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ZDNET key takeaways
- Naox Wave EEG earbuds can track brain activity for consumers.
- The FDA cleared Naox’s Link EEG earbuds for medical use.
- The brain-tracking tech makes EEG monitoring more accessible.
Brain signal tracking is advancing, moving from the medical sector into the consumer market. At CES 2026, French neuroscience brand Naox unveiled Naox Wave, EEG wireless earbuds that capture brain activity as users work, sleep, and exercise.
Naox Wave earbuds
The Naox Wave platform is designed to put brain-tracking technology into products people already use each day. Naox designed its earbuds and respective platform for further integration within other existing true wireless earbuds on the market.
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The data captured through the Naox Wave earbuds is then translated into insights on mental wellness and cognitive performance in Naox’s app. Vigilance, focus, relaxation, and brain-aging biomarkers are recorded and monitored through the earbuds, supplemented by summaries for further understanding within the Naox app.
“As EEG moves into earbuds, it will do for the brain what heart sensors did for wearables a decade ago,” said Mathieu Letombe, Naox’s advisor for Naox Wave and former CEO of Withings, in a press release.
By adding EEG architecture, Naox’s proprietary conductive eartips, and a connector, other consumer earbud brands can include the brain signal-tracking technology in their products.
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To clinically measure electrical activity within the brain, healthcare professionals conduct an electroencephalogram (EEG). This requires setting up 20 electrodes around the head with conductive gels to record brain activity and diagnose conditions like epilepsy, brain disease, inflammation, or stroke.
Naox’s new FDA-cleared, in-ear EEG system could soon simplify that 20-electrode setup.
Naox Link in-ear EEG system
The company also announced FDA clearance for its Naox Link in-ear EEG system for healthcare professionals on Monday. The device is the first in-ear EEG system cleared for clinical use in home and healthcare environments, and it is intended for use alongside a licensed medical professional, according to a press release.
The device uses wired earbuds with biocompatible electrodes on the tips to measure brain activity, which a medical professional then transmits to a HIPAA-certified cloud.
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“Until now, EEG has required bulky equipment and brief recordings captured in clinical settings, often after weeks or even months of wait times,” said Hugo Dinh, co-founder and CEO of Naox, in a press release. The device can be used in neurology and epilepsy centers, sleep labs and practices, and academic and pharmaceutical research environments.
Naox Link is now available to healthcare professionals, and Naox plans to roll out Naox Wave toward the end of the year.
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