The ReSound Key 4 88-DWH in review
Diese Technik ist nicht mehr ganz aktuell. Wir nehmen daher eine Abwertung in der Gesamtnote vor.
ReSound is launching its Key 4 88-DWH, a traditional hearing aid from a solid mid-range price category. It is a slightly visible hearing aid for mild, moderate, and severe hearing needs and is worn behind the ear.
Hearing comfort
The comfort features determine how pleasant listening in everyday life is experienced. In this hearing aid, we find only the absolute essentials when it comes to hearing comfort. A classic noise suppression is supposed to reduce annoying background noises to an acceptable level. The Key 4 88-DWH includes only a very slight noise reduction. There is a basic wind noise reduction. Outside, this is quite useful, but it is not sufficient for a stronger autumn wind.
A pulse sound filter is also said to be implemented. It only dampens the short, clattering sounds very minimally, so it is not really helpful. The hearing aid can autonomously focus on the speaker in front of it, but we do not receive much more support for spatial hearing from the Key 4 88-DWH. The Key 4 88-DWH has 12 adjustable frequency bands and thus falls into the mid-range. A good acoustician can certainly extract a decent sound from it.
In this version, ReSound does not yet work with artificial intelligence.
Rating Hearing comfort: 4,5
Operation & connectivity
The control options for hearing aids today are as simple or as complex as one might like. The basic functions run fully automatically, of course. We wanted to know how users can additionally access the Key 4 88-DWH. A very quick way to adjust the volume is the small button on the device. It is easy to feel, and one can increase or decrease the volume in several steps. Additional programs for specific listening situations can also be activated with it. Those who prefer to do without the button can simply have it deactivated. The small remote control, which is available as an option, is very practical. For us, it is one of the most convenient ways to make the hearing aid louder or quieter or to switch to another hearing program. No one notices it, and there is no need to reach for the ear.
Some hearing aids can already be controlled by voice, but this one from ReSound unfortunately cannot yet. This would be convenient when fingers are not as agile or if one simply likes smart gadgets. Another option to control the hearing aids is a tap control. One simply taps their fingers on the ear, which triggers a specific function. However, this option is not available in this ReSound device.
Smartphone apps are now often offered to improve the usability of hearing aids. In our opinion, the app from ReSound is among the better ones because it offers a good set of adjustment options. You no longer need headphones here, as it has a wireless option and can transfer sounds from the smartphone directly to the ears – provided the smartphone is equipped with 2.4 GHz LE technology.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 1,8
ReSound Key 4 88-DWH:
The best alternatives to the Key 4 88-DWH
Our database contains 84 reviews of hearing aids with similar technical features to this one (i.e., in klassischer Bauform in Size "", not rechargable, geeignet für Hörverlust-Grad leicht, mittel & stark). Here are the top 3 (Redaktionsstand 02.10.2025):
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Hansaton Beat FS 9 R T 13 | Rating: 5 / 5 |
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Philips HearLink 9040 MNB T | Rating: 4.5 / 5 |
Simplicity & security
How do you get along with the hearing aid in everyday life? This is the next aspect we need to assess. Because only if such a device works easily and uncomplicated can you get used to it. The automatic situation recognition is usually supposed to make listening easier. However, the Key 4 88-DWH does not handle changing or difficult acoustic environments very well, as it lacks a few adaptive algorithms. Additionally, it is advisable to always have a few extra hearing programs set up for this device. The integrated acclimatization manager can be of great help when starting your journey into the world of hearing aids. Its task is to gradually increase the volume of the hearing aid in tiny steps until the target volume is reached. This way, you can relax and gradually become accustomed to the new hearing impressions. More information on acclimatization and other hearing aids with this feature can be found here: Acclimatization to Hearing Aids.
Zinc-air batteries power the Key 4 88-DWH. Changing the battery can become quite cumbersome for people with limited dexterity or vision. If you have concerns about this, it's better to look for a rechargeable model.
The data sheet certifies the ReSound device with an IP protection class 68. This makes it one of the most robust hearing aids on the market. Dust has no chance, and water cannot penetrate the housing as long as it is not submerged deeper than 1.5 m. Nevertheless, be cautious. Shampoo, for example, changes the surface tension of water. You should also avoid saltwater. In everyday life, however, you can behave completely carefree.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,8
ReSound Key 4 88-DWH:
Extras
Sometimes hearing aids have additional functions that can be quite useful. Let's see how this ReSound device performs: Here we noticed the tinnitus option. If desired, a special tinnitus program can be set up. This adds a gentle noise to the ears to distract from the annoying tinnitus. The sounds can be tailored to personal hearing preferences.
A real added value is the remote maintenance service. For a change in hearing aid settings, there is no longer a need to go to the specialist store; instead, you can directly contact the acoustician through the app. Through a cloud service, the new data package can then be loaded into the hearing aids. This is exactly what we expect from a modern hearing aid.
Many hearing aids today still come with a few health functions. However, since the Key 4 88-DWH does not have any special sensors for that, we cannot present any particular features here. The ReSound device focuses on essential hearing functions and does not offer extras like voice assistants or translation functions. While that would have been fun, it is not necessary for a good hearing experience.
Rating Extras: 2,5
Conclusion: ReSound Key 4 88-DWH
With a final grade of 3.15, this model holds its own in the mid-range. It has a fairly decent comfort feature set onboard, sufficient for typical everyday moments and provides a satisfying listening experience.
Top alternatives in the same price range
Which devices in a comparable price range currently show the best technical performance? Here are the current top 3:
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 13 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 312 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
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Hansaton Beat FS 3 R T 675 | Rating: 4 / 5 |
Our ReSound Key 4 88-DWH review was created on December 13, 2022 and lastly updated on August 7, 2025. The overall rating of 3,79 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 1.5 | »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
What size is the Key 4 88-DWH from ReSound?
Big or small has to do with the external perception. We assess how large hearing aids appear to outsiders. The ReSound Key 4 88-DWH is classified as size S. This means it appears medium-sized.
How well can I hear with the Key 4 88-DWH from ReSound?
This hearing aid receives an overall rating of 4.5 (poor) in the area of "hearing comfort". The rating consists of various components. Important criteria: Noise suppression only achieves 1 out of 5 stars. The number of adjustable frequency bands in the ReSound Key 4 88-DWH is 12 (the best in class currently have 24 bands). For wind noise suppression, we rate the device as 'moderate' (only 1 out of 5 stars).
Is the ReSound Key 4 88-DWH suitable for me?
The suitability range of hearing aids is referred to as "fitting range" by hearing acousticians. ReSound has defined the following fitting range for the Key 4 88-DWH: hearing loss mild, moderate, or severe. Have a professional hearing test conducted at an audiology practice near you to find out if this hearing aid is suitable for you.
What does the ReSound Key 4 88-DWH cost?
Is the Key 4 88-DWH from ReSound expensive or inexpensive? It is currently traded in Germany in a price range of approximately €1,300.00 to €2,000.00. If a health insurance company contributes, the amount is significantly lower. Important: You should evaluate the price in relation to the overall rating in the test report (3.2 (satisfactory)) and especially with the rating in the area of noise suppression (only 1 out of 5 stars).
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