Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE vs Samsung Galaxy Buds FE: A student surpasses a mediocre teacher

If you’re choosing between Samsung’s budget buds, you’re really choosing what you value most: the lowest possible price and a tiny case (Galaxy Buds FE), or markedly better ANC, sound, and ecosystem features (Galaxy Buds 3 FE). We spent several days with both, and the story feels clear: the Buds FE nail the basics for under $100, while the Buds 3 FE deliver a more “flagship-lite” experience for Samsung phone owners at $149. Let’s break down how they compare where it matters.

What’s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE?

I like how pocketable the Buds FE case is—it’s tiny, glossy, and charges via USB-C. The buds themselves are nondescript and light, but unlike the lollipop-and-stem design of the Buds 3 FE, the FE’s bean-style design isn’t as secured in the ear. Luckily, Samsung built a slight concha stabilizer fin into these earbuds to stay put by holding them against the outer ear.

Indeed, for any true wireless earbuds, a good fit is crucial to ensure you’re getting the best performance — so it’s great that the Buds FE feature a sealed design, along with three sets of ear tips. Their large nozzle, however, can feel intrusive if you have small ear canals. Finally, their IPX2 water and dust resistance rating covers only light rain, so I avoid workouts or major downpours with them. Touch pads on the back plates work fine, but they’re prone to accidental nudges that can compromise your fit or cause annoying thumping sounds.

The newer Buds 3 FE, on the other hand, feel much more premium day-to-day. It’s clear that Samsung really stepped up their game here from the previous generation. The matte black finish resists fingerprints, and the sealed tips actually stay put without constant readjustment. Though earbud shape is largely a matter of personal preference, the improved fit of the Buds 3 FE is likely due in some part to the lollipop-and-stem design, which help the buds stay put.

Moreover, unlike the FE’s basic rain protection, the IP54 rating of the Buds 3 FE holdsup better for the gym and wet commutes. I also prefer the pinch and swipe controls on the stems: they’re consistent, even if a firm pinch can shift the buds slightly, and crucially, the sealed design keeps them seated after. Both cases slide into a pocket easily, but the Buds 3 FE case looks and feels more just that much more refined.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE or Samsung Galaxy Buds FE have more features?

Both earbuds cover the basics well, with access to six custom EQ presets, a 9-band customizable EQ, ANC toggle, ambient sound controls, and Find My Earbuds through the Samsung Wearable app. On top of this, however, the newer Buds 3 FE also get some of the newer Samsung AI features, such as Gemini voice commands, Interpreter (a live language translator), and Bixby integration.

Though the Samsung Wearable app is available for Android users from the Play Store, iOS users are unfortunately out of luck for anything beyond basic Bluetooth connectivity.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE and Samsung Galaxy Buds FE connect?

The Buds 3 FE use Bluetooth 5.4 and support SBC, AAC, and Samsung Seamless Codec (near-lossless on very current Samsung phones). They don’t support Multipoint, but Auto Switch works within Samsung’s ecosystem. Samsung Fast Pair prompts appear on Samsung phones.

There’s no true Bluetooth Multipoint on either model here, which is a bummer, but Samsung phone owners do get the slick Fast Pair prompt when you open the case. Both earbuds also support a feature called Auto Switch which, in lieu of true Multipoint, allow the earbuds to automatically switch audio playback from one device to another, provided both are Galaxy devices signed into the same Samsung account.

Is battery life better on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE or Samsung Galaxy Buds FE?

In our standardized tests, the Buds 3 FE reach 4 hours, 26 minutes with ANC on, and just under 6 hours with ANC off. The Buds FE come in at a similar 4 hours, 38 minutes with ANC on. Practically, both cover daily commutes, but neither is ideal for very long flights or extended use without case top-ups. That said, since true wireless earbuds generally have small cells, even short 10-minute top-ups can yield significant extra playtime. Unfortunately, neither pair supports wireless charging, and both charge via USB-C.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE or Samsung Galaxy Buds FE block noise better?

When it comes to noise cancellation, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE punch above their weight. With ANC on, and a good fit, the Buds FE reduce the loudness of outside noise by an average of 84%. This translates to some 30dB of outside noise cancelled by the ANC, which is excellent for train or bus commutes, as well as flights.

That said, the noise cancellation on the Buds FE still falls short of flagship options. That’s where the Buds 3 FE shine: even though they’re not flagships, ANC reduces the loudnesss of outside noise by an average of 86% — better than Samsung’s own Buds 3 Pro flagships!

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE sound better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE have a bass-boosted sound profile that some people may enjoy. Fans of older, treble-forward tracks — a quirk of analog sound and the corresponding mastering preferences of previous eras — will appreciate the tilt towards bass over treble. That said, the major bass overemphasis can make some tracks feel overwhelming and muddy, especially already bass-heavy modern genres like post-2000s EDM, rock, or rap music.

The Buds 3 FE, on the other hand, showcases Samsung’s improved tuning expertise front and center. There is a slight overemphasis in the bass, but not to the same extent as the Buds FE, which avoids the muddiness of its predecessor. The midrange presence is similarly clear, with Matt Berninger’s baritone vocals  (of indie rock band The National) staying clean without harsh peaks.

Objective Measurements

The Buds 3 FE closely follow our SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve with that modest low-end lift and no pronounced 4–9kHz spike, which can help reduces listener fatigue in treble-forward sounds like cymbals, bells, and sibilants. The Buds FE default to a bass-boosted tuning which can overwhelm modern bass-heavy tracks, and sounds like bass guitars and kick drums may sound louder than you may be used to. Their EQ presets can rein things in (Treble Boost effectively reduces bass), but they’re still more bass-tilted overall.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE or Samsung Galaxy Buds FE have a better microphone?

Microphone performance is stronger on the Buds 3 FE. In my testing, Samsung’s background noise reduction significantly improves intelligibility over not only the previous FE but also the Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro, with the usual caveat that very windy conditions still cause trouble.

The Buds FE mics are fine for everyday calls and meetings. Reader feedback in our review skews positive (only 9% rated mic quality negatively out of 3,480 responses as of our update), but they don’t reach the noise-rejection level I heard from the Buds 3 FE.

You can listen to microphone samples from both earbuds below:

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE microphone demo (Windy conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE microphone demo (Windy conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE vs Samsung Galaxy Buds FE: Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE cost $149. The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE cost $99.99. Since the original Galaxy Buds FE are now a few years old, you may have trouble finding them, but they are more likely to be on sale.

Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE or Samsung Galaxy Buds FE?

If you own a Samsung phone and want the best overall experience without going full flagship, get the Galaxy Buds 3 FE. You’ll enjoy class-leading ANC (even versus the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro!), improved sound quality, better water and dust resistance (IP54), richer app features (including Galaxy AI), and more reliable controls.

If you’re trying to spend under $100 and want tiny, pocketable earbuds with solid ANC and Ambient mode, the Galaxy Buds FE remain a good value, especially since they’re older and sales are more likely. Just know they emphasize bass, offer weaker water resistance (IPX2), and feel more basic in fit and controls. You can improve the sound with EQ, but the Buds 3 FE simply sound and isolate better in our testing — and that’s where your extra $50 goes.

If you’re on the market for wireless earbuds, though, these aren’t your only two options. There are plenty of earbuds on the market that may better suit your needs. Check out our article on the best wireless earbuds here for some of our top picks.