Samsung has confirmed that its Galaxy Buds hearing aid feature has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance, paving the way for its rollout later this year. The tool will bring an over-the-counter hearing aid function, similar to that already available on Apple's AirPods Pro, to compatible Samsung earbuds in the US and select other markets, offering a more accessible option for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.

The feature will launch on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, paired with a new hearing test that Samsung says delivers medical-grade results in about five minutes, run directly from the Buds settings on a compatible Galaxy phone. The test assesses each ear separately, classifying hearing as normal or as one of four stages of loss—mild, moderate, severe or profound—with results stored in the Samsung Health app. Based on this, the hearing aid feature amplifies sounds users struggle to hear, such as whispers or distant voices, while working alongside the earbuds' noise cancellation and beamforming to prioritise sound from in front of the wearer.