Samsung has taken another step into the health-tech market with the Galaxy Buds being approved as hearing aids by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The news affects compatible Samsung Galaxy Buds models, allowing the earbuds to function as over-the-counter hearing aids for adults aged 18 and over with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

The feature is designed to amplify sounds that can be difficult for people with hearing loss to pick up, including higher-frequency sounds.

It’s a significant development that further blurs the line between consumer electronics and medical devices and Samsung is effectively turning a product many consumers already use for music, calls and entertainment into something that can also assist with hearing.

The major selling point is accessibility with the option for consumers to now access hearing assistance through a familiar wireless earbud product, rather than purchasing a dedicated hearing aid. 

The move also highlights the growing importance of software and AI-style audio processing in consumer electronics, with earbuds increasingly able to analyse and modify sound in real time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro (Image: Supplied by Samsung)

For Samsung, the FDA clearance provides an opportunity to differentiate its Galaxy Buds range in an increasingly crowded wireless-earbuds market.

Apple is already active in this space, which could make hearing health features a new important battleground between the two major tech companies and their ecosystems.

For traditional hearing aid manufacturers, this news could also add further pressure as technology companies make hearing assistance smaller, more familiar and potentially more affordable.

The development also plays into the smart technology trend around personal health, in which items like smartphones, watches and earbuds are increasingly being positioned as personal health devices, beyond simply gadgets.

The FDA clearance is specifically aimed at adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and these products are not a replacement for professional hearing care.Â