What’s weirder is that even though the Buds3 FE have wear sensors, Samsung only uses them to determine if you’re wearing the buds when a call comes in; they can’t be used to auto-pause your tunes when you remove one or both buds.
The Galaxy Buds3 FE have the same Samsung-exclusive 360 Audio mode as the Buds3 Pro, albeit without the Pro’s optional head tracking. On most tracks, I found it unappealing as it both diluted and diffused the sound. And yet, now and then, I’d come across a song that benefits from the effect, like “Birds” by Dominique Fils-Aimé, which takes on an airy, ethereal vibe.
A Solid Pair
Samsung via Simon Cohen
I have to give Samsung props for a very clever, though once again exclusive, software trick. From inside any audio app on your Galaxy phone, you can swipe down to get to the volume control. Long-press on the volume slider and you’ll be given three options: 360 Audio, EQ setting, and loudness normalization. They’re the same options from the Wear app, but your preferences will be assigned to the app you’re using. So now, I can set Netflix to always use 360 Audio, while keeping it turned off for Apple Music. This is such a good idea, I wish every phone/headphone combo offered it.
Battery life on the Galaxy Buds3 FE is on the average side of what we can expect these days. The company claims you’ll get six hours of ANC listening (24 with the case) or 8.5 and 30 hours respectively when you keep ANC turned off. From what I can tell, these numbers are accurate, but only if you keep volume below 50 percent. That’s not going to be easy unless you use the Loudness normalization mode. They have some other nifty features (again, Samsung-only) that I didn’t test, including support for the real-time translation feature offered by compatible Samsung phones, and hands-free access to Bixby, Read Notifications Aloud, and Find My Earbuds.
Given how many Samsung-only features the Galaxy Buds3 FE possess, it’s hard to make direct comparisons to other earbuds. The closest comparison is to standard AirPods (which are markedly worse) or Google’s Pixel Buds (which are about the same), given how seamlessly they integrate with their ecosystem.
If you’re looking for a good alternative that isn’t ecosystem-exclusive on features, I strongly recommend Soundcore’s Liberty 4 Pro ($150). They’re the same price and all of their features are universally supported on iPhones and Android handsets. Plus, they have some features that the Buds3 FE lack, like Bluetooth Multipoint, LDAC (which works with any Android phone), auto-pause, and a smart case that supports wireless charging. That said, they’re not as natively compatible with Samsung’s phones, and if that’s what you care about, the Buds3 FE are a good deal.
