A pair of earbuds that can double as a hearing aid right after a quick hearing test — this isn't some far-off concept, it's a real feature Samsung has just secured clearance for from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company has confirmed that this hearing aid function, alongside a built-in hearing test tool, will roll out later this year to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro in the U.S. and select other markets.
The move isn't exactly groundbreaking — Apple's AirPods Pro already offer a similar feature, so Samsung is essentially catching up here. The target audience is adults 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss, and it follows the over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid model, meaning no prescription required.
The real highlight is the testing process. Users can launch the test directly from the Galaxy Buds settings on a compatible Galaxy phone, with Samsung claiming it delivers "medical-grade" results in under five minutes. The test evaluates each ear separately, categorizing results as normal, or as mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss. The data then syncs to the Samsung Health app for users to review anytime.
Based on the test results, the earbuds will boost sounds that users have trouble hearing — think whispers, distant voices, or high-frequency tones. This isn't a standalone feature either; it works in tandem with the earbuds' existing noise cancellation and beamforming technology (which focuses on sound coming from the front), essentially repurposing the hardware's existing audio-capture design to power the hearing aid function.
Samsung has yet to announce an exact release date or a full list of supported markets.
