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The Samsung Buds 3 FE Surprised Me in a Couple of Key Ways

The Galaxy Buds 3 FE cost $100 less than step-up Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and lack some nice features but they deliver excellent sound and may just be the better value.

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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e-readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers Credentials

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE

Pros

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Excellent sound quality if you get a tight seal
  • Good noise canceling performance
  • Top-tier voice-calling performance
  • Pinch-and-swipe controls work well
  • Bluetooth auto-switching between Samsung Galaxy devices you own

Cons

  • Missing some of the Buds 3 Pro’s features, including wireless charging, head-tracking and built-in voice controls and voice-detection
  • Some users may not be able to get a tight seal from the included eartips
  • Auto-switching between Galaxy devices but no real multipoint Bluetooth

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 FE ($150) look nearly identical to the flagship Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($250) but are missing those buds’ LED lighting element, have a single-driver design instead of a dual-driver design and leave off a few other extras. Now that I’ve fully tested the Buds 3 FE, I’m impressed with their performance. If you don’t mind missing those features, they’re a better value than the Buds 3 Pro. That’s why I’ve awarded them a CNET Editors’ Choice.

 Read moreBest wireless earbuds of 2025

All-black is a good look

Like the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE have a noise-isolating design with silicone eartips, and they feature noise-canceling as well as a transparency mode. Aside from the missing lighting element, the biggest difference cosmetically are the color options for the Buds 3 FE, which are available in gray or black. I personally like the all-black version I received (it’s a matte finish, which is nice), and I preferred its dark vibe to that of the silver Buds 3 Pro I tested.


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The Galaxy Buds 3 FE’s «blade» design is a departure from the previous Galaxy Buds FE ($70), which have a stemless design with wing tips that help lock the buds in your ears. I was still able to get a tight seal with the 3 FE’s largest included eartips, which is crucial for optimal sound quality and noise-canceling performance. But it was close call and I would have preferred if Samsung had included a slightly larger XL tip so I didn’t have to worry about losing the seal. If you’re unable to get a tight seal from any of the included tips (I suspect a certain small percentage of users will encounter this problem), you can seek out third-party tips.

The buds are lightweight at 5 grams per bud and fit my ears quite comfortably (the Buds 3 Pro weigh slightly more at 5.4 grams per bud). The Buds 3 FE have an IP54 rating, which means they’re splash-proof and dust-resistant (their case is not water-resistant and doesn’t offer wireless charging like the Buds 3 Pro’s case). Meanwhile the Buds 3 Pro have an IP57 rating, which means they’re dust-resistant and can be fully submerged in water for a short period of time.    

Better sound and noise canceling than I expected

I suspected there would be a slight drop-off in sound quality with the Galaxy Buds 3 FE, because of its less elaborate drivers. The more expensive Buds 3 Pro have a planar driver and a dynamic driver that helps improve clarity and treble performance, while the Buds 3 FE have a single 11mm dynamic driver. 

When I got the chance to compare them to one another directly, I was surprised. To my ears the Buds 3 FE sound as good or better than the Buds 3 Pro. They sound smooth and even-keeled, with nice detail, well-defined bass and good openness with a pretty wide soundstage. Android users can tweak the sound using the equalizer settings in the companion app (there are some preset EQs along with a fully customizable one you can create), but I mainly stuck with the default EQ setting.    

Usually buds with dual drivers deliver a bit richer sound with more depth to it, but the Buds 3 FE seem really well tuned; they just sound right. There are competing buds that offer slightly more energetic bass and sound more articulate and revealing, but they tend to cost more.

I faulted the Buds 3 Pro for not having better active noise canceling (ANC), but from my tests the Buds 3 FE seem to offer improved ANC performance a bit from the Buds 3 Pro. Although their noise canceling isn’t quite up to the level of what you get with the AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), it did a decent job muffling ambient noise across a fairly wide range of frequencies.

I also thought the voice-calling performance and transparency modes were good. Both the Buds 3 Pro and the Buds 3 FE are adept at filtering out background noise while picking up your voice well. As I walked the streets of New York, callers said they could hear some ambient sounds, including people’s voices, but they were fairly muted. And they said they could hear me «pretty clearly.» I give them an A- for voice-calling performance. 

Similar features to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (but missing some) 

I used the Buds 3 FE with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 as well an iPhone 16 Pro. The audio wouldn’t automatically switch between my iPhone and Flip 6, but Samsung users get automatic pairing and switching between their Galaxy devices, including laptops. I was able to pair the buds with my Galaxy Tab 11 and Flip 6 and have the audio automatically switch between them. 

They have ear-detection sensors, but annoyingly they only pause your music automatically when you remove both buds from your ears and don’t resume playback when you put the buds back in (the Buds 3 Pro support the resume playback feature). Samsung’s standard 360 audio feature is supported via the Samsung Wearable app, but the Buds 3 FE do not have head-tracking like the Buds 3 Pro, which helps create enhanced spatial audio more akin to what you get with Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 buds. Also missing: There’s no support for LE audio along with the new Auracast feature that allows you to hear Bluetooth broadcasts in public places like gyms.

Samsung touts the Buds 3 FE’s AI features, which include «accessing Gemini for conversational AI assistance and Galaxy AI Interpreter app to use Real-Time Interpreter or Live Translate to translate phone calls.» Hands-free Google Assistant is available for Android devices but the Buds 3 FE are missing one of the Buds 3 Pro’s underrated features: built-in voice controls. These allow you to raise and lower volume, pause and play your music, skip tracks forward and back, and answer and end calls, with no wake word required. For example, you simply say, «play music,» «next song» or «volume down.» 

The Buds 3 FE are also missing the Buds 3 Pro’s Voice Detect feature (it can be toggled on or off in the Galaxy Wear app), which is similar to Apple’s Conversation Awareness mode that lowers the volume of the music or any audio you’re listening to and activates the buds’ ambient mode when you start talking to someone. Instead of pausing your music, it just reduces the volume to a low level. It’s a useful feature.

The Buds 3 FE are rated for up to 6 hours with ANC on and closer to 8 hours hours with it off. If you listen to your music at higher volume levels, those numbers will drop, as I ended up getting a little less than 5 hours with ANC on. The Buds 3 FE have similar battery life to the Buds 3 Pro but the total battery life with the case (up to 30 hours) is slightly better than the rating for the Buds 3 Pro’s battery life.

Here is a summation of what’s missing from the Galaxy Buds 3 FE compared to the Buds 3 Pro:

  • No wireless charging
  • No LED lighting element
  • No head-tracking
  • No support for LE Audio and Auracast
  • Buds 3 FE have ear-detection sensors but only pause your music when you take both buds out and don’t resume playback when you put them back in like Buds 3 Pro
  • No built-in voice controls like Buds 3 Pro (that don’t require a phone connection), although hands-free Google Assistant and Samsung’s Bixby are available for Android devices.
  • No voice-detect feature
  • IP54 (splash-proof) rating instead of IP57 (water-proof)

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE final thoughts

While the earlier Galaxy Buds FE seemed like a different set of earbuds from the Galaxy Buds Pro 2, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE hue more closely to the FE philosophy for other Samsung products (like phones and tablets). They truly appear to be a stripped down version of the flagship Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. When I dug a little deeper into the feature comparisons between the two Galaxy buds, I realized that the Buds 3 FE were missing more features than I thought they did. The majority I could live without (LED lighting elements, wireless charging and head-tracking for spatial audio, for example), but I really like Buds 3 Pro’s built-in voice commands and voice-detection features. 

If the Buds 3 FE fit differently and had worse sound quality, noise canceling and voice-calling performance than Buds 3 Pro, they’d be hard to recommend. But there’s no fall-off in those key departments — the noise canceling on the Buds 3 FE seems improved and some people may actually like the sound of the Buds 3 FE slightly better than the Buds 3 Pro. If you looking for a pair of more Android-centric earbuds that nail fit, sound and voice-calling and also feature decent noise canceling, they’re an excellent option.        

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE key specs

  • Weight per bud: 5 grams
  • 1-Way dynamic driver
  • Enhanced active noise canceling and transparency modes
  • 3 mics (Samsung Crystal Clear Call technology)
  • Bluetooth 5.4
  • Battery life: Up to 6 hours with noise-canceling on (single-charge) with three additional charges in the case
  • IP54 dust-resistant and splash-proof
  • Pinch and swipe touch controls
  • Supported audio codecs: SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec), AAC and SBC
  • Ear-detection sensors
  • Hands-free Google Assistant with Gemini integration
  • Support for Galaxy AI Interpreter app
  • Auto Switch allows for seamlessly connectivity across Galaxy devices
  • FindMy Earbuds feature

Technologies

Artemis II Astronauts Name Moon Crater After Commander Reid Wiseman’s Late Wife

The emotional moment was streamed by NASA moments after the crew made history.

On Monday, after the crew aboard Artemis II made a historic feat by breaking Apollo 13’s distance record, they made the moment even more special by proposing to name one of the craters on the moon «Carroll,» in memory of Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. 

While contacting Mission Control, Mission Specialist and astronaut Jeremy Hansen stated that the «close-knit astronaut family» previously lost a loved one who was «the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie.» 

«It’s a bright spot on the moon,» Hansen said while describing the crater during the emotional call. «And we would like to call it Carroll.»

After the request, you can see Wiseman embrace Hansen before the rest of the crew joins in for a group hug. 

Carroll Wiseman died in 2020 at 46 years old from cancer. Wiseman’s NASA bio page states that Carroll «dedicated her life to helping others as a newborn intensive care unit Registered Nurse.» 

Before the Artemis II mission, Wiseman posted a selfie with his two daughters on X with a caption that reads in part, «I love these two ladies, and I’m boarding that rocket a very proud father.»

Follow CNET’s coverage of the 10-day Artemis II mission as the Orion makes its way back to Earth.

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Technologies

Artemis II Astronauts Are Using iPhones to Capture Stunning Space Images

After smartphones were cleared by NASA for space missions, the crew members of the Integrity spacecraft are beaming back lots of iPhone photos.

The four astronauts aboard the Integrity spacecraft now headed home from their historic arc around the moon really are like the rest of us: Sometimes they reach for their smartphones to snap photos.

For the Artemis II mission, iPhone 17 Pro Max phones have been used to capture photos inside the capsule of the astronauts pondering the views of Earth and working on mission objectives. (Technically, NASA refers to them as PCDs – personal computing devices.)

Smartphones were cleared for use in space for the first time in February. In a post on X, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote, «We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.»

Early in the mission, Commander Reid Wiseman snapped a pair of photos looking out the window with Earth behind him. Mission specialist Christina Koch and her dynamic curls in zero-gravity also captured a pensive view looking out over the planet. All three were made using the front camera — because wouldn’t you want to grab a selfie if you were in space?

The iPhone 17 Pro’s rear cameras are pulling their own weight during the mission, too. During the live broadcast as the crew approached the moon, Wiseman took a photo of the moon’s surface using the iPhone’s telephoto camera at 8x zoom. He turned the screen toward one of the video cameras mounted inside the spacecraft, creating an image of the moon’s surface alone against the darkness of the unlit cabin, with the iPhone’s signature rounded edges and Dynamic Island cutout at the top.

The main photo workhorses on this trip are a Nikon D5 DSLR and a Nikon Z9. The D5 is a model that has been used on several space excursions, and the Z9 is onboard as an experimental camera.

For NASA missions, every piece of equipment must be tested and certified, which is why the previously-approved D5 has a secure spot. Cameras must be resistent to space environmental factors like radiation, and safe if they’re floating around the capsule. However, the iPhones in space now are off-the-shelf models, according to a report by Jackie Watties of CNN.

The moon flyby was especially photo-intensive, with astronauts switching places several times so that two were always at windows with cameras and relating what they could see with their eyes. This photo of mission specialist and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen taking images using one of the Nikon cameras shows how some windows have camera shrouds attached. The shroud ensures that light from the interior isn’t reflected in the glass.

In a particularly relatable photo, Hansen is also using the front-facing camera of a white iPhone 17 Pro — as a portable mirror while he shaves. As the (modified) saying goes, the best selfie screen is the one you have with you.

The iPhone 17 Pro isn’t the first Apple product to go into space. Crew members have taken iPods, iPads and AirPods on missions since the Space Shuttle era. The Mac Portable even went up on a shuttle (and revealed that its trackball in zero-G isn’t the best option).

An Apple representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Technologies

Hades 2, the Award-Winning Sequel, Joins Xbox Game Pass in April

Game Pass Premium subscribers are getting a handful of games, including the remastered Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.

Hades 2 was selected as one of CNET’s best games of 2025, but don’t take our word for it. The game won Best Action Game at the 2025 Game of the Year awards, Best Game on Steam Deck at the Steam Awards and a bevy of other accolades after its release. If you haven’t had the chance to play this stellar sequel yet, you can on Xbox Game Pass starting on April 14.

Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($30 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including Day One releases, each month. 

Here are the games Microsoft plans to bring to Game Pass in April. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in March, including Cyberpunk 2077.


DayZ

Coming to PC on April 8, joining Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential and PC Game Pass.

This online multiplayer survival game is coming to PC. An unknown virus has turned the population of the post-Soviet country of Chernarus into zombies, and you’re one of the last few survivors. You’ll have to scavenge for supplies among the ruins while fighting off zombies and other survivors alike. But how far will you go to save yourself?


Endless Legend 2 (Game preview)

New to Game Pass Premium on April 8. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Lead your faction to build a great empire that can crush your enemies in this fantasy strategy game. You can play as warriors descended from the stars, cursed knights or hive-minded beasts, but each faction has its strengths, weaknesses and unique philosophies that can influence the rest of the game. And fending off enemies is just one challenge in this game. You’ll have to adapt to the changing environment as well. Will you expand as the tides reveal new treasures, or focus on improving your defenses?


FBC: Firebreak

New to Game Pass Premium on April 8. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

The Federal Bureau of Control is under attack from otherworldly forces, and it’s up to you and your versatile unit to restore order. You’ll fight chaotic entities, leeches and a monster made of sticky notes using guns, grenades and other supernatural weapons. You can play this first-person shooter game on your own or take on the chaos of the FBC with friends in three-player co-op. 


Planet Coaster 2

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on April 9.

This might not be the classic RollerCoaster Tycoon, but it’s close enough. You’ll build your own roller coasters and water slides, manage your amusement park and create unforgettable experiences for your guests. It’s unclear if you can launch your coasters off the rails into waiting crowds. Will report back later.


Tiny Bookshop

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on April 10.

I have long dreamed of opening my own bookshop, and until I come into a lot of money, this game will have to do. You can stock your bookshop with different genres and items for sale, set up shop in scenic locations — like near a lighthouse — and get to know the locals in this cozy management game.


Football Manager 26 (PC and console)

New to Game Pass Premium on April 13. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Get ready for a more immersive matchday experience in the latest installment of the Football Manager franchise. You can build a star-studded squad with new transfer tools, and this entry features official Premier League licenses and women’s football for the first time in the series’ history.


Hades 2

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on April 14.

Following the events of the original game, the Titan of Time Chronos has returned and laid waste to the Underworld and Earth. As the immortal princess Melinoe, you’re tasked with stopping the titan and restoring the mythic world. Each time you venture out, you’ll learn more about the world around you and discover the true cause of all the destruction and pain.


Replaced

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Day One on April 14.

Can AI ever be human? I’m not talking about ChatGPT or Gemini, but REACH, an AI trapped in a human’s body, in this narrative platformer game. You’ll explore an alternate 1980s America that’s scarred from nuclear catastrophe as you try to uncover the secrets of the Phoenix Corps, the same group that created you. It’s a cyberpunk Frankenstein with plenty of exploration and fluid action sequences.


The Thaumaturge

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on April 14.

By definition, a thaumaturge is a miracle worker or magician, and in this roleplaying game, you’re a master of mystical arts that allow you to peer into the hearts and minds of others. After the death of your father, you returned to an alternate 1900s Warsaw to investigate his death, fight supernatural forces and uncover the truth. 


The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

New to Game Pass Premium on April 16. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

A fanatical cult is trying to open gates to the demonic realm of Oblivion, and it’s up to you to stop them and seal the gates forever in the remastered version of this open-world RPG. You can rediscover the world of Cyrodiil (or experience it for the first time in updated glory), encounter unique characters and save the land. 


EA Sports NHL 26

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on April 16.

As the NHL regular season winds down, the playoffs and the fight for the Stanley Cup are heating up. And with the latest installment in this EA Sports franchise, you can ensure your favorite team brings home the cup. This entry in the series introduces new gameplay mechanics, such as Ice Q 2.0 and a goalie crease control system, to add additional challenges. So if you want to see the Florida Panthers win the cup back-to-back, or you want to make absolutely sure that never happens, this game is for you.


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on April 17.

Modern Warfare redefined the Call of Duty series when it was released almost 20 years ago, and the rebooted version of the classic game drops you right back to where it started. You’ll control CIA and SAS special forces as they attempt to stop rebels from the fictional Republic of Urzikstan. And if the campaign’s not enough, you can hone your skills in the immersive, fast-paced multiplayer.


Little Rocket Lab

New to Game Pass Premium on April 21. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Your family’s dream project has been to build a rocket, and you’re going to fulfill their dream in this cozy, machine-building RPG. But first, you have to build clever contraptions, convert local resources and become the heart of your community before you can complete your ultimate rocket-building task.


Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato

New to Game Pass Premium on April 21. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Miho goes to the pantry to grab a potato for his grandmother’s soup when he lands in a fantastical land. Now he has to find his way back home by following in the footsteps of a mysterious traveler from long ago. You’ll meet quirky characters, gather exotic ingredients and take in vibrant environments in this world of magical realism inspired by Latin America.


Vampire Crawlers

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Day One on April 21.

From the creators of the indie darling Vampire Survivors comes this turn-based, deck-building, roguelite game. You’ll explore dungeons that might look familiar to Vampire Survivors veterans, fight monsters and build chaotic, broken decks along the way. So be tactical in your choices or blast away every chance you get!


Kiln

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Day One on April 23.

Kiln is about creating beautiful pottery filled with artistry and wonder… and smashing it all to pieces in the arena. This online, multiplayer party brawler pits you against others to see which pottery design can withstand the heat and which can dish out a beating.


Two games come to Game Pass Essential subscribers on April 8

Game Pass Essential costs $10 a month and offers access to a relatively small library of games compared to Game Pass Premium and Ultimate. While Microsoft doesn’t regularly add many games to Essential’s library, it’s adding these two on April 8.

Games leaving the service on April 15

While Microsoft is adding the above games to Game Pass, it is also removing five games from the service on April 15, including GTA 5. That means you still have a little time left to complete your main campaign and any sidequests before you’ll have to buy these games separately.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.

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