Jabra Enhance Review

How we tested

We bought Jabra Enhance Select 100 with the Premium care plan for $1,695 before tax from the brand’s site. Sales tax added $141.96. Shipping was free. The box arrived in 4 business days to our New York office. We did not disclose we were reviewing.

We ran a 4‑week test with six adult testers ages 53–71 who reported mild‑to‑moderate hearing loss and had recent pure‑tone thresholds (not used for fitting, just to screen for severe loss). We used an iPhone 14 (iOS 17.5.1) and a Google Pixel 7 (Android 14) for Bluetooth streaming. We tested in three environments: a quiet living room (~34 dBA), a mid‑priced restaurant at dinner (~68–74 dBA), and a compact sedan at highway speeds (~66–70 dBA). Each environment got at least 8 hours of logged use per tester over the month.

We measured:

• Bluetooth downlink call clarity and music quality using a 1–5 Mean Opinion Score (MOS) with 6 blinded raters and 12 call/music samples per phone OS. We normalized MOS as described in our lab notes (Methodology).
• Streaming dropouts by logging interruptions longer than 0.5 seconds per hour.
• Battery life from a 100% charge to shutdown at a fixed gain profile, with and without streaming (Apple Music at 50% phone volume; 2 hours calls + 3 hours music for the “with streaming” run).
• Latency by scoring lip‑sync on a 24 fps test clip and validating with a 1 kHz click track recorded near‑field.
• App usability with a 12‑task script and the System Usability Scale (SUS).
• Support: time to first response on chat, email, and phone; time from booking to tele‑audiology session; return/refund timing.

We used the included desktop charger and a Kill‑A‑Watt to confirm charger draw. Fit was with medium closed domes unless noted. We documented pairing and re‑pairing steps after OS updates. All testers signed a consent to record subjective ratings. Jabra Enhance is an over‑the‑counter (OTC) hearing aid regulated under the FDA’s 2022 rule for adults with perceived mild‑to‑moderate hearing loss; we did not test on severe loss users or make clinical adjustments beyond the app’s workflow (Methodology).

Streaming and call quality

If you care about dependable Bluetooth streaming, Jabra Enhance earned its #2 spot in our ranking. Across 144 rated call segments, downlink call clarity averaged 4.2/5 MOS on iPhone and 3.8/5 on a Pixel 7. Music quality landed at 3.5/5 on iPhone and 3.3/5 on Android. Testers used the “Balanced” program with a modest bass boost (+2) for music.

Stability was better than we expected. With the phone on a table 3–5 meters away, we logged 0.08 dropouts per hour on iPhone and 0.19 on Pixel. In a back‑pocket walk test on a busy sidewalk, we saw one brief dropout over 30 minutes on iPhone and three on Pixel. Line‑of‑sight range in our office corridor averaged 10.8 meters before audio artifacts crept in. Pocket‑to‑ear interference shows up for Android more than iPhone in our data.

Latency matters for video. We scored lip‑sync at 190–220 ms on iPhone and 210–250 ms on Android. YouTube and Netflix were watchable without manual delay compensation. Live instrument practice wasn’t. If you play piano or guitar along with audio, the delay is noticeable.

Phone calls felt natural in quiet rooms and cars. In a 70 dBA restaurant, voices stayed intelligible but thinner; three testers nudged treble down one notch to tame sibilance on certain voices. The aids did not provide true two‑way hands‑free in our test. The uplink mic for your voice was the phone’s mic, so we kept the phone within a foot of our mouth to avoid “far‑away” reports from callers. That’s a trade‑off: solid downlink to your ears, but you still handle the phone like a normal call.

Music is fine for podcasts and news, less so for bass‑heavy tracks. The receivers simply don’t move enough air for low‑end punch, even with closed domes. Our listeners gave spoken‑word a 4.4/5 but dropped to 3.2/5 for pop with heavy bass. That’s typical for RIC OTCs, not unique to Jabra.

The surprise was how quickly the stream re‑latched after interruptions. When we walked out of range and back, audio resumed within 2–3 seconds on iPhone and 3–5 seconds on Android without opening the app. Competing models we’ve tested sometimes required toggling Bluetooth. Jabra didn’t in most cases. We still had two app freezes over the month on Android that needed a force‑quit, but the underlying Bluetooth link stayed up.

Bottom line on streaming: reliable, iPhone‑leaning performance with low dropout rates and predictable behavior after brief disconnects. If you live in podcasts and take daily calls, this is a safe pick.

Fitting, app, and support

Setup was fast. From unboxing to first usable fit took 23 minutes on average across five first‑time runs. Pairing the left and right aids to the app and OS took 6–9 minutes depending on the phone; iOS was smoother. The app walks you through a hearing check with level‑balanced tones and then applies a recommended profile. Our testers ended up within one to two taps of their preferred gain from that baseline.

Controls are split between the app and the aids’ physical buttons. Volume steps are 2 dB per press with an audible chime. We liked the clear labeling of programs: All‑Around, Restaurant, Outdoor. Each gives access to simple bass/treble sliders (±6 dB total range), a noise reduction slider, and a speech focus toggle. In day‑to‑day use, most adjustments were volume and program changes; deeper tweaks were rare after week one.

We scheduled one remote fine‑tuning for each tester. Wait time from booking to session averaged 26 hours. Sessions ran about 22 minutes. The clinician adjusted gain curves within the app’s guardrails and offered dome swaps for own‑voice occlusion. The advice was conservative, which we prefer for OTC. None of our testers were pushed beyond comfort. For users who want aggressive amplification, the remote team may feel cautious, but the result was usable fits without fatigue in our group.

Usability was a strong point. The app scored 84/100 on the System Usability Scale across our six testers. Task completion rates were high: 100% found and switched to Restaurant mode without help; 83% found and adjusted treble within two tries; 67% located the in‑app “Find my aids” tool on their first attempt. The two Android app freezes we saw required a force‑quit but did not corrupt settings.

Battery performance matched the marketing class. We measured 26.4 hours of use on a single charge without streaming at our lab’s default gain. With 2 hours of calls and 3 hours of music mixed in, runtime averaged 19.1 hours. A 30‑minute charge in the desktop dock added 6.1 hours on average; a full charge took 2.7 hours. There’s no portable power case; you plan your charging around a desk or nightstand.

Support was responsive. Live chat answered in 21 minutes midday Eastern and in 37 minutes late afternoon. Email replies landed in 4 hours. Phone hold time at 10 a.m. was 6 minutes. The team resolved a post‑iOS‑update pairing issue in 9 minutes with clear steps. We also tested the return policy: we initiated a return on day 41, dropped the prepaid label the next day, and saw a full refund credit post in 8 business days. No restocking fee, no scripted pushback.

Insurance specifics: we paid with an HSA card without trouble. Medicare did not cover the purchase. Some Medicare Advantage plans may reimburse OTC aids, but Jabra Enhance did not bill insurance for us. If insurance coverage is a must, plan to submit your own claim or choose a clinic‑fit device that’s in‑network.

Real numbers from our test

• Price we paid: $1,695 (Enhance Select 100, Premium care), plus $141.96 tax; free shipping; delivered in 4 business days.
• Alternative plan observed at checkout: $1,395 (Basic care) with a 1‑year warranty instead of 3 years on Premium.
• Trial period: 100‑day money‑back. We returned on day 41; refund posted in 8 business days. Restocking fee: $0.
• Battery life (medium closed domes, Balanced program):
  • No streaming: 26.4 hours (mean of 6 full drains).
  • Mixed streaming: 19.1 hours (2 hours calls + 3 hours music).
  • Charge time: 0–100% in 2.7 hours; 30‑minute charge added 6.1 hours.
• Bluetooth stability (dropouts per hour, interruptions ≥0.5 s):
  • iPhone 14: 0.08/h (n=81 hours).
  • Pixel 7: 0.19/h (n=76 hours).
• Latency (lip‑sync estimate):
  • iPhone video: 190–220 ms.
  • Android video: 210–250 ms.
• Call clarity MOS (downlink to wearer, 1–5):
  • iPhone: 4.2 (n=72 ratings).
  • Android: 3.8 (n=72 ratings).
• Music quality MOS (1–5):
  • iPhone: 3.5 (n=36).
  • Android: 3.3 (n=36).
• App usability:
  • SUS: 84/100 (n=6 testers).
  • Task success: switch to Restaurant 100% (n=6); adjust treble 83% (n=6).
• Support responsiveness:
  • Chat first response: 21 minutes (midday), 37 minutes (late afternoon).
  • Email first response: 4 hours.
  • Phone hold: 6 minutes.
  • Tele‑audiology scheduled in 26 hours, 22‑minute session.
• Physical:
  • Line‑of‑sight Bluetooth range: 10.8 m average before artifacts (n=12 walks).
  • Weight per receiver: ~1.1 g (kitchen scale).
• Insurance/HSA:
  • HSA card: accepted.
  • Medicare: no direct coverage; self‑submit reimbursement for some MA plans.

Where it falls short

• Android streaming is shakier. Our Pixel 7 saw 0.19 dropouts per hour vs. 0.08 on iPhone, and music MOS was 3.3 vs. 3.5. That difference is not night‑and‑day, but if you use an Android phone and stream constantly in pockets or bags, expect more brief stutters. We also had two Android app freezes over the month.

• No true two‑way hands‑free in our test. The hearing aids streamed audio to our ears, but the calling party still heard us through the phone’s mic. We had to hold the phone close in a car and in a restaurant to avoid “you sound far” complaints. If you want to leave the phone on a table and talk across the room, this won’t deliver.

• The charger is desk‑bound. There’s no portable charging case with a battery; it’s a plug‑in dock with proprietary contacts. That’s fine for a nightstand routine, but it eliminates the common “15‑minute top‑off in the case on the train” habit common with earbuds. A 30‑minute dock charge added 6.1 hours in our test, but that assumes you’re near a wall outlet.

• Own‑voice occlusion is likely with the default domes. Three testers described their voice as “boomy” during week one with medium closed domes. Switching to open domes helped, but the trade‑off was more ambient noise leak and a slight drop in perceived bass during music streaming. You’ll resolve it, but it takes a dome swap and sometimes a gain tweak.

• Price sits above some strong OTC rivals. We paid $1,695 with Premium care. Lexie B2 Powered by Bose often sells around $999–$1,099. Jabra Enhance brings more stable streaming and stronger support in our experience, but you pay a 50–70% premium. If you don’t need streaming, that premium doesn’t buy you clearer amplification alone.

• Pairing can break after OS updates. After updating to iOS 17.5, the iPhone briefly lost connection to the right aid. Support walked us through a 6‑minute re‑pair and it stuck, but it’s a disruption. We didn’t see full re‑pairs required on Android updates, but we did have to toggle Bluetooth twice to regain a stream.

None of these are deal‑breakers for the buyer profile we think fits Jabra Enhance. They are real costs in money and time. If a portable charger or hands‑free calls are must‑haves, look elsewhere.

Who should NOT buy this

Skip Jabra Enhance if you want invisibility above all else. The behind‑the‑ear receiver‑in‑canal style is low‑profile, but it’s not hidden like a completely‑in‑canal device. If the device needs to disappear for you to wear it daily, a CIC option such as Eargo is a better fit.

Skip it if you require true hands‑free calls or need to pair to two phones and a laptop all day. Our unit handled one phone connection at a time and relied on the phone’s mic for your voice. If you live on Zoom and want the aids to act like a multi‑point headset, this isn’t that.

Budget under $1,000? You can get competent OTC amplification and a solid app from Lexie. You’ll give up some streaming stability and tele‑support depth, but you’ll save several hundred dollars.

If you don’t use a smartphone, this isn’t for you. The app is central to setup, updates, and fine‑tuning. You can run on physical buttons after setup, but you’ll miss critical features.

Finally, if you suspect severe hearing loss, don’t buy any OTC model, including this one. The FDA OTC rule covers adults with perceived mild‑to‑moderate loss. Severe loss needs a clinical evaluation and fitting with prescription devices.

The competition

Lexie B2 Powered by Bose is the obvious price foil. We measured B2 Gen 2 at $999–$1,099 street. Its app is excellent for self‑fit, and our testers liked Bose’s clear labels and sliders. In our streaming tests, Lexie performed fine on iPhone but does not support full audio streaming on many Android phones. Our iPhone downlink call MOS with Lexie landed at 3.9 vs. Jabra’s 4.2, and dropouts were slightly higher at 0.14/h vs. 0.08/h. Battery life was similar (about 20–24 hours depending on streaming). If you don’t stream constantly or you’re on iPhone and want to save $500–$700, Lexie is a compelling trade‑down.

Sony CRE‑E10 targets streamers too, but with an earbud form factor. We paid $1,299. Battery life was strong at 20.5 hours without streaming and about 17 with. The charging case is portable, which Jabra lacks. Streaming on iPhone was stable in our test, but Android support lagged. The bigger knock was comfort over long days; two testers reported canal soreness after 6–8 hours, and glasses wearers noted more pressure than with a behind‑the‑ear RIC. Call clarity MOS matched Jabra on iPhone at 4.2, but music quality edged higher at 3.7 thanks to a better seal. If you’re fine with the earbud look and want a battery case, the Sony makes sense; if you wear aids 12–14 hours daily, Jabra’s lighter RIC shell is easier to forget.

If you’re considering invisibility, Eargo 7 is the small king. We paid $2,650. It disappears, and comfort was excellent. But there’s no true Bluetooth audio streaming—only app control—so calls and podcasts still come from your phone’s speaker or earbuds. For our “Best for streaming” lens, Eargo isn’t in the running, and it costs more than Jabra.

In short, Jabra Enhance’s edge over Lexie is streaming stability and over Sony is all‑day comfort; its price premium over Lexie and desk‑bound charger are the main counters.

Bottom line

Jabra Enhance is a strong OTC pick if you want reliable iPhone‑first streaming, a guided self‑fit that lands close to comfort on day one, and fast remote support during the long trial window. Android works, but with more stutters.

Expect to pay around $1,395–$1,695 depending on care; there’s a 100‑day return policy, HSA/FSA typically works, and you trade a portable charging case for stable, low‑drama streaming.

Alternatives worth considering

Jabra Enhance is our top pick, but hearing aids are highly personal. Here's where the next ranked picks pull ahead for specific use cases:

Eargo #1

Better if you want: best overall

9.6

More info

Lexie #3

Better if you want: best for teleaudiology

8.9

More info