Jabra Enhance Select 50R vs Select 700: Is the $800 Upgrade Worth It?
Quick verdict
The Select 50R suits a budget-conscious buyer with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who wants dependable streaming and doesn't need the most advanced Bluetooth or noise handling - and real owner data backs it up. The Select 700 suits someone facing more complex listening environments who wants Jabra's most advanced Auto Focus technology and a portable charging case, and is willing to pay $800 more per pair for it - though this site couldn't locate any consumer review data for the 700 despite real search effort, so the case for it rests on lab results and features, not owner experience.
Read the full Jabra Enhance Select 50R review → · Read the full Jabra Enhance Select 700 review →
Spec comparison table
Pulled from app/data/devices.json, current as of this run.
| Select 50R | Select 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,195/pair | $1,995/pair |
| Hearing loss range | Mild to moderate hearing loss | Mild to moderate hearing loss |
| Trial period | 100 days | 100 days |
| Rechargeable | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth streaming | Yes | Yes |
| HSA/FSA eligible | Yes | Yes |
| Expert score | Not yet rated (no numeric score on file) | 3.91/5 (HearAdvisor Grade B, #16 of 61 OTC devices tested) |
| Owner rating | 4.5/5 (64 reviews) | Not yet rated (searched, not found) |
Price and HSA/FSA effective cost
The Select 700 costs $800 more per pair than the Select 50R ($1,995 vs. $1,195). Both prices are independently corroborated this run: Jabra's own "700 vs 50" comparison page confirms $1,995 for the 700, and HearingTracker's direct comparison page confirms $1,195 for the 50R exactly. One discrepancy worth flagging rather than resolving here: that same HearingTracker page separately states $1,795 for the Select 700 elsewhere on the page - $200 off both the confirmed model data and Jabra's own current price, and more likely a stale snapshot than a real current price, but not resolved in this draft. Both models carry the same 100-day trial - the difference here is price and features, not how long you get to test the device.
Effective cost after HSA/FSA savings, by tax bracket (arithmetic: effective = price − round(price × bracket%)):
| Tax bracket | Select 50R ($1,195) | Select 700 ($1,995) |
|---|---|---|
| 12% | $1,052 | $1,756 |
| 22% | $932 | $1,556 |
| 32% | $813 | $1,357 |
This is arithmetic, not tax advice - actual savings depend on your specific plan.
Expert-vs-consumer divergence, side by side
- Select 50R, expert: HearAdvisor gives the 50R a distinct SoundScore of 3.8, Grade B ("top 60% of products tested," expert score 4.1) - a genuinely model-specific figure, not simply inherited from the Select 700's brand-level result as an earlier database framing had claimed. Independently corroborated by HearingTracker's own comparison page for this exact pair.
- Select 50R, consumer: 4.5 out of 5 stars across 64 Best Buy reviews for this exact SKU.
- Select 700, expert: HearAdvisor gives the Select 700 a SoundScore of 3.91/5, Grade B, #16 of 61 OTC devices tested (top 25%) - it also met research-based amplification targets in an independent 26-brand university study. Corroborated by both HearingTracker's and HearAdvisor's own direct comparison pages for this pair.
- Select 700, consumer: genuinely not found. Three separate attempts across research passes to reach Best Buy's review pages for this SKU failed, and a brand-wide (not model-specific) rating widget on Jabra's own site was excluded as non-model-specific.
Worth stating plainly: the Select 700 isn't rated poorly by owners - there's simply no locatable consumer data for it at all, despite real search effort, versus the 50R's real and positive sample. That's a data gap, not a negative signal, and it shouldn't be read as one.
Where they meaningfully differ
Jabra's own comparison page positions the 700 for "advanced hearing needs in challenging environments" - "best hearing aids for clear, focused sound in noisy environments" - with Auto Focus technology, hands-free Bluetooth calls, TapControl, and Bluetooth LE Audio/Auracast support. The 50R is positioned for "budget-conscious users with less complex hearing needs" - "quality sound, lower price to hear better in quieter places or when watching TV" - with basic noise reduction and standard Bluetooth streaming. That's the brand's own stated segmentation, not independently verified performance data, but it's a real signal of how Jabra itself frames the two tiers.
HearingTracker's independent comparison adds detail beyond the brand's framing: the 50R reports a "remarkable" 30-hour battery life with about 3 hours of recharge time, but uses an older-style tabletop charger with no portable case; the 700 offers a full 24-hour day of battery plus a case holding 3 additional charges for travel. The 700's Bluetooth was found "straightforward and reliable," with 12 adjustment bands (versus the 50R's 6) and synchronized soft-switching; the 50R streams from iOS/Android but "not the highest fidelity," and lacks hands-free calling without accessories.
HearAdvisor's own side-by-side lab data complicates a simple "pricier is better" story: the 50R actually outperforms the 700 on speech-in-quiet (3.8 vs. 3.1) and music streaming (2.8 vs. 2.5), while the 700 only pulls clearly ahead on own-voice handling (3.7 vs. 2.5) - the two tie exactly on speech-in-noise (0.8 vs. 0.8) and feedback handling (5.0 vs. 5.0). The 700's real edge is features and charging convenience, not a blanket sound-quality win.
Bottom line by use case
- Tightest budget, basic streaming needs: Select 50R - and per HearAdvisor's own lab data, it actually edges out the 700 on speech-in-quiet and music streaming.
- Complex or noisy listening environments, want the most advanced Bluetooth features: Select 700 - Auto Focus, hands-free calling, Bluetooth LE Audio/Auracast, and a portable charging case.
- Want proof other owners are happy before buying: Select 50R - it has a real, positive 64-review sample; the 700 has no locatable consumer data at all.
- Longest all-day battery without carrying a spare charge: Select 700 - a portable case with 3 extra charges, versus the 50R's tabletop-only charger.
FAQ
Is the Jabra Enhance Select 700 worth $800 more than the Select 50R?
It depends on what you need. HearAdvisor's lab testing actually found the 50R scores higher than the 700 on speech-in-quiet and music streaming; the 700's real advantages are Auto Focus technology, hands-free Bluetooth calling, a portable charging case, and stronger own-voice handling - features, not a blanket sound-quality edge.
Which one has better real-owner reviews?
The Select 50R, by default - it has a real 4.5/5 rating across 64 Best Buy reviews. No consumer review data could be found for the Select 700 at all, despite repeated search attempts across research passes, so there's no real comparison to make on that front.
Do both models offer the same trial period?
Yes - both carry the Jabra Enhance Select line's 100-day trial.
Which one has longer battery life?
The 50R reports a "remarkable" 30-hour battery life per HearingTracker, though it charges via an older tabletop charger with no portable case. The 700 offers a full 24-hour day of battery plus a portable case holding 3 additional charges for travel.
Are both models eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes, both are HSA/FSA-eligible per this site's confirmed data.
Disclosure
Drafted with AI assistance from HearingScout's verified product database; reviewed and fact-checked against primary sources before publishing. See our methodology for how we evaluate every device.