SAMSUNG Samsung Galaxy Buds Fan Edition(FE) SM-R400, Review

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE offer flagship-level comfort and battery life with solid ANC, all for just $60. The catch is average sound and poor call quality. If you're a Galaxy user or just want reliable buds for the gym and commute, they're a steal. If you need great mics or audiophile sound, spend a bit more.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are a bit of a puzzle. Samsung's calling them the 'Fan Edition,' which usually means they took a flagship product, stripped out some fancy features to hit a lower price, and kept the stuff people actually liked. In this case, that means you get the core Galaxy Buds experience—comfortable wing-tip design, easy pairing with Galaxy devices, and active noise cancellation—for about half the price of the latest and greatest.

So who are these for? Honestly, they're a perfect first pair of ANC earbuds for someone on a budget, or a Galaxy phone user who doesn't want to drop $150+ on audio. They're built for the daily grind: commutes, workouts, or just blocking out the world while you work. The wing-tip design is a standout, and it's a big reason they score in the 87th percentile for comfort in our database.

What makes them interesting is the trade-off they represent. You're getting Samsung's ecosystem perks and surprisingly good ANC at a killer price, but you're not getting top-tier sound or call quality. It's a focused product, and that focus is on value and comfort over pure audio fidelity.

Let's talk numbers. The ANC performance lands in the 87th percentile. That's legitimately good, especially for $60. It's not going to silence a jackhammer, but for constant, low-frequency rumble like airplane engines, subway noise, or office HVAC, it does a solid job. The sound quality, however, sits around the 47th percentile. That's fine—it's clear and balanced enough for podcasts, pop, and most streaming content—but it won't wow an audiophile. The bass is present but not deep, and the highs can get a bit sharp at higher volumes.

The real-world implication is simple: these are functional, not fantastic, for music. Where they shine is in battery life and connectivity, which hit the 95th and 90th percentiles respectively. That 30-hour total battery is no joke, and Bluetooth 5.2 keeps the connection stable. The call quality score, at the 43rd percentile, tells the whole story: the mics are the clear weak point. They'll get the job done in a quiet room, but step outside on a windy day and the person on the other end will know it.

At $60, the value proposition here is incredibly straightforward. You are getting 80-90% of the core Galaxy Buds experience—especially the comfort, battery, and ANC—for less than half the price of a flagship model like the Buds 2 Pro. That's a compelling deal.

When you look across vendors, this price point is crowded with options like the Anker Soundcore P3i and the Nothing Ear (a). The Buds FE compete by offering a brand-name ecosystem and proven ANC performance that often beats other budget contenders. You're paying for the Samsung name and integration, not for class-leading audio specs. For the price, it's hard to find another pair with this combination of battery life, comfort, and noise cancellation.

The main competitors are the Nothing Ear (a) and the Anker Soundcore P3i. The Nothing Ear (a) often goes for a similar price and generally offers better, more customizable sound quality and a more fun design. However, its ANC isn't as consistently effective as the Buds FE's, and its fit can be polarizing without wing tips. The Anker Soundcore P3i is a pure value champ, with decent sound and ANC, but it lacks the polished ecosystem features and the exceptional comfort of the Samsung design.

If your budget stretches to $100-$120, the Sony WF-C700N or even a used pair of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro become tempting. You'll get a significant jump in sound quality and call performance. But if your ceiling is firmly at $60 and you want reliable ANC and all-day comfort from a known brand, the Buds FE have a clear edge over most budget options. It's a trade-off: you sacrifice some audio fidelity for better noise blocking and battery life.

Skip the Buds FE if you take a lot of important phone calls, especially outdoors or in noisy places. The microphone performance is its Achilles' heel, scoring in the bottom half of all earbuds we track. You'll frustrate your callers. Also, hardcore music lovers should look elsewhere. If your primary use is critically listening to music and you can stretch your budget, even by $30-$40, you'll find options with significantly better sound quality, like the Nothing Ear (a) or the Sony WF-C700N on sale. The Buds FE are built for blocking out the world and lasting all day, not for delivering an immersive audio experience.

For Samsung Galaxy phone users on a tight budget, the Buds FE are an easy recommendation. The seamless pairing, Auto Switch, and comfortable fit make them a natural extension of your phone. They're also a great pick for anyone who prioritizes blocking out noise during commutes or workouts over having the absolute best sound.

We'd suggest looking elsewhere if crystal-clear phone calls are a top priority, or if you're an audiophile who listens to lossless music. In those cases, the mediocre mic and average sound scores are real limitations. For everyone else—students, commuters, casual listeners—the Buds FE deliver exactly what they promise: core features at a price that doesn't hurt.