Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Buds 3 FE, the newest pair of wireless earbuds in its lineup. Think of them as the “Fan Edition” of last year’s Buds 3 series: they carry many of the same features as the Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro but come in at a lower price. For people who want noise cancellation, smart AI tools, and a modern design without spending top dollar, the Buds 3 FE land right in the middle of Samsung’s range.

The Buds 3 FE swap out the rounder look of older Galaxy Buds for what Samsung calls a Blade design—basically a stem, not unlike Apple’s AirPods. The stem isn’t just for style, though. It’s touch-sensitive, so you can pinch to play or pause, swipe to control volume, or hold down for shortcuts like activating Google Gemini.

Samsung also moved one of the microphones into the stem, placing it closer to your mouth to make calls sound clearer. Add in an IP54 rating, which means they can handle dust, sweat, and light rain, and you’ve got a set of earbuds designed for everyday use. They’ll be sold in black or gray, each with a matte dual-tone finish and subtle see-through accents.

Inside, the Buds 3 FE use a single dynamic driver that’s a bit larger than before. That upgrade is meant to deliver stronger bass and cleaner highs, even if they don’t quite match the richer two-way driver setup in the pricier Buds 3 Pro.

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is one of the headline features here, cutting down background chatter and environmental noise when you want to focus on music or podcasts. There’s also an ambient mode for the times you need to hear what’s going on around you.

On calls, the six-microphone setup works with Samsung’s machine learning–powered voice isolation to help your voice come through clearly. Wind and background noise are filtered out, making conversations sound more natural whether you’re in a busy café or walking down the street.

Samsung is also leaning into Galaxy AI with these earbuds. Just say “Hey Google” or press and hold on the stem, and you can use Google Gemini for hands-free assistance. That could mean checking your calendar, drafting a quick reply, or asking a question without pulling out your phone.

Another feature is the Galaxy AI Interpreter app, which pipes real-time translations straight into your earbuds. It’s designed for situations like attending a lecture in another language or chatting with someone who doesn’t speak your native tongue. Samsung has also built in support for Live Translate, so even phone calls can be translated on the fly.

Battery life is one of the biggest selling points of the Buds 3 FE. On a single charge, you can expect up to 6 hours with ANC turned on or 8.5 hours with it off. Factor in the charging case, and total playback time jumps to 24 hours with ANC and 30 hours without—the best numbers Samsung has quoted for any Galaxy Buds so far.

For calls, the earbuds themselves give you around 4 hours, with the case extending that to about 18 hours. The case houses a 515mAh battery, enough to recharge the buds multiple times before you need to plug it back in.

The Buds 3 FE use Bluetooth 5.4 and support Samsung’s Seamless Codec (SSC) alongside AAC and SBC. If you’re already in the Galaxy ecosystem, features like Auto Switch make it easy to hop between your phone, tablet, PC, or even your Samsung TV without fiddling with Bluetooth menus.

You also get Find My Earbuds, which makes the buds emit a sound if they go missing, and a simple pairing button on the case for quick connections. On Galaxy devices, the earbuds can even be managed right from system settings—no separate app needed.

The Galaxy Buds 3 FE launch in the U.S. on September 4, 2025, with a price tag of $149.99. That puts them below the Galaxy Buds 3 ($180) and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($250) but above Samsung’s first FE earbuds from 2023, which debuted at $100.

The Galaxy Buds 3 FE aren’t meant to replace the Buds 3 or Buds 3 Pro. Instead, they’re a middle option—bringing ANC, AI translation, a fresh design, and long-lasting battery life to people who don’t want to pay premium prices. By blending features from its higher-end earbuds with a more approachable price, Samsung is filling out its lineup for a wider audience.