Elehear Beyond OTC Hearing Aids Review

About Elehear Beyond OTC Hearing Aids

• HFA-FOG50 (Gain): 35±5bB
• Al noise reduction: Max 24dB
• Frequency Range: 125Hz-7000Hz
• Connection: Bluetooth 5.3 (music streaming & phone calls)
• Hearing Aids Weight: 4.8g
• Soft speech enhancement: Yes
• Microphone: 2 microphones per hearing aid
• Hearing Aids Dimension: 1.29 x 0.65 x 0.36 inches

Charging Case:

• Single charge: 20 hours runtime
• Battery Capacity: 95mAh (hearing aids), 1000mAh (charging box)
• Charging Box Usage Time: 4 extra charges
• Charging Case Weight: 120g
• Charging Case Dimension: 4.09 x 2.34 x 1.33 inches

Not too long ago, getting a pair of hearing aids was a complicated and expensive proposition. You needed an appointment with a licensed professional, such as an audiologist, to evaluate and diagnose your hearing loss. Then you paid through the nose for a pair of hearing aids, usually thousands of dollars, that often required molds for a custom fit, along with testing and calibration through follow-up appointments.

Fast-forward to today, and over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids have simplified and democratized this important purchase for millions of people.

Most OTC hearing aids are Bluetooth-enabled, so you can wirelessly pair them with a smartphone app for fine-tuning, taking hands-free calls, and streaming audio, such as music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

And you can do this with Elehear, which are FDA-registered OTC hearing aids. They offer top-level features, including advanced AI noise reduction and feedback cancellation, Bluetooth streaming that is both iOS and Android compatible, and can hold a charge up to 20 hours, charging 6 hours’ worth in just 15 minutes.

Elehear also offers remote support from an audiologist, and the user can customize their settings right from the Elehear app.

What we like

The set-up process is smooth

Like Bluetooth earbuds, you’ll first charge up Elehear’s portable charging case with the hearing aids inside via the included USB-C cable (wireless “Qi” charging is not supported).

While doing so, download the free Elehear app for iPhone or Android, and pair the hearing aids to your phone. Easy peasy.

Once connected, the app lets you tweak volume per ear, tune for phone call enhancements, adjust environmental settings (to optimize noise reduction), and, if desired, select music-related adjustments (like bass and treble).

You can even play (and fuse) white noise and soundscape options for those affected by tinnitus. Our favorite combination was heavy rain with a thunderstorm.

Note: Unlike pricier OTC hearing aids (like those from Lexie or Sennheiser), Elehear Beyond doesn’t utilize an onboard hearing test via the app. Rather, you’ll adjust sound settings manually until you find what works best for your specific needs.

They do what they are supposed to

Worn for close to a week in various indoor and outdoor settings—in the home, at the mall, seated in a restaurant, watching a house band at a pub, listening to talk radio in a car, and walking around urban areas—the Elehear Beyond indeed helped to boost audio, loudly and clearly.

Everyday sounds were amplified, including people’s speech, natural noises, and live music, with very few tweaks needed, via the app, in varying environments. Phone calls, music, and podcasts streamed well to the hearing aids. AI helped to reduce distracting background noise very effectively.

They can even translate languages

Another cool AI-powered feature is real-time language translation. In the Elehear app, select your mother tongue and the language of the person you’re chatting with, and these hearing aids will translate complete sentences as you converse. We tried it, and it worked quite well. As of now, 11 languages are supported.

Battery life is impressive

While it can take 90 minutes for the hearing aids to charge fully, their battery life was impressive, living up to the promise of 20 hours, or just shy of it, with the carrying case providing five full charging cycles (100 hours total).

Yes, it’s a large case—about three times bigger than an AirPods Pro case. But hey, that’s some serious battery life.

What we don’t like

They’re a bit big

The most significant shortcoming of wearing the Elehear Beyond is its size. The silver hearing aid “shells” that sit behind your ears are large—bigger than most competing models. They’re relatively light, at least.

Ironically, the in-ear domes are small and tend to slip out occasionally from the ears, especially if you’re being active; however, various tip sizes are included with purchase.

They can’t get wet

While I didn’t encounter any issues myself, these hearing aids are only IPX5-rated; therefore, there is little resistance to splashes, heavy sweat, and dust. And so, try to keep these from getting wet, which could be tough if caught in the rain.

Warranty

Elehear Beyond hearing aids feature a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

What owners are saying about Elehear Beyond

• Amazon: Only a few dozen customers have reviewed the Elehear Beyond on its Amazon page, averaging to 4.6 out of 5 stars. This isn’t a huge pool, but complaints mainly focused on sizing and ill fit.
• Elehear: There are 10 times as many customer reviews on Elehear’s own site, and the hearing aids score 4.94 stars out of 5. Users cite a learning curve adjusting the settings, but otherwise love them.

Should you buy Elehear Beyond OTC hearing aids?

Yes

This is a resounding yes from us, especially for people who are on a budget. There is so much to like about the great-sounding Elehear Beyond hearing aids (available at Amazon) , especially as the attractive price makes it a sound investment.

Don’t buy if … You’re vain about your looks. It’s OK! No judgement, some of us just are. These larger shells sit prominently behind your ears.