I’ve been very impressed with Samsung’s third-gen wi-fi earbuds. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($190), which had been launched in 2024, had been a stable AirPods Professional competitor for Android homeowners. Now, they’ve been joined by the Galaxy Buds3 FE, a brand new entry-level mannequin that appears practically similar to the Buds3 Professional however trades away numerous bells and whistles for a extra accessible worth: $150.
The Professional’s high-tech LED “blade” lights are gone, as is head monitoring, auto-pause, twin drivers, wi-fi charging, and full waterproofing. What issues extra is what Samsung stored: a really snug match, nice sound high quality, and surprisingly good ANC, transparency, and name high quality. Briefly, the Galaxy Buds3 FE get crucial stuff proper.
Like all Samsung Galaxy wi-fi earbuds, a few of their extra fascinating options are solely out there when utilizing Samsung Galaxy phones (and don’t even take into consideration shopping for them if you happen to’re on an iPhone), which narrows their potential market. However if you happen to’re a true-blue Samsung fan on a funds, the Galaxy Buds3 FE are an ideal set of wi-fi buds.
Midrange Gems
{Photograph}: Simon Cohen
Although Samsung calls them Galaxy Buds3 FE—you’d naturally assume meaning they change 2023’s Galaxy Buds FE ($100)—they’re truly a sort of midrange choice. Samsung is retaining the Buds FE round (and sustaining the worth), which I believe is a good thought. The unique Buds FE are nonetheless glorious, and now you’ve acquired two totally different match choices: the older, button-style, and the newer AirPods imitation form. As a bonus, if you happen to go for the Buds3 FE, you get higher water and dirt safety: IP54 versus IPX2.
Between the 2 FE fashions, I’ve acquired to present the consolation award to the Buds3 FE. With much less mass in your ear and no silicone stability fin wrapped across the circumference, it’s a mild, simple really feel. In case you’ve ever tried the Galaxy Buds3 Professional, Apple AirPods Professional, or similarly shaped, stem-based models, the Buds3 FE ought to really feel immediately acquainted. Nonetheless, that additionally means they aren’t precisely rock-solid for high-impact actions like working. That is the place the unique Galaxy Buds FE nonetheless have an edge: Twist them into place and it’s unlikely they’ll budge except you need them to.
Put on App by way of Simon Cohen
Samsung isn’t very beneficiant with ear tip sizes. Past the preinstalled medium suggestions, you solely get a small and a big dimension within the field—the brand new AirPods Professional, for instance, offer you 4 pairs. Ensure you use the match take a look at within the Samsung Wear app when you get the earbuds linked. I assumed the medium suggestions felt OK, however the take a look at prompted me to strive the massive, and it was proper: They gave me a greater match and a tighter seal.
Talking of what’s in (or not in) the field, Samsung, like Apple, not features a charging cable. You in all probability have at the least one USB-C cable already, however if you happen to don’t, you’ll want one.
Shifting to the stem-based design brings pinch and swipe gestures to the FE household. Samsung borrowed this method from Apple’s AirPods Professional, however the triangular form of the Galaxy Buds’ stems could make these controls just a little tougher to make use of than Apple’s. You do get used to them, nonetheless, and general, I believe they’re an enchancment on the first-gen Buds FE’s contact controls—particularly utilizing the up/down swipe gesture to manage quantity.
Samsung’s AirPods
{Photograph}: Simon Cohen
Sound high quality on the Galaxy Buds3 FE is excellent. It not solely compares nicely to different earbuds at this worth, it holds as much as many dearer fashions. The sound signature is strong, with glorious response throughout frequencies. The low finish is resonant but snappy, the mids and highs are clear and detailed, and the soundstage has a delightful quantity of width and depth.
