Samsung Electronics announced that its upcoming hearing aid feature for Galaxy Buds has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This regulatory approval allows the company to market the earbuds as over-the-counter hearing aids for individuals experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. The functionality is scheduled to roll out to users in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The new feature set will be compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. To utilize the capability, users must pair their earbuds with a modern Samsung Galaxy smartphone running One UI 8 or a later version of the operating system. This integration mirrors the clinical-grade hearing health features previously introduced by Apple for its AirPods lineup.
Central to the experience is a self-administered hearing test that users can complete in approximately five minutes. The process generates a clinical-grade audiogram, which the software then uses to calibrate the earbuds to the user's specific hearing profile. Once configured, the device amplifies sounds that are typically difficult for those with hearing loss to perceive, such as high-frequency tones and whispers.
In addition to amplification, the system incorporates noise elimination and beamforming technologies. These tools are designed to isolate and focus on sounds directly in front of the user while suppressing ambient background noise. Samsung stated that it developed these features in collaboration with the National Acoustic Laboratories and the Samsung Medical Center to ensure the efficacy of the audio processing.
This development marks a shift in the consumer audio market, as Samsung joins Apple in providing accessible, over-the-counter hearing assistance through standard wireless earbuds. While Apple established this category in 2024, the entry of Samsung provides a similar set of tools for the Android ecosystem, expanding the availability of clinical-grade hearing health technology to a broader range of mobile device users.