Jabra just launched its Enhance Select 700 hearing aids, but don't expect revolutionary changes. The new devices are practically identical twins to last year's Select 500 model, which they're completely replacing in Jabra's lineup. At 2.58 grams per device and featuring the same core specs, the 700s represent an incremental upgrade rather than a breakthrough in hearing aid technology.
Jabra just pulled the classic tech company move - launch a "new" product that's basically last year's model with a fresh coat of paint. The Enhance Select 700 hearing aids hit the market this week, and if you're getting déjà vu, there's a good reason for it.
These aren't just spiritual successors to the Select 500 - they're practically identical twins. In fact, Jabra has completely discontinued the 500 series, leaving the Select 700 to sit atop their lineup alongside the budget-friendly 300 and 50R models.
The similarities run deep. Each 700 device weighs exactly 2.58 grams, functionally identical to its predecessor. The 0.02-gram difference between models likely comes down to receiver wire lengths or ear tip sizes rather than any meaningful hardware changes. According to WIRED's hands-on review, the devices look and feel almost identical, making them difficult to distinguish without close inspection.
So what exactly changed? The most notable upgrade is cosmetic - Jabra expanded the color palette to six options, adding red to the existing lineup. It's a minor enhancement that hardly justifies a full model refresh, but it gives users more personalization options in a market where hearing aids have traditionally been limited to basic beige and black.
The accompanying Enhance Select mobile app remains unchanged, offering the same four preset environmental modes that made the 500 series popular. Users still get All-Around, Restaurant, Music, and Outdoor settings, plus independent volume control for each ear and a three-level frequency adjustment system. The app's simplicity continues to be a selling point, allowing basic customization without requiring professional intervention.
What hasn't changed - and shouldn't - is Jabra's professional audiology support. The company's team remains available for initial setup and on-demand tuning adjustments, with response times typically under an hour according to user reports. This hybrid approach of consumer-friendly hardware with professional support has become key differentiator in the crowded hearing aid market.
