The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE offer premium features for $100 — but at a cost

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It’s kind of shocking that Samsung hasn’t already launched a pair of budget earbuds. Yes, several of its previous midrangers and flagships have seen significant price drops as low as under $100, but only now have we gotten official entry-level buds. Meet the all-new $99 Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.

What makes the Galaxy Buds FE different from past releases? According to Samsung, the company wanted to develop budget-tier buds that boasted fan-favorite features like active noise cancellation (ANC), ambient listening and Bixby voice assistance. While it’s impressive that they boast these upscale Samsung features, many compromises and omissions were made to accommodate the low price tag.

Here are the best (and worst) things I’ve found about the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE after testing them.

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE

These budget noise-canceling earbuds are a quality pickup for Galaxy smartphone users who want effective ANC and sound quality at an attainable price point.

$100 at Samsung
$100 at Amazon
$100 at Best Buy

What we liked about them

Semi-luxury features for a bargain

Having access to Samsung’s ANC for less than $100 is a pretty sweet deal. The Galaxy Buds FE’s version performs similarly to what you’ll find on some of the company’s best earbuds, including the Galaxy Buds Pro. It isn’t the class-leading noise reduction featured on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or Sony WF-1000XM5, but it’s sufficient for blocking out large amounts of unwanted sound. I was taken aback by how well the technology silenced common distractions around the house; my dishwasher and my wife’s speakerphone conversations were muted. Being outside with the buds provided some peaceful listening in public areas. Dog barking and pedestrian chatter never broke my concentration, though child screams and sirens did slip through.

Surprisingly, the buds’ unsung feature isn’t ANC; it’s Ambient Mode. This transparency setting does a fantastic job of capturing incidental sounds to increase situational awareness. I could hear my 2-year-old toddler’s cries when monitoring him during nap time via monitor as well as communicate with my wife from across the room. Using the feature outdoors kept me alert to oncoming traffic during night strolls. You can also adjust the ambient listening setting on either bud or enable the feature during calls to hear yourself louder.

Everything else that comes bundled is available on previous Galaxy Buds models. Auto Switch and easy pairing make switching between Galaxy devices a breeze. Bixby voice activation can be activated by saying the wake-word phrase; Samsung’s digital assistant operates flawlessly on Galaxy phones. Game Mode lowers latency when playing mobile games and watching videos. The Earbud Fit Test informs users of whether they achieved a proper seal. You even get third-party features like Spotify Tap to instantly access the streaming service directly from the buds.

Sufficient sound

Samsung downscaled its sound profile to meet the low price. However, it’s still fulfilling. The default EQ is solid, with robust bass that can be overly ambitious at times. You can swap it out for any of the other five EQs in the Galaxy Wearable app: Bass Boost, Clear, Dynamic, Soft or Treble Boost. Clear offered the most consistent quality.

The drum slams and guitar riffs on Blink-182’s “Anthem Part 3” were vigorous and stimulated headbanger vibes, thanks to AKG-engineered drivers that unleash punchy bass. I liked how crisp and well produced the crashing cymbals sounded over the chaotic hard rock production. Switching over to hip-hop, A Tribe Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxation” retained its mellow, bouncy vibes. Jazz elements sounded sharp, and vocal presentation was smooth. Tracks like Jay-Z’s “You’re Only a Customer” didn’t perform as well and demonstrated forceful bass that muddied up the soundstage. Playing these records on hi-fi music streaming services like Tidal boosted clarity.

Video content was satisfying to watch and hear. Action sequences in “John Wick: Chapter 4” were visceral; every punch and shotgun blast felt impactful. First Take clips also sounded clean; Stephen A. Smith’s sarcastic commentary had greater articulation and pronunciation.

The series’ longest battery life in the same chic charging case

On a full charge, the Galaxy Buds FE will last for six hours when using ANC. Turning off noise cancellation will extend it to eight and a half hours, which apparently is the longest playtime that Samsung has offered on any Galaxy Buds model. These battery life ratings were accurate and got me three days of moderate use (two and a half hours daily) before recharging.

Samsung’s compact and stylish charging case holds between 21 and 30 hours, depending how you use the buds. It’s neither the worst nor the best, but it’s adequate when factoring in the tiny design. This version looks no different than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s case. The small frame built entirely from plastic feels nice and sturdy in the hand and sits comfortably in any pocket. Both buds are displayed beautifully when you open the lid. Small details like the tiny LEDs for battery life and pairing indication are nice touches as well.

What we didn’t like about them

Not the best-looking Galaxy Buds out there

The Galaxy Buds FE sport a minimalist design that looks more like a prototype for the original Galaxy Buds. Samsung sells the buds in two bland colors: Graphite and White. It’s easy to mistake the protruding touch panel for a physical button since that’s exactly what it resembles. Thankfully, it’s highly responsive to tap and long-hold gestures. A full suite of media controls is also supported, including call management, digital assistance, playback, voice activation and volume adjustment.

Only one detail stands out, and that is the rubberized wing installed on each bud for optimal comfort and stability.

Many signature Samsung features are missing

Samsung wants you to believe that the Galaxy Buds FE carry lots of high-end features at an unbeatable price. That’s not entirely true. Major omissions include 360 Reality for spatial audio, Conversation Mode, Voice Detect and wireless charging. The popular Neck Stretch mode is also missing, so you can’t get reminders about practicing poor listening posture. One more downgrade is the Galaxy Buds FE’s IP rating (IPX2), which barely achieves the sweat- and water-resistant protection that the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (IPX7) do. High-end functionality is limited to ANC and sound customization, and those are features you can find on many rivals in the same price class.

Bottom line

The Galaxy Buds FE are not the low-cost, feature-filled alternative that most consumers might assume they are, but there are plenty of perks that make owning them worthwhile … if you’re a Galaxy device owner.

Strong noise cancellation is a huge selling point, along with customizable ambient listening settings and lengthy battery life. Call quality and controls also perform well. However, the lack of Samsung’s more advanced features and the uninspiring design with weak sweat resistance may convince you to look at the series’ other entries. Retailers like Amazon are selling the flagship Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for as low as $120, which have all of Samsung’s prime features in a more attractive package. Furthermore, many of the best budget earbuds out there come with similar and bigger feature sets.

In the end, the Galaxy Buds FE are a notable attempt at bargain noise cancelers that could benefit from more functionality — something that can hopefully be added in future updates.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

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