The direct answer: AirPods Pro 3’s hearing aid feature is a genuinely FDA-authorized option at $249 — a fraction of dedicated hearing aid pricing — but it’s built into consumer earbuds, not a purpose-built medical device. Lexie B2 Plus ($899.99) and Jabra Enhance Select 300 ($1,695) are both true OTC hearing aids with more clinical-grade design and ongoing professional support, at real cost premiums of roughly 3.5x and 6.8x over AirPods respectively.
At a Glance
- Best budget entry point: AirPods Pro 3 ($249) — FDA-authorized hearing aid feature on earbuds you might use daily anyway.
- Best mid-tier OTC hearing aid: Lexie B2 Plus ($899.99) — Bose-powered audio processing with dedicated professional support.
- Best full-service option: Jabra Enhance Select 300 ($1,695) — includes ongoing licensed audiologist care, not just onboarding help.
AirPods Pro 3: An FDA-Authorized Hearing Aid Feature, Not a Dedicated Device
Apple’s Hearing Aid feature received FDA authorization on September 12, 2024, via the De Novo pathway — the first OTC hearing aid software the agency had cleared, and it carried forward into AirPods Pro 3. The feature runs a pure-tone hearing test through the earbuds in a quiet room, generates a personalized amplification curve from the results (or accepts an audiogram from a hearing professional instead), and gives ongoing fine-tuning controls for amplification level, left/right balance, and tone. AirPods Pro 3 retail for $249, though sales have brought them as low as $199 at points in 2026.
The tradeoff: this is a mainstream consumer earbud with a hearing aid mode added, not a device engineered from the ground up for all-day hearing correction. Battery life, fit, and long-term durability are tuned for general earbud use rather than the specific needs of someone wearing amplification for 12+ hours a day.
Lexie B2 Plus: Purpose-Built, Bose-Powered, With Onboarding Support
Lexie B2 Plus is a dedicated FDA-cleared OTC hearing aid priced at $899.99, using audio processing technology licensed from Bose. It’s rechargeable, offering up to 18 hours of use from a 3-hour charge, with the charging case itself holding an extra full charge for on-the-go use.
Support comes through “Lexie Experts,” who provide proactive outreach during the first 45 days of ownership via phone, live video, or chat — genuinely useful for a first-time hearing aid buyer navigating self-fitting, though it’s front-loaded rather than an ongoing relationship the way some pricier options structure their care.
Jabra Enhance Select 300: Full Ongoing Audiologist Support
Jabra Enhance Select 300 sits at the top of this comparison at roughly $1,695 per pair, an FDA-regulated OTC device with a rechargeable battery. What justifies the price gap over Lexie most directly is the support structure: Select 300 includes remote care from licensed audiologists on an ongoing basis, with follow-up appointments by phone or video, not just a limited onboarding window.
Worth noting: Jabra Enhance’s own lineup has shifted recently — its former flagship Select 500 model has been superseded, with the current tiers running Select 700 ($1,995), Select 300 (~$1,695), and Select 50R ($1,195). Select 300 currently costs about the same as a discounted Select 700, so it’s worth comparing current pricing carefully before buying, since the value math between tiers can shift.
Price and Support Comparison
| AirPods Pro 3 | Lexie B2 Plus | Jabra Enhance Select 300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $899.99 | ~$1,695/pair |
| FDA status | FDA-authorized hearing aid feature (De Novo, Sept. 2024) | FDA-cleared OTC hearing aid | FDA-regulated OTC hearing aid |
| Purpose-built for hearing loss | No — consumer earbuds with the feature added | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | Standard AirPods Pro battery profile | Up to 18 hrs (3-hr charge) | Rechargeable, all-day use |
| Professional support | Self-service via app | 45-day proactive onboarding support | Ongoing licensed audiologist care |
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
So Which One Should You Actually Get?
Start with AirPods Pro 3 if you already own or were going to buy them anyway, want to test whether amplification actually helps before spending real money, and have genuinely mild hearing loss. Choose Lexie B2 Plus if you want a device purpose-built for all-day hearing correction with real onboarding support, without paying for years of ongoing audiologist access you may not need. Choose Jabra Enhance Select 300 if ongoing professional adjustments and audiologist relationship matter to you — the price premium buys a genuine care relationship, not just better hardware.
How We Compared
We did not test any of these three devices ourselves for this comparison. Pricing and clearance details were verified against Apple’s own feature documentation and FDA authorization records, plus each hearing aid brand’s current retail listings and independent coverage from HearingTracker. We specifically checked for discontinued or superseded models before finalizing this comparison — Jabra’s former Select 500 tier has been replaced by current pricing tiers, which we reflect above. More on our process is on our editorial standards page. Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
FAQ
Is the AirPods Pro 3 hearing aid feature actually FDA authorized?
Yes. Apple’s Hearing Aid feature received FDA authorization through the De Novo pathway on September 12, 2024, making it the first OTC hearing aid software cleared by the agency — that authorization carries forward to AirPods Pro 3.
Is AirPods Pro 3 as good as a dedicated hearing aid?
Not entirely. It’s genuinely FDA-authorized for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, but it’s a consumer earbud with the feature added, not a device engineered specifically for all-day hearing correction the way Lexie B2 Plus or Jabra Enhance Select 300 are.
What’s the real difference between Lexie B2 Plus and Jabra Enhance Select 300?
Mainly support depth and price. Lexie provides proactive support for the first 45 days; Jabra includes ongoing remote care from licensed audiologists for as long as you own the device, at a real price premium.
Do OTC hearing aids work for severe hearing loss?
No. All three options here are intended for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. More severe hearing loss requires a professional evaluation and likely a prescription hearing aid, not an OTC device.
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