My favorite thing about Samsung's latest Galaxy Buds line isn't the top of the line model, but the Galaxy Buds 3 FE. The design is similar to its more expensive sibling, but it comes in a color scheme that I find cooler and fresher.
With a more affordable price and still a full suite of features, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are an attractive option for anyone looking to try Samsung's latest high quality headphones without breaking the bank.
Stylish Design
There are no lights on the stems like on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, but that's not a major issue. The earbuds have interchangeable silicone tips that can be adjusted to fit your ear. Samsung seems to have learned from previous versions; removing the silicone tips is now much easier and less prone to damage. These silicone tips ensure a snug fit and help with noise isolation. When I walked in the park, the earbuds never fell out, even when my ears got a little sweaty.
Weighing only 5 grams per earbud, they're barely noticeable when worn. IP54 certification also makes them safe from splashes of water and sweat.
The Galaxy Buds3 FE's compact case features a semi transparent lid, allowing you to see the contents directly. The front features an indicator light, while the USB-C port and pairing button are located below.
The hinge feels solid and smooth when opened and closed. Upon first opening, the earbuds easily connect to smartphones, especially Samsung devices, via Bluetooth 5.4. Connecting to the Galaxy S24 Ultra felt very smooth. Other Android devices can still be used, but the features are more limited.
Good Sound, Cool Features
The Galaxy Buds3 FE can be quickly transferred from one device to another. The Bluetooth connection is stable even over long distances, but this of course depends on the device's Bluetooth support.There's an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature that's quite effective at reducing ambient noise. It's not as powerful as the Pro version, but it still makes for a more focused music listening experience. When ANC is active, the sound quality feels more vibrant, especially in the bass, and the details of the music come out more clearly.
Another useful feature is Ambient Sound Mode, which allows us to remain aware of our surroundings while listening to music. Interestingly, I found the sound in Ambient mode to be clearer than in standard mode, perhaps due to the difference in audio processing.
For listening to music, playing games, or watching movies, I was satisfied with the performance. The microphone is also clear during voice calls, with both my voice and the other person's voice being clearly audible.
Regarding latency, when connected to my Galaxy S24 Ultra, the audio response was nearly instant. On other phones, there's a slight delay of around 100–200 ms, but it's still tolerable.
The Galaxy Buds3 FE has two control methods: swiping and pinching the stem. The pinch and hold gesture can be customized, for example, to change the sound mode, activate the AI assistant, or enable the Interpreter feature for live translation, which is unfortunately only active on Samsung phones.
For new users, this control method may feel strange at first, but once you get used to it, it's practical and less prone to mistouches.
Another interesting feature is 360 Audio, which makes the sound feel like it's coming from all directions, especially when watching action movies. Unfortunately, this feature is only active on Samsung devices. There's also a built in equalizer to adjust the sound character to your liking.
All Day Battery Life
As for battery life, the Galaxy Buds3 FE can play music for 8 hours and 41 minutes without ANC from 100% to 10% battery life.This battery life is long enough for a full day of use. Charging is also fast, reaching 80% in 30 minutes and a full charge in about 1 hour and 9 minutes.
The case still has about 77% charge remaining, so theoretically, it can be used for over 40 hours before needing a recharge. One small note: the case doesn't support wireless charging, but for me, that's not a problem since wired charging is faster.