Samsung Buds3 FE Launched! My Take 🤔
We have the Galaxy Buds3 FE announced by Samsung. It launches September 4th on Samsung’s website at $150.
We already know much about the Buds3 FE from Samsung’s press release, but it isn’t what they said in the press release that’s interesting, it’s what Samsung didn’t say, specificlly, which corners did they cut compared to the Buds3 Pro? That is what we are going to dive into, as well as why you shouldn’t rush to order the Buds3 FE just yet. And when I get my hands on a review unit, I’ll come back with a full comparison including sound samples and measurements.
This being the cheaper FE model, which corners were cut? According to the release by Samsung, the Buds3 FE only has a single driver instead of the dual dynamic+planar magnetic driver setup of the Buds3 Pro, so right off the bat, there is going to be a sound quality difference. Possibly less crispness, air and sizzle.
But that’s not all. Its water resistance will also be weaker, at IP54 vs IP57. actually, IP54 is not bad. It can still withstand splashes f water, rain and sweat, but not if you accidentally drop it into the toilet. (If it’s happened to you, I don’t want to ask how or why, just know that the Pro can withstand that better, if you didn’t flush.)
As expected, it looks exactly like the Buds3 Pro, except that it comes in a color the Pro model should have come in - which is a very sexy black. (Why they won’t make a black Buds3 Pro is beyond me.)
It's the same blade design, but interestingly, Samsung didn’t show a picture of the blade lights on it. If they didn’t show it, most likely they don’t have those lights, which many have said they didn’t need anyway. (Either it’s just nice to look at, or it draws too much attention.)
What wasn’t so clear from the press release is if these will support wireless charging, LC3 codec, Auracast and UHQ, or Ultra High Quality audio.
Now, it will make total sense if they don’t do wireless charging, although at this price, they should, given that many cheaper models out there do have Qi wireless charging.
As for LC3, Auracast and UHQ, until I see some evidence that they do support them, maybe when the official product listing’s put up on Samsung’s website, I’m going to assume that it doesn’t support these goodies.
So why shouldn’t you order it yet? That’s because, even if it is cheaper, most of the time, it is not that much cheaper than the Pro model. Amazon has it at $189 at most, which is barely 40 bucks more than the FE.
And based on the features it doesn’t have, if I were to pick right now, the Pro model seems to be a no-brainer.
But of course, if it turns out through my testing and comparison that the Buds3 FE is better than the Pro at certain things, that equation could change. Just like how the original Buds FE had better fit, bass and call quality than the Buds2 Pro at that time. And who knows if the Buds3 Pro will still be 189 bucks on September 4th when the FE launches?
