Fan Edition returns to the Galaxy Buds once again – Samsung has skipped FE model in its Buds2 lineup, but this time, the Buds3 FE marks the return of the name, with a completely different design too. Here’s our first look.
Unboxing & First Impressions
The box opens by tearing off designated tear-offs which reveals the Galaxy Buds3 FE right away, which has undergone huge changes since the last FE model existed (and that’s the original Buds FE, since Samsung skipped it for the Buds2 series). It’s now adopting the AirPods-style stem form factor, and as a matter of fact, this is the same look inherited from the Galaxy Buds3 Pro earbuds.
The other things you’ll get aside from the earbuds and the case includes a quick start guide and two additional sizes of silicon eartips, which is stored in a paper container.
While officially Samsung calls this color ‘Gray’, it is only very slightly gray if you compare to true white. My eyeballs suggest to me this is around 10% shade gray, so if you aren’t comparing side-to-side you’ll assume this is a white colored Buds3 FE instead, the color of which Samsung doesn’t offer for this model (the other option is Black). In the Gray version, you get this two-tone design with transparent black case cover and the base internals, along with some parts of the earbuds themselves painted black.
Unlike the Buds3 Pro where LED lighting is embedded within the straight line dubbed ‘Blade’, the FE model lacks such feature. That’s not the only spot there lighting is removed – the two LEDs inside the case indicating each unit’s charging status have been removed as well, and you can see the plastic infill on their original spots. Touch controls remain identical though, located at the bottom side of the stem and operating the earbuds will require pinching the spot with two fingers.
First impressions? The case isn’t the smallest we’ve seen, although it is quite flat, meaning it has little issues slipping into small pockets. As I wrote this first impressions, I’m still trying to figure out the pinch controls and some of the quirks related to stem-based designs. Everything else from audio quality, ANC performance, comfort, battery life and more, we’ll have to conduct full testing to find out – until then, watch this space.
Specifications: Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE
| Form Factor | In-ear with stem, silicone eartips |
| Drivers | 11mm dynamic driver |
| Frequency Response | Unspecified |
| Microphones | 6 microphones (3 per side) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4 SBC, AAC, SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec) Samsung Auto Switch |
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Adjustable ANC mode Adjustable transparency mode |
| Companion App | Galaxy Wearable *Native feature integration with OneUI 8 and above |
| Battery | Earbuds (53mAh per unit) Up to 6 hours (ANC on) / 8.5 hours (ANC off) playback Charging Case (515mAh) Up to additional 18 hours (ANC on) / 21.5 hours (ANC off) playback |
| Dimensions & Weight | Earbuds 21.1 x 18.0 x 33.8mm / 5g (per unit) Charging Case 48.7 x 58.9 x 24.4mm / 41.8g |
| Colors | Black, Gray [As tested] |
| Ingress Protection | IP54 |
Stay tuned for the full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE here in Pokde.NET!
