Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Review

Let’s be realfinding wireless earbuds that actually sound good, cancel noise, and won’t drain your wallet is rare. But Samsung seems to think otherwise with its new Galaxy Buds FE. Part of the “Fan Edition” lineup, these buds come in at around $99 and still manage to offer features like active noise cancellation (ANC), long battery life, and a secure fit.

So, are they actually worth buying? In this Samsung Galaxy Buds FE review, we’ll break it all down from sound and comfort to smart features and battery life so you can decide if these are the right buds for you.

Design & Comfort: A Familiar but Practical Look

Samsung didn’t try to reinvent the wheel here. The Buds FE look like, well, Galaxy Buds. Available in Graphite and White, the design is clean, minimalist, and small enough to vanish in your ears.

The real win? The fit. These come with wingtips that help anchor them into your ears without digging in. Whether you’re walking, running, or just lying back on the couch, they stay put. And since each bud weighs just 5.6 grams, they’re light enough to forget you’re even wearing them. You also get three sizes of ear tips and two sizes of wingtips in the box, which helps get that snug, comfy seal.

Sound Quality: Solid Bass, Clean Mids

Here’s where things get surprisingly good.

Even though the Buds FE uses a 1-way speaker setup, the audio experience is better than expected. Bass lovers will be especially happy these things bring the thump. Whether you’re into rap, dance, or even heavy metal, the low end has real presence.

Vocals are clear, mids are punchy, and for casual listening, they’re fantastic. The highs don’t exactly sparkle, and if you’re into more instrumental or classical tracks, you might feel they lack detail. But for under $100, you’re getting sound that easily competes with pricier options.

Active Noise Cancellation: It Actually Works

Let’s talk about the ANC. Most earbuds in this price range claim to have noise cancellation, but it’s usually weak. The Galaxy Buds FE, however, are actually decent in this department.

They reduce low-frequency noise pretty wellthink engine hum, AC sounds, or street traffic. It’s not the silence of premium ANC buds like the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, but it’s enough to keep you focused on your music or podcast without getting distracted.

There’s also an Ambient Sound mode, which does the opposite: it pipes in the outside world so you can stay aware while walking or working.

Battery Life: Goes the Distance

One of the strongest parts of this Samsung Galaxy Buds FE review is battery life.

You get:

• 6 hours of playback with ANC on
  
• 8.5 hours with ANC off
  
• And a total of up to 30 hours when you count the charging case
  

That’s more than enough to last you through a couple of days or even a full week if you’re not a heavy user. Unfortunately, wireless charging is missing, which feels like a missed opportunity. But with USB-C fast charging, you can top up quickly when needed.

Call Quality: Pretty Clear, Even Outside

Samsung put three mics in each earbudone inside, two outsideand uses what they call “Deep Neural Network (DNN)” noise reduction to help isolate your voice on calls.

In real use, they perform well. Callers hear you clearly, even with background noise like traffic or chatter. The wind resistance could be better, especially on breezy days, but for day-to-day Zoom calls, voice messages, and regular phone calls, they do the job.

Smart Features: Best With Galaxy Devices

The Buds FE play best with Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem. Pair them with a Galaxy phone and you unlock all sorts of extras:

• Auto Switch between Samsung devices like phones and tablets
  
• Seamless pairing via SmartThings Find
  
• Use Bixby for hands-free voice commands
  
• Access to Galaxy AI features on newer devices
  

If you’re using another Android phone, you’ll still get most features, especially through the Galaxy Wearable app. But iPhone users? Sorry there’s no support at all.

What Could Be Better?

Okay, no product is perfect. A few drawbacks:

• No IPX4 or better rating: You only get IPX2, which protects against light splashes but not sweat or rain.
  
• No wireless charging: In 2025, this really should be standard even for budget earbuds.
  
• No multipoint Bluetooth: You can’t connect to two devices at once, which some competitors in this price range offer.
  

Still, those feel like fair trade-offs when you consider what you’re getting overall.

Verdict: Should You Buy Them?

To wrap up this Samsung Galaxy Buds FE review, here’s the bottom line: for the price, these earbuds are a steal.

They sound great (especially if you like bass), offer effective ANC, and fit comfortably for hours. Add in the long battery life and smart features especially if you’re already using a Galaxy phone and you’ve got a compelling package that’s easy to recommend.

Sure, there are a few features missing, but none of them are dealbreakers. If you’re looking for reliable, budget-friendly earbuds that don’t feel cheap, the Galaxy Buds FE are definitely worth checking out.

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