Getting hearing aids has often meant booking an in-person visit first, and some people put that step off for years. On August 18, 2026, Jabra Enhance announced a new line of self-fitting hearing aids that you tune yourself in an app. The company markets them as AI-powered. Its press release doesn’t explain how any AI works, so we describe the features as Jabra does.
The M Series in a table
| Item | What Jabra Enhance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual audiology | Three years, with state-licensed U.S. hearing professionals, for direct or select reseller purchases | Press release |
| Trial | 100-day risk-free trial, direct purchases only | Press release |
| Battery | More than 24 hours per charge, plus three full charges in the case | Press release |
| Warranty | Three years, plus loss and damage cover “subject to limitations and deductible” | Press release |
| Availability | M3 on JabraEnhance.com now; retailers expected in early October | The Hearing Review |
Neither source lists prices.
Three models, one app
Jabra Enhance introduced three FDA-cleared, self-fitting models: the Enhance Select M3, M2, and M1. The company calls the M3 “the world’s smallest rechargeable micro receiver-in-ear (RIE) hearing aid.” That size claim comes from Jabra’s own release, and we couldn’t check it independently. The Hearing Review reports that the older Enhance Select 50R, 300, and 700 are being discontinued.
Self-fitting replaces the in-office test. You open an app, listen to tones, and respond, and the hearing aids tune themselves from your answers. Jabra says the self-fitting hearing test is FDA-cleared, and you can retake it whenever your hearing changes. Audiology professionals can still help. Jabra says they can add adjustments that self-tuning alone doesn’t offer, such as microphone directionality, compression, advanced noise reduction, and wind reduction.
On the listening side, Jabra says its SoundScape technology prioritizes speech and reduces background noise. Auto Focus tracks and locks onto speech in places like restaurants or crowded halls. Advanced Adaptive Listening analyzes the environment in real time and adjusts noise reduction and volume. These are company descriptions, and we found no independent test results for how well they work in noisy rooms.
Who these are for, and who should see a doctor first
The FDA says over-the-counter hearing aids are for adults 18 and older who believe they have mild to moderate hearing loss. They aren’t meant for severe or profound loss. Anyone under 18 needs a prescription device and a doctor visit. The press release we read doesn’t state which hearing-loss levels the Jabra clearance covers, so check the product page before buying.
The FDA also lists signs that call for a doctor, preferably an ear, nose, and throat specialist: sudden hearing change in the past six months, ear pain, fluid from the ear, severe dizziness, and ringing or hearing loss in only one ear. A self-fitting hearing aid is no substitute for a medical exam when those apply.
Why It Matters to You
Consider Harold, an illustrative example, not a real person. He’s a 78-year-old widower who has stopped going to a weekly diner breakfast because noisy rooms wear him out. A hearing test he can run at home removes one hurdle. It doesn’t remove the need to know whether home fitting suits his hearing loss.
- Adults who think they have mild to moderate hearing loss can test and tune these aids at home, without booking a clinic visit first.
- Jabra also offers virtual visits with hearing professionals and a risk-free trial on direct purchases.
- Prices aren’t published, and the FDA lists symptoms, such as sudden hearing change or ear pain, that call for a doctor first.
What we couldn’t pin down
The release doesn’t publish prices, so we can’t say what the M Series costs or how it compares with clinic fittings. The perks depend on where you buy: the virtual visits, trial, and warranty apply to direct purchases or certain resellers (press release). Claims like “smallest” and the noise-handling features are Jabra’s own, with no independent tests found, and “AI” is a marketing label here because the release doesn’t describe how AI is used. Medical limits apply too. The FDA says OTC aids are for perceived mild to moderate loss, and that some symptoms need a doctor first.
Questions people ask
Do I still need an audiologist? Not to start, since you can self-fit in the app. But Jabra offers three years of virtual audiology visits, and the FDA says some symptoms call for a doctor first.
Who are over-the-counter hearing aids meant for? The FDA says adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. They aren’t meant for severe or profound loss.
How much do the M Series aids cost? The press release and The Hearing Review don’t list prices. Check JabraEnhance.com for current pricing.
Can I return them if they don’t work for me? Jabra offers a 100-day risk-free trial on direct purchases. The FDA notes OTC rules don’t require a warranty, so read the return policy wherever you buy.
Sources
- Jabra Enhance via GlobeNewswire: new lineup of FDA-cleared self-fitting hearing aids (Aug 18, 2026)
- The Hearing Review: Jabra Enhance launches M Series FDA-cleared self-fitting hearing aids (Aug 2026)
- FDA: OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know (accessed Oct 13, 2026)