Samsung turns Galaxy Buds into hearing aids with FDA approval

Samsung will bring hearing aid capabilities to its Galaxy Buds earbuds, with approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The feature will arrive on Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and 4 Pro in the United States and select markets later this year, according to The Verge.

An integrated hearing test

The novelty is not limited to amplifying sound: users will be able to take a hearing test with the earbuds themselves, and the results will be used to amplify the frequencies they have the most trouble hearing.

The approach follows in the footsteps of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that the FDA regulated in 2022, a market Apple already explores with its AirPods Pro.

Why it matters

Hearing loss affects more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, according to the WHO, and most do not use hearing aids due to cost or stigma. That the earbuds already used daily can double as hearing aids could broaden access at a much lower price.

The key figure

2026. The year Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and 4 Pro become FDA-approved hearing aids.