Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro will soon be able to work as hearing aids. The feature will start rolling out in early 2027 following regulatory approvals in both South Korea and the US.

The Hearing Check (hearing test) and Hearing Care (hearing aid) features developed for both earbuds received approval from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) as digital medical device software. This builds on prior approval granted by the US FDA earlier this year.

Users will be able to access the feature directly inside the Galaxy Buds settings menu on a connected Galaxy smartphone. Built on clinical-grade pure-tone air conduction audiometry, the test plays tones across various frequencies to measure the user's minimum audible sound threshold for each ear.

Based on the results, the system generates a personalized audiogram and categorizes hearing ability into six levels:

From there, it provides users with personalized recommendations and follow-up guidance based on their severity level. Using NAL-NL2, a global clinical standard prescription formula developed by Australia’s National Acoustical Laboratory (NAL), the Galaxy Buds calculate optimal amplification per frequency band and boost only the sounds the wearer struggles to hear.

The Hearing Care feature is designed for individuals aged 18 and older who suspect they have mild-to-moderate hearing loss, allowing them to optimize their hearing assistance without an audiologist visit.