JLab Hear OTC vs. Rexton Reach

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.

I found the original Rexton Reach R-Li T comfortable, with clear speech and easy app controls. Long battery life adds to its appeal, although streamed music lacked bass. Costco now lists the newer Reach R Plus; this review and its lab results cover the original model.

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.

Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco achieved a SoundScore of 4.6/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #12 of 39 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 4.19/5.

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.

Rexton Reach T80 have an impressive build quality, featuring a top-of-the-line IP68 ingress rating. They also come with a robust portable charging case.

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.

Reach offer an impressive 39 hours of use per charge, which is plenty to get you through the day. Recharging takes 3 to 4 hours, which is longer than some other models, but this isn't a significant drawback given their exceptional battery life.

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

Rexton Reach are Bluetooth compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling.

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.

The Rexton app stands out with its user-friendly interface and modern, appealing design. It includes practical features like the ability to control the focus of your hearing aids and a mask mode to enhance speech clarity.

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.

I found Rexton Reach R-Li T80 to be very comfortable thanks to their ergonomic shape and earwire design. Your hearing care provider should ensure they are fitted for optimal comfort and hearing benefit.

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

Rexton Reach features a modern, sleek design and are available in a variety of colors, from discreet to bold.

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

Rexton Reach R-Li T80 at Costco has a value score of 4.3/5 based on lab performance and public display price.

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

I did not run into any issues while using these hearing aids. They are very easy to use once set up by your hearing care provider. First-time users may need some practice to get accustomed to inserting the receiver-in-ear style properly.

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

You should receive quality hearing care and support from your provider. The Rexton App should also enhance your experience.