Jabra Enhance Select M Series vs. JLab Hear OTC

Compare the Jabra Enhance Select M1, M2, and M3 hearing aids in the Jabra Enhance Select M Series.

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 M3 achieved a SoundScore of 4.0/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.69/5.

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.

Jabra hearing aids share technology from GN Resound and generally have fantastic build quality. M3 is no exception with an ingress rating of IP68 and the standard robust portable charging case.

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.

M3 offers full-day 24 hour battery life, which is unchanged from the previous Enhance 700 model. The case also holds roughly 3 addition charges of on-the-go power.

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.

Bluetooth was straightforward and reliable, working seamlessly without any issues. This is what I've come to expect with Jabra hearing aids. M3 also supports Auracast Bluetooth technology, which is step ahead many other hearing aids.

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

The Jabra Enhance App offers a useful set of features, providing plenty of freedom to personalize your sound beyond the default programming.

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.

Jabra M3 are very comfortable given their shockingly small and lightweight design. The button are also larger than many OTC products making setting changes easier.

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.

Jabra has done a nice job redesigning prescription technology for the direct-to-consumer market. M3 shares the same shockingly discrete "microRIE" design as the previous Select 700 model.

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 M3 has a value score of 3.3/5 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.

I found M3 easy to use, though receiver-in-canal devices can take practice at the start. Pro support can assist, and the charging case is one of the best on the market.

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

Jabra has arguably the best pro support offering among OTC devices. They provide 3 years of telehealth audiologic services including remote programming and video appointments. While I'd prefer in-person appointments, Jabra continues to bridge the gap given the limitations of remote care.

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