Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 | Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — with case | 24 h | 30 h |
| Spatial audio | true | false |
| Weight per bud | 4.7 g | 5.6 g |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IPX2 |
Between the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds FE, the Galaxy Buds 3 comes out ahead in spatial audio / weight per bud, while the Galaxy Buds FE wins on battery — with case. Overall, the Galaxy Buds 3 scores 74.4 and the Galaxy Buds FE scores 73.8 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (74.4 vs 73.8). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the Galaxy Buds 3 if audio quality and feature breadth (ANC, codecs, multipoint) are the lead criteria for your purchase. The biggest gaps in its favor are spatial audio, weight per bud, water resistance. The single most decisive one: Has Spatial audio.
Pick the Galaxy Buds FE if you care most about battery — with case. Its strongest claims are battery — with case. The single most decisive one: Battery — with case — 25.00% more. 30 h vs 24 h.
Both ship with comparable battery — buds, active noise cancellation, driver size, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 or Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE?
Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 leads the current Mars Score by 0.6 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare weight per bud against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 if…
Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 has the measurable edge on has spatial audio, weight per bud g, ip rating.
Choose Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE if…
Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE has the measurable edge on battery life case h.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 wins
- ▲Has Spatial audio.
- ▲Weight per bud — 0.90 g less. 4.7 vs 5.6.
- ▲Water resistance: IP57 (vs IPX2).
Why Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE wins
- ▲Battery — with case — 25.00% more. 30 h vs 24 h.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 | Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | openlead | in-ear |
| Weight per bud | 4.7 glead | 5.6 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP57lead | IPX2 |
Audio
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 | Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | truelead | false |
Battery
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 | Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 6 h | 6 h |
| Battery — with case | 24 h | 30 hlead |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | truelead | false |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 | Samsung - Galaxy Buds FE |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.4lead | 5.2 |
| Codecsⓘ | SSC,AAC,SBC | AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | true | true |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, Galaxy Buds 3 or Galaxy Buds FE?+
Galaxy Buds FE lasts 6h per charge vs 6h.
Do Galaxy Buds 3 or Galaxy Buds FE support multipoint?+
Both support multipoint pairing.
Which has ANC, Galaxy Buds 3 or Galaxy Buds FE?+
Both models have active noise cancellation.