Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 FE are stepping into the budget earbuds ring, promising features that used to belong to higher tiers. With active noise cancellation, a sleeker design, and Galaxy AI hooks, these earbuds want to be the go-to choice for anyone who doesn’t want to overspend.
Galaxy Buds 3 FE swap blobs for stems
The Buds 3 FE ditch the rounded “bean” look in favor of stems, echoing Apple’s AirPods and Samsung’s pricier Buds 3 lineup. It’s a small but notable shift that makes the FE model look less entry-level. Beyond style, Samsung says the earbuds deliver stronger sound, better noise cancellation, and IP54 protection to survive dust and light rain.
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Galaxy Buds 3 FE battery life keeps things steady
Battery performance lands right in the expected zone. With noise cancellation active, you get about 6 hours of listening, and 8.5 hours if you switch it off. Drop them back in the case and that jumps to 24 hours with ANC or 30 hours without. Call time holds steady at 4 hours, stretching up to 18 hours if you use the case as backup.
Features outside the basics
Samsung didn’t stop at sound and stamina. The Buds 3 FE integrate with Galaxy AI tools, including Interpreter mode and voice conversations powered by Gemini. A quick “hey Google” or a long press lets you translate speech live.
Here’s a quick rundown of what else makes the cut:
- Find My Earbuds tracking
- Ambient sound mode for awareness
- Voice isolation for clearer calls
- Auto device switching across Samsung gear
Galaxy Buds 3 FE pricing and release date
The new earbuds arrive in black and gray on September 4th in the US. They’re priced at $149.99, which is $50 more than the Galaxy Buds FE debut price from two years ago. Still, compared with what rivals charge for noise-canceling earbuds, the number looks fairly aggressive.
Budget buds with sharper teeth
Samsung is betting that people want more than bare-minimum audio when they pay under $150. The Galaxy Buds 3 FE may not compete with the absolute best earbuds, but with active noise cancellation, AI smarts, and a modernized design, they’re not shy about taking a bite out of the midrange market. The budget line just grew sharper.
