Samsung's "Fan Edition" products are all about taking what we love from their premium devices and making them more accessible. That's exactly what the Galaxy Buds3 FE aim to do.
Whether you're fully integrated into the Samsung ecosystem or just looking for a compelling, budget-friendly wearable, these earbuds are a solid contender. I've spent a lot of time putting them through their paces, here's how they actually perform in the wild, from my sweaty workouts to my crowded walks to work.
Editor
Celine Low chevron_right
Table of Contents
Design & Fit
The Galaxy Buds3 FE resembles the flagship Galaxy Buds3 Pro, sharing the same distinctive "blade design." The case is a simple, capsule-shaped design with a transparent cover — which I love — because you can see the earbuds inside without even opening it.
It comes in Black and Grey colours, which makes it easy to match with your phone or just a clean aesthetic. Plus, it’s super compact, so it slides right into the pocket of my jeans or my jacket without creating a bulky lump.
There's a status light on the outside of the case. It's a small detail, but being able to quickly glance at the outside and see a green, yellow, or red light to know how much battery is left is really convenient.
Now, for the earbuds themselves. The silicone ear tips sit snugly and securely in my ears. When I wear them for my runs or workouts, they never once felt like they were going to slip out, despite how drenched in sweat I was.
Performance & Sound
For earbuds in this price range (RM499), the sound quality is pretty commendable. The audio profile is robust, with a pronounced bass and rich mids that give music a lot of energy. The higher notes can sometimes sound a little thin, but for a single-driver setup, they do a fantastic job. I was listening to everything from high-energy pop to some mellow acoustic tracks, and they handled it all pretty well.
The Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is a pleasant surprise. I used them while walking through a shopping mall during lunch rush, and the low rumble and chattering faded into the background, letting me get lost in my music. The ANC is powerful, but the Ambient Mode lets the outside sounds in.
I own a Galaxy tablet so I was able to adjust the noise cancelling level on the Galaxy Wearable app. For more customisation, the Galaxy Buds3 FE can be adjusted further on the same app, where you can tweak equaliser settings and find your earbuds if you ever misplace them.
The controls on the earbuds are simple and you'll hear a soft click to know if the commands work:
- Single pinch: Play/pause
- Double pinch: Skip backward
- Triple pinch: Skip forward
- Swipe up/down: Adjust volume
- Long pinch: Switch between ANC & Ambient Mode
Battery
The battery life is decent. I’ve been using them for a few days, about five hours per day, and the battery has held up without needing a charge. I had to do a quick charge one morning, and a mere 5 minutes in the case took them from 31% to 56%.
The one downside is that Samsung skipped wireless charging, likely to keep the price down. You'll need to use the USB-C port at the bottom of the case to juice them up. It’s a small trade-off for a pair of earbuds that pack this much punch.
Who is This For?
The Galaxy Buds3 FE does deliver performance far exceeding their price tag. With their impressive sound, solid ANC, and decent battery life, they feel like a much more expensive pair of earbuds. Plus, they fit well for me so I don't feel the anxiety of losing them while I'm out and about.
The lack of wireless charging and need for Galaxy devices to really take advantage of its features is a minor inconvenience, but it's a small price to pay for what is given in return. If you're in deep with Samsung's ecosystem, then better for you!
However, iPhone or a non-Samsung Android phone users will only be able to use these earbuds as a basic wireless pair, missing out on crucial functionality such as Live Translation, Gemini smart assistance, and audio fine-tuning.
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