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Samsung · Earbuds
Galaxy Buds3 FE
Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 FE: lower-cost ANC earbuds with the blade design, Bluetooth 5.4, IP54 earbuds, and up to 6 hours per charge with ANC on.
Released · First official release in any country
Global release: Released internationally; available in confirmed markets.
Samsung confirms US sales beginning September 4, 2025, ahead of the September 5 progressive rollout stated in its global announcement. These are regional on-sale dates; availability varies by market. Samsung US Newsroom: Galaxy Buds3 FE US pricing and availability, Samsung Global Newsroom: Galaxy Buds3 FE announcement and specification table Checked .
- Active noise cancellation
- Supported
- Bluetooth codecs
- Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC), AAC, SBC
- Listed battery duration
- 6 h
- Multipoint
- Not confirmed
- Configuration
- Models
- SM-R420 · All listed markets See all
- Colors
- Black, Gray
Is the Galaxy Buds3 FE right for you?
The Galaxy Buds3 FE are Samsung's lower-priced noise-canceling earbuds, released in September 2025 at $149.99 in the United States. They keep the stem-shaped blade design of Samsung's recent earbuds, with pinch and swipe controls, a single dynamic driver, three microphones per earbud, and an IP54 rating on the earbuds.
Samsung rates battery life at up to 6 hours per charge with ANC on and 8.5 hours with it off, or 24 and 30 hours with the case. That is more time per charge than Samsung lists for the Galaxy Buds4 (5 hours with ANC on), with the same 30-hour total. What the newer Buds4 and Buds4 Pro add is Bluetooth 6.1, LC3 and Auracast, adaptive noise canceling, and 24-bit audio on Galaxy phones.
They work best with a Samsung Galaxy phone. Auto Switch, the Galaxy AI Interpreter, and Live Translate need Galaxy devices, and the Galaxy Wearable app runs on Android only. With other phones they connect as ordinary Bluetooth earbuds.
A good fit if
- You have a Galaxy phone and want Samsung earbuds with noise canceling but do not need the Buds4 series' newer Bluetooth and audio features.
- You listen for long stretches: Samsung rates them at up to 6 hours per charge with ANC on.
- You switch between a Galaxy phone and tablet and want Auto Switch to follow you.
Look elsewhere if
- You want LC3, Auracast, or 24-bit audio: the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro list them.
- You need better water resistance: the Galaxy Buds4 Pro are rated IP57.
- You use an iPhone and want app control, since the Galaxy Wearable app is Android only.
Which configuration to choose
There is one model, SM-R420, with no storage or size options, and both colors, Black and Gray, are listed in every Samsung store checked for this record. The only decision is color. Samsung's US launch price was $149.99; store prices since then vary by market and promotion.
Full specifications
Audio
- Active noise cancellation
- Supported
- Bluetooth codecs
- Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC), AAC, SBC
Connectivity
- Multipoint
- Not confirmed
Battery
- Listed battery duration
- 6 h
- Battery conditions
- Up to 6 hours per charge and 24 hours with the case with ANC on; up to 8.5 and 30 hours with ANC off. Samsung internal testing with a Galaxy phone at default settings.
Durability
- Water resistance
- IP54 (earbuds only)
Compatibility
- Platform features
- Auto Switch between Samsung devices, 360 Audio, and Galaxy AI Interpreter and Live Translate with compatible Samsung Galaxy phones.
- Works with iPhone
- Not confirmed
- Phone requirements
- Samsung lists Android 11 or higher with more than 1.5 GB of memory for the Galaxy Wearable app, and says the earbuds connect as Bluetooth audio regardless of the phone's OS. Some features are unavailable on non-Samsung devices, and Samsung does not list iPhone app support.
Configurations & colors
- Black
- Gray
Match the regional model numbers to the confirmed markets below. These countries are verified by official sources; configurations and local stock can differ.
| Region and model | Configuration | Confirmed markets | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| All listed marketsSM-R420 | Standard | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, South Africa | Black, Gray |
Software & compatibility
Samsung lists Android 11 or higher with more than 1.5 GB of memory for the Galaxy Wearable app, and says the earbuds connect as Bluetooth audio regardless of the phone's OS. Some features are unavailable on non-Samsung devices, and Samsung does not list iPhone app support.
Works with iPhone: Not confirmed.
Source-backed strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Active noise canceling and Ambient Sound, per Samsung.
- Up to 6 hours per charge with ANC on and 30 hours in total with ANC off, per Samsung.
- Pinch and swipe controls on the stem, and a 5 g earbud.
Limitations
- Samsung lists SSC, AAC, and SBC only, without the LC3 and Auracast support of the Galaxy Buds4.
- IP54 applies to the earbuds only; the case has no rating.
- Galaxy AI features and Auto Switch need Samsung Galaxy devices.
Pricing
$149.99 · United States · launch price · Checked 2026-09-29 · Source
Sources & verification
Spotted a wrong value? Send us the official source.Report a correction
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