The ReSound Key 3 98-DW in review
Diese Technik ist nicht mehr ganz aktuell. Wir nehmen daher eine Abwertung in der Gesamtnote vor.
Our testers have examined another hearing aid from the low-budget range. We present: the ReSound Key 3 98-DW. Here we have a conventional hearing aid that is worn behind the ear. It can be used by anyone who wants to address both mild and more significant hearing needs. The Key 3 98-DW is a medium-sized hearing aid. Is it worth buying this model? We will reveal the details.
Hearing comfort
First, we evaluate the hearing comfort features. What types of sounds does the hearing aid recognize? How does it manage them? Is the hearing aid suitable for a varied daily life? Here with this test device, we find only the absolute essentials regarding hearing comfort. As with all hearing aids, we also find the typical noise cancellation here. It is supposed to reduce monotonous, noisy background sounds to the point where they are no longer prominent. The Key 3 98-DW only includes very slight noise reduction.
There is a basic wind noise reduction. Outside, this is quite useful, but it is generally insufficient for stronger autumn winds. Points are deducted for the lack of impulse sound suppression. This typically dampens short, clattering noises. However, those who choose this hearing aid should not let that bother them. We also look at the number of equalizer bands: the device from ReSound offers 8. We are not really happy with that, as the options for sound shaping are quite limited. But it is sufficient for good speech understanding. Unfortunately, spatial hearing is not very developed here. The hearing aids can focus forward, but this does not help when trying to determine from which direction a car is approaching or where someone is calling from.
Strategies based on artificial intelligence are not yet implemented in this hearing aid from ReSound.
Rating Hearing comfort: 5,0
ReSound Key 3 98-DW:
Operation & connectivity
Most hearing aids automatically adapt to their environment. However, it is sometimes very practical to be able to make some changes yourself. After all, the hearing aid does not know how you are feeling at the moment. We looked into what control options the Key 3 98-DW has to offer: The simplest control option is always a button directly on the hearing aid. This one has it too. It can be programmed according to your wishes. Do you want manual volume control? No problem, the button allows for stepwise adjustment of the volume. Or do you need different special programs for your professional daily routine or your hobbies? These can also be activated via the button. If you prefer to keep everything in automatic mode, you can simply ignore the button or even have it deactivated. The little remote control, which is available as an option, is very practical. For us, it is one of the most convenient ways to adjust the hearing aid louder or quieter or to switch to another hearing program. No one notices, and there's no need to reach for the ear.
For some time now, there has been a trend to adjust hearing aids to be louder or quieter via voice commands. The idea is really good, but ReSound is not yet there with this device. Don't worry about it; this feature would be nice but is not essential. Some hearing aids can also be controlled with a simple tap of the finger without having to press a button. However, this feature has not yet been implemented here.
As expected, we find a suitable application for the smartphone. Here we have a powerful app that trusts its user and provides an extensive toolbox. A streaming option would not be bad for our digital daily life. The present device fulfills our wish and comes with a 2.4 GHz radio module. With this, you can send phone calls and sounds directly from the smartphone to the hearing aids.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 1,8
ReSound Key 3 98-DW:
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Simplicity & security
How do you manage with the hearing aid in everyday life? This is the next aspect we need to assess. Because only if such a device functions easily and uncomplicatedly can one become accustomed to it. An automatic situation recognition feature is only rudimentarily integrated in the Key 3 98-DW. We often have to revert to the manual options and adapt our hearing aid to the environments ourselves. We give a big plus point for the automatic acclimatization assistant. It gradually raises the starting volume in very small steps until my hearing goal is reached. This significantly eases the adjustment to the new sound.
Unfortunately, the Key 3 98-DW is not equipped with a rechargeable battery, so regular size 675 batteries are needed for operation.
With an IP 68 certification, the hearing aid can withstand various adverse influences. Dust cannot penetrate, it can endure prolonged immersion in water, and it is also protected against contact.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,8
Extras
At the end of our test report, there is a little space left for the extra features: A special tinnitus program can be programmed in the Key 3 98-DW upon request. This allows pleasant, stimulating sounds to be generated that distract from the tinnitus when it is particularly strong. We find this very useful and gladly award extra points.
A clever tool is the integrated remote maintenance service. Almost everyone has a smartphone, and time is a precious commodity. Therefore, such a remote maintenance service is absolutely appropriate. Anyone needing a new programming for their hearing aids can easily contact the audiologist via the app and describe their hearing preferences. Through a cloud service, the professional can then send a custom setting as a data package to the app. From there, it gets loaded onto the hearing aid and can be tested immediately. This definitely deserves extra points in our test.
A new trend in the hearing aid industry is integrated sensors that can track some personal health data, but the Key 3 98-DW does not offer this. Other hearing aids already have some enhanced options like fall alerts or reminder functions. We don’t find this here, and that’s not too dramatic, as the normal hearing functions are still the most important.
Rating Extras: 2,5
Conclusion: ReSound Key 3 98-DW
With a final grade of 3.35, this model holds its ground in the middle range. It has a fairly decent comfort equipment on board, which is sufficient for typical everyday moments and creates a satisfactory listening experience.
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Our ReSound Key 3 98-DW review was created on August 29, 2022 and lastly updated on August 7, 2025. The overall rating of 4,03 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 1 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 3.5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
How big is the ReSound Key 3 98-DW?
Since a size in millimeters does not explain how big a hearing aid appears, we have divided the size perception into classes. Class "XXS" is practically invisible, while class "M" has the largest appearance. The ReSound Key 3 98-DW falls into the size class M. It can thus be described as rather large.
What is the price of the ReSound Key 3 98-DW?
The Key 3 98-DW from manufacturer ReSound is currently offered by hearing specialists in Germany in a price range of approximately between €700.00 and €1,300.00. To assess the price-performance ratio, you should also consider the overall test grade of 3.4 (satisfactory).
How well does one hear with the ReSound Key 3 98-DW?
The ReSound Key 3 98-DW receives a rating for hearing comfort of 5.0 (poor) from us. The ReSound hearing aid receives a 'moderate' rating (only 1 out of 5 stars) for its suppression of wind noise. The noise suppression of the device only achieves 1 out of 5 stars. Eight frequency bands are adjustable separately in this hearing aid for processing sound levels (top values of current flagship models: 24).
Who is the ReSound Key 3 98-DW suitable for?
If your hearing loss is mild, moderate, or severe, the ReSound Key 3 98-DW may be suitable for you. This so-called "fitting range" of the hearing aid is defined by the manufacturer and is related, among other things, to the amplification of the hearing aid. Whether the device is actually suitable for you can only be meaningfully assessed by a hearing specialist on-site after a detailed hearing test has been conducted.
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