Samsung Galaxy Buds to Get FDA-Cleared Hearing Aid Feature

Samsung has announced that its Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The feature will be available on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Galaxy Buds4 Pro starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, bringing over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid functionality to Samsung's wireless earbuds.

How It Works

Similar to Apple's AirPods, the Galaxy Buds can serve as a hearing aid for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. Samsung is introducing a Hearing Test feature that allows users to self-administer a five-minute test, generating a clinical-grade audiogram. This audiogram can then be used to adjust the built-in Hearing Aid feature, which amplifies sounds the user has difficulty hearing, such as high frequencies or whispers.

The Galaxy Buds also incorporate noise elimination and beamforming technology to focus on sounds in front of the user while suppressing background noise, enhancing the listening experience in noisy environments.

Development and Requirements

Samsung collaborated with the National Acoustic Laboratories and Samsung Medical Center to develop the hearing aid feature set. To use the feature, users will need a newer Samsung Galaxy smartphone that supports One UI 8 or later.

Catching Up to Apple

Apple introduced its FDA-cleared hearing health feature for AirPods in 2024, initially in the U.S. with iOS 18.1, and has since expanded availability to over 150 countries and regions. While Apple had a two-year head start, Samsung is now beginning to catch up with a Galaxy Buds hearing health option that matches most of what the AirPods offer.