If I’m perfectly honest, the Eargo 5 doesn’t really belong on this website. I’m trying to find great quality hearing aids for less than $1,000. Two pretty simple requirements, and the Eargo 5 fails half of them – it’s well over $2,000. However, I feel it’s so great, you’ll at least want to know about it.
Up until the introduction of the Eargo 6 and later the Eargo 7, this model was the company’s flagship hearing aid. Now, it looks like the 5 is only there to make its successor look better: it’s hardly cheaper, but lacks the jaw-dropping features of its younger brother.
That doesn’t make the Eargo 5 any less special. It’s still a great hearing aid, as we’ve come to expect from Eargo – and as you should expect for well over $2,000. Below, I’ll take you through the ins and outs of this hearing aid, discuss the good and the bad and give you some alternatives before sending you off with a final buying decision.
If you can’t wait to hear the verdict, go to the end of this page to find the visual 30-second summary. To see how the Eargo 5 ranks compared to other hearing aids, you can find all my visual summaries on one page.
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Key features
The first key feature is that the Eargo 5 offers the premium experience you can expect from this brand. This starts at the set-up, where the smartphone app helps optimize your listening experience based on your needs. The app also allows you to adjust the different programs and volume. You can further adjust the programs based on your preferences. Lastly, the app automatically updates your devices when they’re paired and in the charging case.
This charging case is another key feature. As we’ve seen with many other models, you charge the case which in turn charges the devices you insert. It takes 2.5 hours to fully charge the devices, which allow for up to 16 hours of use.
Who is this hearing amplifier for?
The Eargo 5 is part of Eargo’s lineup, which means that it’s made for people who want fancy non-prescription hearing aids. The devices are small, easy to tuck into the ear, and offer a premium sound quality. The price tag of more than $ 2,000 also means you’re not looking for a bargain, but a premium experience. Technically, the Eargo 5 is optimized for mild to moderate hearing loss.
How well does the Eargo 5 work?
Aside from its key features, the Eargo 5 has plenty of other benefits to bring to the table. Sound quality is great and changes across four different programs. Battery life is more than decent, especially considering the 2.5 hours charging time.
One of the other bonuses of working with Eargo is the customer support experience. The Eargo 5 comes with the company’s standard 1-year warranty and 45-day free trial. Eargo offers a subscription model where you pay a lower amount per month (starting at $78 per month for the Eargo) instead of buying the hearing aids outright. Customer support also includes scheduling unlimited (video) calls or a live chat through the app.
What’s not to like about the Eargo 5?
I’ve said it in the introduction, and I need to say it again: the Eargo 5 is priced to make the Eargo 6 look better. At this moment, there’s a $150 difference between the two models. For an extra $150, you get a self-fitting hearing aid that automatically adjusts to your environment, can be dunked under water, and double the warranty.
That’s a no-brainer, but it makes the Eargo 5 the middle child of hearing aids. Yeah, yeah, it’s absolutely worth $500 more than it’s little brother, the Eargo Max, but you might as well get the Eargo 6 at that point. I just wish they’d have extended the warranty for this model as well as the 6.
Alternatives for the Eargo 5
Eargo hearing aids take a lonely place in the market. They cost around half of what a prescription hearing aid would cost, and are double the price of the high quality hearing aids from their competitors. That means true alternatives are rare – unless you count the inevitable Eargo 6. A step down from the Eargo 5, you’ve got the Eargo Neo.
A new comparable hearing aid comes in the form of the Lucid Hearing fio. It has many of the same benefits, but costs less than half of the price of the Eargo 5.
If you’re going for the quality and support of the Eargo, but you’re looking to spend about 40% of its price, consider the MDHearing VOLT MAX or the Lexie Lumen. These give you a different type of hearing aid, but many of the same advanced options and great support.
Should you buy the Eargo 5?
Don’t get me wrong, the Eargo 5 is a great hearing aid, but it is completely eclipsed by the Eargo 6. The price difference of $150 reflects the quality difference between these two rather poorly – the Eargo 6 is vastly superior and comes with an extra year of warranty. That means the only reason not to buy the Eargo 5 is that you might as well go for the better 6.
Frequently asked questions about the Eargo 5
The Eargo 6 all the features that the Eargo 5 has, but also offers automatic sound adjustments and can be submersed in water. Right now, it also has a 2-year warranty instead of 1 year.
The Eargo 5 comes with a charging cable, a cleaning tool, and four petals (two types and two sizes). On the Eargo website, you can buy petal replacements and mic caps.
In June 2022, you can buy this hearing aid for $2450.