Samsung Buds 3 FE: Cheaper, Lighter, Longer Battery Than Pro
Samsung’s “Fan Edition” devices typically signal a more budget-friendly alternative, often achieved by making strategic compromises on features. However, the newly released Galaxy Buds 3 FE earbuds are defying this expectation, surprisingly outperforming their pricier siblings, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, in a couple of key areas, most notably battery life.
Priced at $150, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE offer a respectable 6 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) engaged, extending to 8.5 hours when ANC is switched off. This stands in favorable contrast to the $190 Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, which provide 6 hours with ANC on and a shorter 7 hours with ANC off. While the ANC-on battery life remains consistent between models, the extra hour and a half of playback on the more affordable FE version, particularly without ANC, presents a clear advantage. These figures, while not groundbreaking in the broader wireless earbud market, do position the Galaxy Buds 3 FE competitively against similarly priced options from brands like OnePlus.
Beyond endurance, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE also boast a subtle but significant edge in physical design: weight. Tipping the scales 5 grams lighter than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, these earbuds offer a marginally more comfortable fit, a difference that can become noticeable during extended use. This reduction in weight, achieved while simultaneously enhancing battery life, is a testament to Samsung’s engineering prowess, a feat always worth acknowledging in the compact world of personal electronics.
The appeal of the Galaxy Buds 3 FE extends further by mirroring many of the Pro model’s premium features, all while maintaining a lower entry price. Visually, both earbuds adopt a familiar stem-like design reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods. However, the FE distinguishes itself with a matte finish, offering a tactile contrast to the Pro’s glossy exterior, and notably omits the LED lights found on the Pro’s stems. Feature-wise, the Buds 3 FE come equipped with real-time AI translation capabilities, albeit exclusive to Samsung phone users, and offer hands-free Gemini compatibility, allowing users to activate their voice assistant without needing to unlock their device. While these AI enhancements may not be the deciding factor for every consumer, their inclusion adds a layer of convenience and future-proofing.
Where the Galaxy Buds 3 FE might cede ground to its Pro counterpart is in pure audio fidelity. A key distinction lies in their driver configurations: the Buds 3 Pro feature a dual-driver design, typically indicative of richer, more nuanced sound reproduction, while the Buds 3 FE utilize a single driver. Without direct, back-to-back comparisons, it’s challenging to quantify the difference, but it’s reasonable to anticipate that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro will likely offer superior dynamic range and overall sound quality. Nevertheless, even with this potential audio trade-off, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE present a compelling value proposition, making them an attractive choice for those seeking to economize without sacrificing core functionality or a significant portion of the premium experience.