Eargo 7 Hero

Eargo 7 Expert Review

Premium OTC
Released 
2023

Summary

The Eargo 7 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid ($2,550) that earned a B grade in HearAdvisor's lab testing, ranking in the top 59% of OTC devices. This invisible-in-ear design prioritizes discretion and rechargeable convenience, but our testing revealed a mixed performance profile that may not justify its top-tier price point.

In our lab testing, the Eargo 7 demonstrated above-average own-voice comfort, scoring 0.39 points better than the category average—a meaningful advantage for users sensitive to the "talking in a barrel" sensation common with hearing aids. Speech clarity in quiet environments also measured slightly above average. However, the device struggled significantly in challenging listening situations, with speech-in-noise performance falling 0.80 points below the OTC category average.

Feedback handling proved to be another weak point, measuring 0.70 points below average despite the closed sleeve coupling. This combination of below-average noise performance and feedback management may limit real-world benefit in restaurants, group conversations, and other dynamic environments.

For consumers prioritizing invisible aesthetics above all else, the Eargo 7 delivers on its core promise. However, our testing identified several OTC alternatives offering stronger sound performance at lower prices, including the Audicus Omni 2 ($1,898) and Zepp Clarity Pixie ($999). The Eargo 7 is best suited for users with mild hearing loss who primarily need help in quiet, one-on-one conversations and place high value on cosmetic discretion.

In our initial fit testing with closed sleeve coupling, the Eargo 7 showed above-average speech-in-quiet performance (2.80/5) and good own-voice comfort (2.90/5), suggesting acceptable out-of-box usability for quiet environments. However, speech-in-noise scored just 0.50/5—well below the category average—indicating limited benefit in challenging acoustic situations. Feedback handling (3.90/5) also fell below typical OTC performance despite the occluding fit. The overall initial fit score of 2.00/5 reflects these limitations and suggests users should have realistic expectations for complex listening environments.

The tuned fit condition used the same closed sleeve coupling as initial fit, and notably, performance did not improve with adjustment—the fit score actually decreased slightly by 0.07 points to 1.93/5. Speech-in-quiet dropped marginally to 2.70/5, while speech-in-noise remained very weak at 0.40/5. Own-voice comfort held steady at 2.90/5. These results suggest the Eargo 7 has limited headroom for optimization through fitting adjustments, and users are unlikely to see significant performance gains beyond the initial setup.

Lab Review Scores

B
SoundGrade
Initial Score
3.1
Tuned Score
3.0
Speech in quiet
best
2.8
5.0
Own voice
best
2.9
5.0
Speech in noise
best
0.5
5.0
Feedback handling
best
3.9
5.0
Music streaming
best
0.0
5.0

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Lab recordings

Adjust volume to make "No hearing aids" as loud as it would be in the real world, without hearing aids. Remove hearing aids while auditioning. High-quality headphones will improve results!
Eargo 7 Lab

Lab notes

Initial Fitting
Tuned Fitting
Ear Coupling
Initial Fitting
Sleeve Closed
Tuned Fitting
Sleeve Closed

Specs

Invisible in Ear
Invisible in Ear
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Batteries