Samsung Galaxy Buds FE: A Return to Comfort and Value
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Review The Perfect Fit Makes All the Difference
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Fit is Everything!
People can become quite attached to the way their earbuds fit snugly in their ears. Manufacturers often go on about the meticulous design process that goes into creating these tiny audio devices, but let’s face it, there will always be those who prefer the old ways. Enter Samsung’s new noise-canceling Galaxy Buds FE.
Priced at just $99.99, these earbuds are now Samsung’s entry-level offering. While they may lack some of the frills found in the flagship Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, they make up for it in baseline value. And it’s not just the price that’s intriguing about these buds, it’s their design. Unlike Samsung’s more recent rounded efforts, the Galaxy Buds FE are a spiritual successor to the Galaxy Buds Plus, complete with silicone “wings” that keep them firmly planted in your ears. Their flattened touchpad area also makes it easier to control them.
The Good and The Bad
Let’s take a closer look at what the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE bring to the table:
The Good
- Reliable performance with satisfactory sound
- Good noise cancellation for the price
- Flat buttons that are easier to interact with
The Bad
- No wireless charging
- No multipoint Bluetooth
- Wing fins may not improve fit for everyone
Sounds pretty good, right? But that’s not all. You can grab a pair for just $100 at Amazon, $100 at Best Buy, or $100 at Samsung.
Notable Omissions
Of course, there are a few things missing from the Galaxy Buds FE. Don’t expect to find Samsung’s 360 Audio or conversation mode in these buds. They also lack the advanced gesture controls found in their pricier counterparts. But the biggest departure is the absence of wireless charging. This cost-cutting measure is certainly noticeable, especially when the previous Buds Plus offered Qi charging. Another cost-saving aspect is their water resistance rating, which is just IPX2 compared to the usual IPX4, or the impressive IPX7 of the Buds 2 Pro.
The Essentials and a Quirky Setup
Despite the omissions, the Galaxy Buds FE still manage to preserve some important features like active noise cancellation and a transparency mode for ambient sound passthrough. The noise cancellation is surprisingly good for the price, but the transparency mode falls a bit short compared to the Buds 2 Pro. Samsung also throws in a game mode for reduced latency and auto-switching between Galaxy devices, which is a nice touch. However, true multipoint Bluetooth is missing, and while Samsung’s fast-switching feature within their own ecosystem is okay, it’s not a great substitute. On the bright side, the SmartThings app allows you to locate the buds and receive notifications if you accidentally leave them behind.
Now, let’s talk about the setup process. Samsung has a peculiar approach to setting up their earbuds through the Galaxy Wearable app. You not only need to download the app, but also an add-on specifically for the Galaxy Buds FE. It’s a multistep process that feels like a blast from the past. Why can’t everything be seamlessly integrated into one app? Samsung, we’re in 2023! This odd setup works the same way even on Samsung phones, where you’d expect a more native experience.
Fit, Sound, and Battery Life
The entry-tier Buds FE are available in black or white, without any flashy purple colors. The box includes three sizes of ear tips and two pairs of wing tips. Make sure to try both sizes of the wing tips to determine the most secure fit. The glossy white carrying case is nearly identical in shape and size to the cases of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Buds 2, and Buds Live, so if you have accessories for those cases, they should work with this one.
In terms of sound quality, the Buds FE show improvement over the older Galaxy Buds Plus, but they don’t quite match the fidelity of the Buds 2 Pro. They follow Samsung’s standard tuning curve, which most listeners will find enjoyable. Treble may feel a bit subdued out of the box compared to the Pro buds, but this actually helps avoid unpleasant sibilance. And if you want to fine-tune the audio, the Galaxy Wearable app offers several EQ presets. While the Buds FE don’t include head-tracking spatial audio, which is reserved for Samsung’s more expensive earbuds, the sound quality is still impressive for the price. Voice call performance is also satisfactory, and you can customize the buds to make it easier to hear yourself during calls.
When it comes to battery life, the Buds FE shine. They offer up to six hours of listening time with ANC on and 8.5 hours with it off. The case extends these totals to 21 and 30 hours, respectively. While my real-world experience was slightly shorter than Samsung’s estimates, I still enjoyed over five hours of continuous playback on multiple occasions. These earbuds never left me wanting for more, which is all one can really ask for in terms of endurance.
Mandatory Agreements
Now, before you dive into using the Galaxy Buds FE, there are a couple of agreements you need to agree to. Like most Bluetooth earbuds, you can use them without agreeing to anything in software. However, if you want to access all the features and customize settings, you’ll need to download the essential Galaxy Wearable app and agree to Samsung’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. So, make sure you’re ready to hit that “agree” button a couple of times.
Conclusion: Comfort and Value
With the Galaxy Buds FE, Samsung fills a gap in their earbuds lineup with a much-needed entry-level model. If you’re still holding onto a pair of the Buds Plus with deteriorating battery life, these earbuds are a sensible upgrade. However, if you crave a broader set of features and higher fidelity sound, the Buds 2 Pro might be the better choice. Personally, the wing fins of the Galaxy Buds FE didn’t offer much benefit for me. But for many, a comfortable fit is paramount, and if Samsung’s previous-gen earbuds were a better match for your ears than the current models, the Galaxy Buds FE will be a welcome return to that familiar design. You don’t always need flashy new features. At $99.99, these buds offer good value and reliability. And hey, if they go on sale during the holidays, they’ll be a no-brainer for Android users looking for a quality pair of earbuds without breaking the bank.
Photo: Chris Welch / The ENBLE
