Jabra Enhance Select 50R vs. JLab Hear OTC

The Jabra Enhance Select 50R is a rechargeable, over-the-counter hearing aid designed for mild to moderate hearing loss, offering features such as iPhone and Android streaming, automatic sound adjustments, and wireless app control.

The JLab HEAR OTC Hearing Aid offers an affordable and user-friendly solution for those with mild to moderate hearing loss, featuring customizable sound settings and a sleek design. Extensive testing reveals its effective performance in various environments, making it a reliable choice for everyday use.

Jabra Enhance Select 50R achieved a SoundScore of 3.7/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #29 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

JLab Hear OTC achieved a SoundScore of 3.5/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #36 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.

50R has an ingress rating of IP68 indicating it has excellent protection against moisture and debris. My hands-on experience with these devices supports that and their overall quality build.

The portable charger is flimsy and HEAR have a lower egress rating of IPX4. However, with some extra care and cleaning they should hold up to regular daily use.

50R has a remarkable reported battery life of 30 hours and you can expect around 3 hours of recharge time. One complaint I have with 50R is the older style tabletop charger. It works well but it does not have a lid or offer on-the-go charging.

HEAR do not offer enough power for all-day use with a battery life of 10 hours (less with streaming). The battery life is however respectable for a wireless earbud.

50R does offer audio streaming for both iOS and Android though it is not the highest fidelity. However, I will take the low-quality audio streaming over none at all. If you need hands-free calling you will want to look at other Jabra hearing products.

HEAR offer wireless connectivity for both iOS and Android users. I personally experienced stable streaming and phone calls with my iPhone 12.

Jabra’s phone app offers fantastic customization and is easily navigated with their logical tab organization. This comes straight from their prescription hearing aid ties.

The JLab Hearing Health app offers a nice feature set for personalization. Some elements could be more user friendly, but it makes sense after a little troubleshooting.

50R is a rather sleek receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid. Its comfort is consistent with prescription like products and I experienced no issues wearing it long-term (even with glasses).

HEAR are comfortable and had good retention in my ears. They completely seal your ear when worn properly but feel less “plugging” as they are lightweight.

50R has the look and design of a prescription hearing aid, albeit slightly older in design compared to the latest devices. Regardless, it is sleek and nearly invisible behind the ear.

This is highly personalized, but HEAR look like modern earbuds and distance themselves from the negative stigma some attribute to hearing aids.

Jabra Enhance Select 50R has a value score of 3.9/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

JLab Hear OTC has a value score of 5.0/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

50R works well but some may find the physical button on the smaller side. Otherwise, it offers a good tactile feel with a clear click when depressed.

I ran into a few issues with my initial Bluetooth pairing but HEAR and the touch controls work well otherwise.

50R is a step above most OTC devices offering both technical support and virtual-care with hearing care providers. Direct care should not be overlooked as it is often key to long-term hearing aid success.

JLab falls short on actual hearing care as help is limited to their online Help Center and or standard Customer Support.