Headphones · 2023 · Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE

The Galaxy Buds FE are Samsung’s affordable in-ear earbuds with a wingtip design, active noise cancellation (ANC) and long battery life. They use a single-way driver, three microphones per bud and Bluetooth 5.2; there is no wireless charging. Owners like the fit, the bass-forward sound and the ANC for the price; microphone, static and charging problems in the left bud have been reported individually.

Galaxy Buds FE (SM-R400); Graphite or White. The Galaxy Buds3 FE released in 2025 is a separate product.

Specifications

SpecificationValue
Driver and sound1-way speaker; Scalable (Samsung proprietary), AAC and SBC codecs

The Scalable codec is Samsung’s codec that adjusts bitrate to connection quality and works with Galaxy devices; other phones use AAC or SBC. The high-resolution SSC Hi-Fi codec is not supported.

Noise cancellationActive Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Sound

ANC picks up outside sound with microphones and suppresses it with an inverse wave; Ambient Sound lets outside sound in so you can hear without removing the buds.

Microphones3 microphones per earbud (2 outer + 1 inner)

Samsung says automatic personalized beamforming and a DNN separate speech from background noise.

BatteryEarbud 60 mAh, case 479 mAh (typical); 6 hours with ANC on (21 hours with case), 8.5 hours with ANC off (30 hours with case); talk time 3.5 hours with ANC on

The case does not support wireless charging; it charges over a USB-C cable.

ConnectivityBluetooth 5.2; Auto Switch, SmartThings Find

Auto Switch moves audio automatically between Galaxy phones, tablets and watches on the same Samsung account. SmartThings Find shows the buds’ last location.

Fit3 sizes of ear tips and 2 sizes of wingtips

Wingtips grip the ear to help the buds stay in place during exercise.

SensorsProximity, Hall, touch

The proximity sensor pauses music when a bud is removed; the touch surface controls playback and modes.

CompatibilityAndroid 8.0 or later with more than 1.5 GB of RAM

Some features do not work on non-Samsung devices.

Size and weightEarbud 17.1 × 19.2 × 22.2 mm, 5.6 g; case 50.0 × 27.7 × 50.0 mm, 40.0 g

From the manufacturer

Samsung says the Buds FE have the longest battery life in the Buds series and use AI-assisted beamforming to separate the voice from the background on calls. Samsung Global Newsroom

Owner experiences and issues

  • Owners most often praise the comfortable and secure fit (wingtips keeping them in during exercise), the ANC for the price, the bass-heavy sound and the battery life. ANC and Ambient Sound being weak or hissy, the lack of wireless charging and a lost bud only showing where the case was last opened are among the criticisms. Individually reported problems include the left bud’s microphone failing after a week (one owner replaced them twice, another wrote they sounded far away on calls), static and painful feedback in the left bud, the left bud not charging in the case, no sound from either bud after a year, and one user reporting an allergic reaction. These reports do not indicate a failure rate.

    The first 350 reviews on Best Buy Canada listing 18658273; most are syndicated from Samsung US and Best Buy US, and 328 were collected as part of a promotion (incentivized).

    Best Buy Canada: Samsung Galaxy Buds FE reviews

Tags

2023SAMSUNGGALAXY-BUDSANCTRUE-WIRELESSBLUETOOTH

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Sources

  1. Samsung Global Newsroom: Galaxy S23 FE, Tab S9 FE and Buds FE announcement and specifications
  2. Samsung Gulf Support: Galaxy Buds FE specifications and design
  3. Best Buy Canada: Samsung Galaxy Buds FE reviews