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Wired's 2026 hearing-aid picks: Jabra for OTC, Resound for prescription
Review roundup Source: Wired
Wired's roundup, updated in October 2026, names the Jabra Enhance Select M3 (US$1,995) as its best over-the-counter hearing aid and the Resound Sensia 9 (US$2,500) for people going through a prescriber. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 (US$249, often discounted to US$199) are pitched as the cheapest way to try hearing help; Oticon Zeal (US$5,000) is the pick for an invisible fit, and Legato Harmony puts the aid into a pair of glasses. The writer says they have tested more than 65 hearing aids over four years, and notes that over-the-counter sales only became possible in the US after the FDA rule in 2022.
Our read: The useful part of a list like this is not the winner but the spread: $199 earbuds, a $2,000 over-the-counter pair and a $5,000 prescription device are all sold as hearing help. What the extra money buys is fitting, support and how invisible the device is, not just the chip. If you are buying, the trial window matters more than the spec sheet, so read the return terms before you pay.