Quick Answer: For 2026, Jabra Enhance is the better OTC hearing aid brand for most people, and the news makes it clearer than ever: in April 2026 Sony announced it is discontinuing its OTC hearing aids, so new buyers face uncertain long-term support. Jabra Enhance pairs (~$1,195–$1,995) bundle remote care from licensed audiologists, a 100-day trial, and a 3-year warranty, and the Jabra Enhance Select 500 scored an “A” in HearAdvisor lab testing (top 5% of devices). Sony’s CRE-E10 remains a superb discreet, earbud-style self-fit device with excellent streamed audio — a fine pick only if you find remaining stock at a discount and don’t mind the wind-down. Both are FDA-regulated OTC devices for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
Jabra and Sony are two of the biggest consumer-electronics names to enter the over-the-counter hearing aid market, and buyers cross-shop them constantly. Both make genuinely good self-fitting devices for perceived mild-to-moderate loss — but a major 2026 development has shifted the recommendation. Here’s how they compare on the things that actually matter: sound, streaming, fit, support, and price.
Jabra vs Sony at a glance, by the numbers
- April 2026 is when HearingTracker reported that Sony is discontinuing its OTC hearing aids and pulling them from its website; WS Audiology (the manufacturer) says it will honor existing warranty and service, and remaining stock may sell for a limited time. That makes Jabra the safer long-term buy for new customers.
- “A” SoundGrade, top 5% — the Jabra Enhance Select 500 ranked in the top 5% of all devices tested by the independent lab HearAdvisor, while the Sony CRE-C20 earned a “B” and ranked #21 of 56 in the OTC category.
- ~$3,000 per pair is the average out-of-pocket cost of traditional prescription hearing aids, per the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) — both Jabra ($1,195–$1,995) and Sony ($700–$1,099) land well under that.
- 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids, according to the NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders), yet fewer than one in three adults over 70 who could benefit has ever used them — OTC brands like these exist to close that gap.
- 100 days + 3 years — Jabra Enhance includes a 100-day risk-free trial and a 3-year warranty with remote audiologist care; Sony’s OTC devices historically shipped without bundled ongoing professional care.
Jabra Enhance vs Sony: head-to-head
| Factor | Jabra Enhance | Sony |
|---|---|---|
| Top OTC model | Enhance Select 500 (RIC) | CRE-E10 (earbud-style ITE) |
| Price (pair) | ~$1,195–$1,995 | ~$700–$1,099 |
| Style | Receiver-in-canal, discreet | Earbud-style (E10) / CIC (C10) |
| Battery | Rechargeable | Rechargeable (E10); non-rechargeable (C10) |
| Bluetooth streaming | Calls + media, iPhone & Android | Media + calls, iPhone only |
| Audiologist support | Yes — remote care included | App-based self-fit, minimal human support |
| Lab sound rating | "A" (top 5%, HearAdvisor) | "B" (#21/56, HearAdvisor) |
| Trial / warranty | 100-day trial, 3-year warranty | Standard return window; warranty via WSA |
| 2026 availability | Fully supported, current lineup | Being discontinued (April 2026) |
The case for Jabra Enhance
Jabra Enhance Select 500
- Built on prescription-grade sound processing with strong speech-in-noise performance.
- Hands-free Bluetooth calling and music streaming to both iPhone and Android.
- Remote care from licensed audiologists, a 100-day risk-free trial, and a 3-year warranty.
- Earned an "A" SoundGrade from HearAdvisor — top 5% of all devices tested.
Jabra Enhance’s real advantage isn’t just the hardware — it’s the bundled human support. You self-fit online, but licensed audiologists remotely fine-tune your devices, and you get a 100-day trial plus a 3-year warranty to take the risk out of buying without a clinic visit. For Android users, Jabra is the only one of the two brands with true hands-free calling in your ears. If your budget is tighter, the Jabra Enhance Select 300 (~$1,195) keeps the same care package for several hundred dollars less. Read our full Jabra hearing aids review for the model-by-model breakdown.
The case for Sony
Sony CRE-E10
- Comfortable, earbud-like in-ear design that doesn't look like a hearing aid.
- Excellent speech enhancement, strong feedback control, and impressive streamed audio.
- Rechargeable battery with Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling for iPhone.
- True self-fitting via the Sony | Hearing Control app — no clinic visit needed.
On pure hardware, Sony’s CRE-E10 is a genuinely excellent device — one of the strongest true self-fit OTC options, with an earbud-like design and audio quality that reviewers rate highly. The cheaper Sony CRE-C10 is a tiny completely-in-canal (“invisible”) instant-fit device with no streaming and disposable batteries, for people who want maximum discretion. The catch is the 2026 news: with Sony winding down its OTC line, you’re buying into a platform that won’t see new models or long-term development, even though WS Audiology says it will honor warranties. See our Sony hearing aids review and, for the discreet niche Sony does well, our best invisible hearing aids roundup.
Which should you buy?
- Choose Jabra Enhance if you want ongoing audiologist support, prescription-grade sound, Android Bluetooth calling, and the confidence of a fully supported product with a long trial and warranty. This is the right call for most buyers in 2026.
- Choose Sony (CRE-E10) if you specifically want the most discreet, earbud-style self-fit device, you’re an iPhone user comfortable managing everything in an app, and you can find remaining stock at a strong discount — accepting that the line is being phased out.
For the wider field, compare both against our best OTC hearing aids and best hearing aids rankings, or the best rechargeable hearing aids guide.
Who should NOT buy an OTC hearing aid
OTC hearing aids from either brand are FDA-regulated for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. See a hearing professional first if any of these apply:
- Your hearing loss is severe, came on suddenly, or affects one ear only — start with our severe hearing loss guide and a medical check.
- You have ear pain, drainage, or known excess earwax.
- Your tinnitus is pulsing or one-sided — see our tinnitus guide and a doctor first.
- You’re buying for a child — OTC hearing aids are for adults 18 and older only.
The bottom line
Both brands make capable OTC hearing aids, but 2026 tips the scale toward Jabra Enhance: it pairs top-rated sound (an “A” SoundGrade, top 5% at HearAdvisor) with remote audiologist care, a 100-day trial, a 3-year warranty, and — critically — a lineup that’s here to stay. Sony’s CRE-E10 remains a superb discreet, earbud-style option, but with Sony discontinuing its OTC hearing aids, it’s best reserved for buyers who find remaining stock at a discount and value the design above long-term support. Not sure a big brand is worth it? Compare against budget picks, or browse Jabra Enhance and Sony CRE devices on Amazon.