Samsung is preparing to turn its premium wireless earbuds into hearing assistance devices, with the Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Galaxy Buds3 Pro set to receive dedicated Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features through a software update. The development follows regulatory approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), clearing the way for the features to reach users in the country.
The rollout in South Korea is expected to begin in early 2027. Samsung has not yet announced when US users will receive the update, despite earlier clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Hearing Test feature uses clinical-grade pure-tone air conduction audiometry to assess hearing ability. It plays individual tones at different frequencies to determine the quietest sound a user can hear, testing each ear separately.
Following the assessment, the feature generates an audiogram that classifies hearing ability into seven levels: normal, slight, mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and profound. Users will also receive guidance on the next steps based on their results.
The Hearing Aid feature uses the audiogram to amplify only the sounds users have difficulty hearing. It relies on the NAL-NL2 formula, developed by Australia’s National Acoustic Laboratories, which is widely used in hearing aids.
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The hearing assistance feature is designed for adults aged 18 and above who suspect they have mild to moderate hearing loss. Users can customize amplification settings to their individual hearing needs without help from a hearing specialist.
Samsung will also make hearing-related information, including noise exposure levels and hearing test results, available through its Samsung Health app.
The move builds on Samsung’s earlier efforts to introduce hearing support technology in its wireless earbuds. The company first added a Personal Sound Amplification Product (PSAP) feature to the Galaxy Buds+ in 2020. Clinical testing conducted in 2021 found that the technology helped people with hearing loss in everyday conversations.
Samsung’s latest development expands its push into digital health by bringing hearing assessment and personalized sound amplification directly to its premium Galaxy earbuds.