Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Buds 3 Pro can now act as over-the-counter hearing aids, which could help people with mild hearing loss.
Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Buds 3 Pro can now double as over-the-counter hearing aids. That means a hearing aid you can get without a prescription. South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved the feature, following US FDA clearance in August 2026. The approval clears the way for Samsung to bring it to more countries.
The feature comes in two parts: Hearing Test and Hearing Aid. Hearing Test is registered as a software-based medical tool. The Galaxy Buds are the hardware that serves as the over-the-counter hearing aid.
Samsung says it is designed for adults 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss. It uses a fitting method called NAL-NL2, which Samsung describes as similar to the technology in standalone hearing aids.
You start with a hearing check in the Galaxy Buds app on a Samsung Galaxy phone. Samsung says the test uses clinical-grade audiometry, can take about 5 minutes per session and covers both ears.
The result appears as an audiogram, a chart of how well each ear hears. Samsung says it is comparable to results from an audiologist. Your hearing is sorted into normal or one of four levels of loss: mild, moderate, severe or profound. Detailed results and your profile are also available in the Samsung Health app.
Once your hearing profile is set, the earbuds boost sound on both sides or on one side, depending on your level of hearing loss. They can make voices in a conversation or vocals in a song easier to hear. Noise reduction helps speech stand out. Beamforming directs sound toward the ears.
Apple already offers a similar feature on AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3, with a built-in hearing test and personalized sound amplification. Samsung is now in the same space.
The material does not say what the feature will cost, or whether it arrives as a free update for earbuds you already own. It also does not list which countries will get it beyond the US and South Korea. The hearing test requires a Samsung Galaxy phone, and it is not stated whether other phones can use it.
Samsung says Hearing Test and Hearing Aid will reach US users in the fourth quarter of 2026. More countries, including South Korea, follow in early 2027. Samsung also recently won approval for advanced sleep apnea detection on its Galaxy Watches.
If you have mild hearing trouble and own these Galaxy Buds plus a Samsung Galaxy phone, a hearing test and aid are coming to US users this quarter.
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