Did not expect this! 😲 Galaxy Buds FE Review vs Buds2 Pro vs Buds2
- Reviewed 28 October 2023 by Aaron
In this article, I’m going to compare the Buds FE properly to the Buds2 and the Buds2 Pro using sound samples and measurements. They look exactly the same from the outside but there are some important differences if we consider specs and features.
Just a short recap, this is the budget version costing $99 at retail. It doesn’t have some of the bells or whistles of the Buds2 let alone the Buds2 Pro like 360 audio or head tracking, Voice detection, and it doesn’t get most of Samsung’s experimental features that I’ve grown to like, such as double tapping beside the buds to control volume.
And though the FE is priced at the budget level, sometimes the Buds2 might go on promo, making them even cheaper. So why then, should you consider the Buds FE at all?
The first thing I do prefer about the Buds FE is how it fits. It’s got a longer body and its eartips seem to plug deeper compared to the others. It also has wing tips that prevent them from falling out better than the premium models. The first Galaxy Buds were also designed this way, but somehow they decided on the teardrop style for later models which many people have said doesn’t feel as snug.
But aside from that, how do they really compare to the Buds2 and the Buds2 Pro in terms of sound, noise canceling, call quality and transparency?
Microphone Quality
The Buds FE’s mic pickup is quite comparable to the others in both quiet and noisy conditions. Good background noise canceling, and my voice sounded intelligible. I thought the Buds2 sounded the cleanest, whereas the Buds2 Pro wasn’t noise gating as well as the Buds FE. Listen to the samples.
(Tested under simulated noisy cafe conditions and wind from a fan. It is important to note that with iPhones running iOS17 and later, there is a ‘Voice Isolation mode’ when making calls, which cuts background noise regardless of whether the earbuds’ noise gating is effective or not.)
Active Noise Canceling
Compared under the same noisy conditions used in the mic test, its active noise canceling is surprisingly better than even the Buds2 and even the Buds2 Pro. It could be the way it fits because for me, it plugs in further, and it doesn’t seem to have that semi-open fit so its isolation is better in the first place.
If I had to rank them, I would rank the Buds FE tops, followed by the Buds2, then the Buds2 Pro. I rank the Buds2 higher because it cuts more mid-range noise which makes it noticeably quieter. Listen to the samples.
Transparency Mode
In terms of transparency, it’s not as great as the premium models. They do have a bit more occlusion than the Buds2 and Buds2 Pro, and they tend to amplify the high frequencies from ambient sounds louder than the vocal range so it can be quite challenging to hear what people are saying. The Buds2 sounds a bit more natural to me in the sense that it doesn’t amplify the highs as much so you can still have a verbal exchange with people, whereas the Buds2 Pro has the brightest sounding transparency, but at the same time everything, even the vocal range sounds clearer.
Sound Quality
In terms of sound, The Buds FE actually resembles the Buds2 more in terms of vocal reproduction, a bit more heavy and warm, whereas the Buds2 Pro has the crispest vocals, sometimes bordering on sibilance but the Buds2 Pro does have better mid-range detail and vocal reproduction. The bass response coming from the Buds FE is definitely higher. It delivers more gravity and oomph, although the Buds2 Pro and Buds2 aren’t too far behind. And even though the bass coming from the premium models aren’t as thick and juicy, they sound a lot better separated from the mids. One thing the Buds2 and Buds2 Pro does better is the airiness in the soundstaging. They both measure quite a lot higher in the upper treble range, above 10khz compared to the Buds FE. Listen to the samples.
Which one should you buy?
Overall in spite of its lack of some cutting edge features, I really like the back to basics approach of the Buds FE. I would go for this instead of the others because of its active noise canceling, it cuts more noise. Decent mic pickup for calls. Its fit is also better for me with the wing tips, and if you like more bass in your sound, you can get the most bass out of it compared to the others.
The Buds2 is the next closest in terms of bass performance, but it sounds more open and airy in the soundstage. Plus it also supports 360 audio, although without head tracking.
I’m not a big fan of the Buds2 Pro’s tuning because I feel it sounds too sizzly in the mids for my tastes, but it’s got all of the cutting head tracking and experimental features available on Samsung devices. If that’s what you need, go for it, otherwise the Buds FE is a great, back to basics alternative to consider.
If you’d like to check the latest prices of these earbuds, click on the Amazon and Lazada links below.
Galaxy Buds FE - https://amzn.to/4dedKBb
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro - https://amzn.to/3JFdoFV
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 - https://amzn.to/3QnN0Eg
Singapore Prices -
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE - https://s.lazada.sg/s.YbfI7?cc
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro here - https://s.lazada.sg/s.bMAIi?cc
Samsung Galaxy buds 2 - https://s.lazada.sg/s.YbfIz?cc
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