Samsung's flagship earbuds are moving closer to becoming legitimate hearing-support devices, as the company has confirmed that the Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Galaxy Buds3 Pro will soon receive clinical-style hearing tests and hearing-aid features through a software update.
The move follows the U.S. FDA's earlier clearance and a fresh medical-device approval from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which covered both the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid functions. According to Samsung, the Korean rollout is expected to begin in early 2027, while a release date for U.S. users has not yet been announced.
The built-in hearing test is designed to work like a simplified audiogram. It uses pure-tone air conduction audiometry to play individual tones across different frequencies, checking each ear separately and identifying the softest sounds a person can detect. Results are categorized into seven hearing levels, ranging from normal to profound, and Samsung says the feature also provides guidance on next steps.
The hearing-aid mode is meant to make everyday listening more comfortable for adults aged 18 and older who may have mild to moderate hearing loss. Instead of boosting all sound indiscriminately, it uses the audiogram data to amplify the frequencies where the user has the most difficulty. The system is built around the NAL-NL2 prescription formula, a widely used approach in hearing-aid design, and allows users to adjust their experience without needing direct help from a hearing specialist.
Samsung also ties the experience to its health ecosystem, with noise-exposure insights and test results available in the Samsung Health app. The company has been working on audio-based hearing support for several years, including an earlier sound amplification feature introduced on the Galaxy Buds+ and clinical validation that showed benefits in real-world conversations. Samsung said that embedding these tools directly in the Galaxy Buds line could make professional-grade hearing care more accessible to a broader audience.
