Samsung Galaxy Buds FE review

A couple of 12 months in the past we examined the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional from Samsung, an excellent however slightly costly pair of true wi-fi headphones finest fitted to Android telephone house owners.

Now it’s time to check the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, a less expensive various that performs properly and even proves to have a number of benefits over its extra premium sibling.

One distinction that’s instantly noticeable is the design of the headphones. The place the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional had a barely rounder contact floor, it’s as an alternative minimize off and flat within the Galaxy Buds FE. Whether or not it’s extra engaging or not is debatable, however it’s undoubtedly extra sensible. It’s additionally very correct on the Galaxy Buds FE: unintended touches are only a few and the contact controls have simply the correct quantity of sensitivity.

One other distinction is that the Galaxy Buds FE are geared up with a pair of “wings”, which makes them far more steady and comfy within the ears. These wings will also be eliminated if you want. Three pairs of “plugs” are additionally included to make sure an ideal match.

By way of weight, there isn’t any main distinction. Galaxy Buds FE weigh 5.5 grams every, Galaxy Buds 2 Professional are 5 grams every. Nevertheless, the charging case for Galaxy Buds FE is barely lighter, 40 grams towards 44 grams for the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional.

As with the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, there’s a restrict to how a lot you possibly can change the settings for what the contact controls ought to do within the related app. It isn’t potential to alter what the one, double or triple faucet does, solely what “press and maintain” does.

It is a bit limiting, however much more limiting is that the app is just out there for Android. In different phrases, if you happen to’re an iPhone consumer, you possibly can’t change the settings for the contact controls in any respect.

Different options that iPhone customers miss out on embrace the equaliser, headphone match check and “discover my headphones”. Galaxy Buds FE even have barely fewer capabilities on Android than Galaxy Buds 2 Professional.

For instance, “voice detection” (which robotically disables the noise discount and lowers the quantity of the playback whenever you begin speaking), 360-degree sound and a few “Labs” capabilities are lacking.

Jan Sandbladh

Good sound, first rate noise cancellation

Regardless of being so small and delicate, the Galaxy Buds FE sound good. Admittedly, they don’t fairly attain the identical heights because the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, however contemplating the value, it’s okay.

Neither is the noise discount nearly as good because the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional’s. It is usually not potential to regulate the settings for it aside from turning it on or off. However right here, nevertheless, the Galaxy Buds FE will get assist from the wings and the tight design, which contributes to a passive noise discount that enhances the lively one.

And identical to the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, telephone calls are clear, noise-free and crisp.

Though the battery life is barely higher with the Galaxy Buds FE than with the Galaxy Buds Professional 2, it’s nonetheless not spectacular. With out the noise discount, it’s potential to get a complete of 30 hours of listening, in comparison with, for instance, Nothing Ear 2 which supplies 36 hours or the equally priced JBL Dwell Professional 2 which supplies a complete of 40 hours.

Lastly, not like the Galaxy Buds Professional 2, the Galaxy Buds FE lack help for wi-fi charging.

All in all, Galaxy Buds FE has each benefits and downsides in comparison with its greater brother, the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional. However contemplating the lower cost, the Galaxy Buds FE are arguably higher worth.

Jan Sandbladh

Specs

Product: Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
Examined: December 2023
Wi-fi: Bluetooth 5.2
System necessities: Android or iOS
Related app: Sure (Android solely)
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure
Arms-free operate: No
Help for voice management: Sure (Google Assistant and Alexa)
IP certification : IPX2 (Drip-proof)
Colors: Black and white
Weight (two headphones): 11 grams
Weight of charging case with out headphones: 40 grams
Measurement of charging case: 4.8 x 4.8 x 2.6 centimetres
Whole battery life with noise discount: 21 hours
Battery life with noise cancellation per cost: 6 hours
Battery life music-only whole: 30 hours
Battery life music-only per cost: 8.5 hours
Wi-fi charging of the field: No