The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE are the newest entry in Samsung’s earbud lineup. They’re a more affordable alternative to the Buds 3 Pro, but they still maintain the features that matter most when it comes to earbuds, sound, comfort, and reliable noise cancellation. While some extras have been trimmed back, the everyday experience is excellent especially if you’re already part of the Galaxy ecosystem.
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Competition
At $229, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE sit below the more premium, more expensive earbuds in the market. The closest alternatives are the $298 Sony LinkBuds Fit, the $279 Nothing Ear and if you’re looking for an even more affordable option, there’s also the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds which cost $178.
Like the Buds 3 FE, these competitors offer good ANC and audio capabilities, but the difference is the compatibility with the Samsung ecosystem. With Galaxy AI access, the Seamless Codec, and Auto-Switching, the Buds 3 FE work really well with a Galaxy phone or tablet. If you don’t have a Galaxy device, they still perform well, but you will miss some of those extra features.
Design
The Buds 3 FE boast the same stem design as the Pro series, it’s a tidy and clean look, there’s no over the top colours, lights or see through components here.
More importantly they provide a secure fit. The sealed silicone tips are the main reason they work so well. They’re lightweight at only 5g per earbud and they create a tight, comfortable seal that locks in bass and blocks out noise. They come with three ear tip sizes, which isn’t as much as other earbuds on the market but they should be able to accommodate most ears.
The controls are intuitive, but they do take some getting used to. They utilise pinch and swipe gestures and it can be quite difficult finding the right spot and it also requires quite a firm grip which can be difficult. You can pause and skip tracks with single and double pinches, a triple pinch will go to the previous track and a pinch and hold allows you to change between ANC and transparency mode. You can also turn the volume up and down by swiping the back of the stem.
They have an IP54 rating, meaning they can handle sweat and light rain, but they’re not designed for full submersion, which is to be expected at this price point.
They come in two colours, Black and Grey. For this review we were given the Grey version and it doesn’t look as sleek as other earbuds on the market with the matte finish but it does enable them to resist fingerprints.
The case is compact and easily stored in a pocket. The clear lid and the matching matte finish on the lower thirds looks futuristic and interesting, looking more premium than its price would suggest.
Audio
For audio they use a single dynamic driver, but Samsung’s audio tuning and digital processing make the most of it. The sound is warm and full, with clear vocals and balanced treble. Bass has good punch without overpowering the mids, and overall they work well with most genres of music.
Galaxy users get access to the Samsung Seamless Codec, which delivers higher-quality, near-lossless audio without requiring a high resolution music source like Tidal. On other Android phones or iPhones, the Buds 3 FE fall back to standard SBC or AAC codecs, which still sound fine but don’t reach the same clarity.
Noise Cancellation
Noise cancellation is the standout feature here. Thanks to the sealed fit, even passive isolation cuts a lot of background noise, and once ANC is activated, these are some of the best in their class.
There’s no adaptive ANC mode, but the fixed setting performs consistently well across environments, whether on a busy bus or sitting in an office. The Ambient Mode (transparency) is natural-sounding as well, avoiding the tinny sound you might find on other earbuds.
Call quality is solid too, with upgraded microphones keeping voices crisp and background sounds under control.
Battery & Features
Battery life comes in around 4.5 hours with ANC on and just under 6 hours with it off, which is just ok. The case provides multiple recharges for a total of 24 hours of playback. There’s fast USB-C charging here as well which helps if you need a quick boost, but there’s no wireless charging which is a bit disappointing.
If you’re a Samsung user, the Auto-Switching feature takes the place of traditional Bluetooth Multipoint. This lets you switch seamlessly between devices like phones, tablets, and laptops. For everyone else, switching connections will need to be done manually.
Other extras for Samsung users include 360 Audio for spatial sound and a low-latency Game Mode for mobile gaming.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE are a well-balanced addition to Samsung’s earbud lineup. They don’t aim to be the very best on the market, instead focusing on what matters most in this price range, great sound, excellent ANC, and a comfortable fit.
While the missing features like wireless charging and standard Multipoint might be disappointing for some, they’re sensible trade-offs. The everyday experience is excellent, especially if you’re using a Galaxy device, where you’ll benefit from bonus features like Seamless Codec, Auto-Switching, and 360 Audio.
If you’re already part of the Samsung ecosystem, the Buds 3 FE are an easy recommendation, for everyone else, they still hold up as a strong all-rounder with top-tier noise cancellation and impressive sound quality.
