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Samsung Galaxy Buds FE

By Samsung · Budget Wireless Earbuds · Audio & Electronics · More from Samsung

  • 1-way 6.5mm dynamic driver
  • Active Noise Cancellation and ambient sound mode
  • Battery: 6h (ANC on) / 8.5h (ANC off), 21h total with case
  • IPX2 water resistance
  • 3 microphones per earbud

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Summary

Budget true wireless earbuds from Samsung with active noise cancellation, a secure wingtip fit and a $99.99 launch price. Check two things before you buy: the IPX2 rating only shrugs off sweat, and there is no iPhone app.

Strengths

  • The wingtip fit stays put during eating and bumpy rides, owners report.
  • Deep, punchy bass with warm mids.
  • Clear microphones and reliable day-to-day performance.
  • SmartThings Find and Bixby tie neatly into a Samsung phone.
  • Flat touch buttons are easier to hit than raised ones.

Weaknesses

  • IPX2 is below the class; there is no immersion protection.
  • No wireless charging and no multipoint Bluetooth.
  • No iOS app, so iPhone owners are shut out.
  • Some features only work on Samsung Galaxy devices.
  • The Galaxy Wearable app has no custom equalizer.
  • PCMag calls the build less durable than much of the competition.

Verified specifications

ModelSM-R400N.
Driver1-way dynamic driver; a 6.5 mm size appears in some spec sheets but is not confirmed by Samsung.
Noise cancellingactive noise cancellation plus an Ambient Sound mode.
Battery6 hours with ANC on and 8.5 hours with ANC off; 21 hours and 30 hours total with the case.
ChargingUSB-C only, no wireless charging.
Bluetooth5.2, no multipoint.
Water resistanceIPX2.
Microphones3 per earbud, 2 outer and 1 inner.
Sensorsproximity, Hall and touch.
Voice assistantBixby voice wake-up.
CompatibilityAndroid 8.0 and up with 1.5 GB of RAM; some features need a Samsung Galaxy device.
SmartThings Findsupported.
Dimensionsearbuds 17.1 × 19.2 × 22.2 mm and 5.6 g; case 50.0 × 27.7 × 50.0 mm and 40.0 g. A Samsung spec sheet lists marginally larger figures.
Battery capacityearbuds 60 mAh, case 479 mAh.
In the boxearbuds, charging case, 2 sizes of wingtips, 3 sizes of ear tips, a USB Type-C cable and a quick-start guide.
Full research notes and sources

Fit, controls and ecosystem

The stemless shape with a wingtip is the reason many owners keep these. One calls them “the first Galaxy buds that stay in my ears while eating or while riding and hitting bumps.” The controls are flat touch panels, which The Verge found easier to use than the fiddly controls on earlier models, though there is no custom EQ and one Reddit owner still prefers the older Buds+ design. Full features, including anything tied to Bixby or SmartThings Find, want a Samsung Galaxy phone; other Android phones lose some of it.

Noise cancelling, sound and calls

Owners describe the ANC as “surprisingly well executed” and “pure silent” next to the Buds2 Pro’s white noise, with bass that is “punchy, with plenty of weight and thump”. The good reviews are not unanimous on calls: PCMag found the mics clear, while one Reddit owner reports “horrible call quality”, so treat call performance as voice- and network-dependent.

Battery and charging

Samsung rates 6 hours with ANC on and 8.5 hours with ANC off, for 21 hours and 30 hours total with the case. RTINGS saw over six hours of continuous playback with ANC on, while SoundGuys measured about 4 hours 38 minutes of continuous real music at 75 dB SPL and found the case recharges the buds about four times. One owner reports 7 to 8 hours without the case and three days with it. Charging is USB-C only; there is no wireless pad support.

Is it worth it?

At launch in October 2023 the Buds FE were $99.99, and PCMag saw street prices of $97 to $99 in November 2023. By August 2025 CNET was citing them at $70, and WIRED reported in September 2025 that Samsung was keeping them around at that price. At $70 to $80 they are a fair buy for a Samsung phone owner who wants ANC on a budget; at $99 and above the missing wireless charging and weak water rating make rivals easier to justify.

Which model this is

This page covers the original 2023 Galaxy Buds FE, model SM-R400N, sold in Graphite and White. Do not confuse it with the newer Galaxy Buds3 FE, which has a stem design, Bluetooth 5.4 and IP54, or with the Buds2, Buds2 Pro and Buds Pro 2 lines. The US listing for this model is ASIN B0CQPS4XCR.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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