focus group said that he’s often tempted to buy the latest high-tech gadgets, but then he doesn’t always know how to access every feature. Jabra Enhance relies on its smartphone app to make remote adjustments by its audiology team. If you’re not comfortable with technology, a prescription hearing aid that can be adjusted in person may be a better choice.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to make adjustments to your hearing aids without an app, you may want to look into OTC hearing aid brands such as MDHearing, Eargo, or Audicus. Each of these brands offer hearing aids for adults over 17 with mild to moderately severe hearing loss, and their products can all be adjusted manually without an app. Audicus offers in-person support as well.

If you like using Bluetooth to stream music and videos to your earbuds, and you have hearing loss that can be treated without in-person assistance, Jabra Enhance could be a great choice for you.

Jabra Enhance currently has a customer rating of 3.63 from the BBB for its products, based on 19 reviews. Seven complaints have been closed in the past year, three of which were filed during the transition period from Lively to Jabra Enhance. The business has responded to and resolved 100 percent of its complaints.

Most negative customer reviews focus on problems getting a refund for returned devices and issues with customer support returning calls in a timely manner, while positive reviews consistently praise the company’s excellent customer support service.

“It has been a pleasure to deal with Lively! Not only do they provide an excellent hearing aid product but also superior customer service. I will be a loyal customer for life.”

— LINDA W., VERIFIED CUSTOMER (REVIEW FROM BBB.ORG)

“Beware, they are not compatible with android version 12. I am unable to use my hearing aids since my cell phone upgraded to version 12. I am also unable to contact their support group as they fail to call back. If you have an iPhone, you will find the hearing aids are fine. They need to address the issue with android users.”

— BRUCE L., VERIFIED CUSTOMER (REVIEW FROM BBB.ORG)

“I've suffered with tinnitus and high frequency hearing loss for many years. Could never really afford hearing aids. Well after some embarrassing hearing situations I decided I had to finally purchase, so I did a lot of research on getting the best I could afford. Lively came out on top of the list. I can not [be] happier with my choice. I can hear things so much clearer now it blows me away.The whole process is easy and straightforward.The customer service is unbelievable! Always there for you. On top of hearing better I have noticed my tinnitus is slightly better. Added bonus! They just flat out work well! The sound clarity is so natural, too. I rarely leave reviews, I had to with this amazing product!”

— ROBERT S., VERIFIED CUSTOMER (REVIEW FROM BBB.ORG)

To fully understand this category, our reviews team immersed ourselves in the current published research on hearing loss and hearing aid devices, interviewed experts and hearing loss professionals, read thousands of reviews on trusted third-party sites, and deployed a survey of over 600 hearing aid users to understand their experience.

We narrowed down what brands to review within this category by speaking with audiologists and looking at brand market share. We then considered cost, the variety of hearing loss a brand could treat, and special features offered, from directional microphones to digital noise reduction to rechargeable batteries.

Once our research team makes its selections, an audiologist medically reviews our picks to vet each brand and model.

We determine our top picks for the best hearing aids based on the following criteria:

• Special features
• User experience
• Cost
• Customer service
• Reputation and credibility

Jabra Enhance Select hearing aids could be a smart choice for people looking for help with mild to moderately severe hearing loss if they feel comfortable adjusting their hearing aids with a smartphone app and are willing to forego in-person customer support.

The cost of Jabra Enhance hearing aids is very competitive compared with other online manufacturers. The only other online brand that offers hearing aids equipped with Bluetooth-streaming technology is Audicus, but the battery life, warranty, and trial period don’t compare with what you’ll get from Jabra Enhance.

People who are looking for less expensive hearing aids to treat mild to moderately severe hearing loss may want to explore brands like Eargo, MDHearing, Lexie, or Audien.

Keep in mind that if you’ve been diagnosed with severe, profound, or one-sided hearing loss, you’ll need a prescription hearing aid. Some of the top prescription hearing aid manufacturers include Phonak, Signia, Oticon, Starkey, Widex, and ReSound. Read our review of the best hearing aids of 2023 for more details on these brands.