Samsung's latest Galaxy Buds3 FE headphones deliver more than expected at an affordable price

Even though Samsung's most anticipated products of the year are over, the company isn't stopping there. After weeks of leaks and speculation, the Galaxy Buds3 FE are finally official.

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Buds3 FE, its latest budget earbuds.

As mentioned in the press release, Samsung today introduced the latest member of its Galaxy Buds lineup , the Galaxy Buds3 FE. If you're not familiar with the FE line, it's the Korean tech giant's "Fan Edition" lineup, where the company takes some of the best features from its premium devices and repackages them into a more affordable product. The Galaxy Buds3 FE are no exception, and could be the best value yet in Samsung's earbuds lineup.

Starting at $149.99, the Galaxy Buds3 FE feature an "iconic blade design" with a two-tone matte finish and are equipped with larger speakers than their predecessors.

With most affordable earbuds, you'll notice one thing: They leave out features that most users want, like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Take Apple's AirPods 4, for example. While there's a higher-end version with ANC, the standard $129 budget version doesn't have noise cancellation. Instead of going down a similar path, Samsung has once again kept ANC on its Fan Edition line, which is enabled by default and can be configured through device settings or the Galaxy Wearable app.

Buds3 FE also use Crystal Clear Cell technology, powered by "advanced machine learning models that are pre-trained to isolate your voice." This means you can take calls without being drowned out by noise, whether you're at a coffee shop, commuting, or working in a noisy environment.

Galaxy Buds3 FE delivers the AI features you really need

Of course, a device announced in 2025 without AI features would feel lacking. That's why Samsung built Galaxy AI smarts into the Buds3 FE, seamlessly integrating with the Galaxy AI features on Galaxy devices. For example, if you're traveling and chatting with someone from another country, you can use the earbuds with the Galaxy AI Interpreter app to translate the conversation.

You can also use the "Hey Google" command to ask questions, control playback, check your daily schedule or email, and more. Since earbuds are so easy to lose, the Buds3 FE are fortunate to have a built-in Find My Earbuds feature, allowing you to quickly find them from your phone.

Samsung claims the Buds3 FE can provide up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC on and a total of 24 hours with the charging case. With ANC off, the listening time increases to 8.5 hours and a total of 30 hours with the charging case. The Galaxy Buds3 FE will be available in the US starting September 4, 2025, in two colors: Black and Gray. You can also opt for a trade-in program, where you can get up to $30 off your wired or wireless earbuds.

Marvin Fry

Update 19 August 2025