The Hearing Aid feature uses the audiogram to adjust amplification for each user.
Samsung will launch the features in Q4 2026
Samsung has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for a new hearing aid feature for its Galaxy Buds. The feature will expand the earbuds' hearing health capabilities by offering sound amplification based on individual hearing needs. Samsung is also introducing a built-in hearing test to assess users' hearing and help personalise the experience. The company will bring these features to compatible Galaxy Buds models in the US and select approved markets later this year, adding hearing support to its wireless earbuds.
According to Samsung, the FDA clearance covers the company's Hearing Aid feature for users aged 18 and above with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It will allow compatible Galaxy Buds to provide over-the-counter hearing assistance without a prescription. Samsung notes that the feature is not a replacement for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified clinician.
The Galaxy Buds hearing health system includes Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features, both accessible through the Buds menu in Settings without a separate app. The self-administered Hearing Test takes around five minutes and uses pure-tone audiometry to examine each ear individually. It generates an audiogram and places hearing ability into one of five categories: normal, mild, moderate, severe or profound hearing loss. Samsung has registered the test as Software as a Medical Device and says its results are comparable in accuracy to a professional audiologist's evaluation.
The Hearing Aid feature uses the audiogram to adjust amplification for each user. It can boost sounds that may be difficult to hear, including higher frequencies, whispers and distant voices. Noise elimination and beamforming are also included, with beamforming helping focus on sounds in front of the wearer while reducing background noise. The system uses the NAL-NL2 fitting formula, which Samsung describes as a recognised clinical standard for prescription hearing aids.
Samsung developed the technology with the National Acoustic Laboratories and Samsung Medical Centre, and clinical studies were carried out at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, San Jose State University and the University of Memphis, according to the press release. Users will also be able to view noise exposure levels and Hearing Test results in Samsung Health.
The South Korean tech giant first introduced hearing support on the Galaxy Buds+ in 2020 through a Personal Sound Amplification Product feature. The feature was clinically validated in 2021 to help people with hearing loss communicate in everyday situations.
The FDA clearance makes Samsung one of the companies offering hearing aid features through wireless earbuds. Apple also offers a hearing test to adjust amplification and has expanded its hearing health features to more than 150 countries and regions.
The Hearing Aid and Hearing Test features will arrive on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro in the US and select approved markets in Q4 2026. A compatible Galaxy device running One UI 8 or later is required, while availability may vary by market, model and paired device.
Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.