Samsung has secured US Food and Drug Administration clearance for a new hearing aid feature coming to select Galaxy Buds models, adding the capability to its earbuds lineup. The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features will let users boost the sounds around them as needed, with the self-administered test pinpointing hearing deficits and tailoring the amplification to those needs.
The Hearing Aid feature amplifies sounds users struggle to hear, including high frequencies, surrounding whispers, and distant voices, personalized to each user's hearing profile. It also supports advanced capabilities typically found in premium hearing aids, such as noise elimination and beamforming, which help focus audio from in front of the wearer while suppressing background noise.
The rollout arrives in Q4 2026, limited to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and only in the US and other "select approved markets." Samsung's press release confirms the two flagship models as the recipients of the feature.
The self-guided Hearing Test takes about five minutes and uses pure-tone audiometry to test each ear separately. For each ear, the test determines whether hearing is normal or categorizes the user into one of four stages of hearing loss, with results accessible in the Samsung Health app.
The feature is designed for adults aged 18 and over with mild to moderate hearing loss, offering an over-the-counter hearing aid solution that doesn't require a prescription or a visit to a health center. The FDA has approved the Hearing Test results as medical-grade.
The capability is similar to the hearing aid feature found in Apple's AirPods Pro, which can also run a hearing test and amplify certain sounds. The FDA clearance puts Samsung's flagship Buds in the same over-the-counter hearing assistance category for compatible models in approved markets.
