Design and features:This model has touch controls for play/pause/skip forward and backward, and noise cancelling/ambient sound monitoring toggling. Either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Its charging/carrying case has a built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries an additional 15 hrs. of playtime for a total of 21 hrs. Provides audio when used with all Bluetooth audio devices, but some features are only available when used with Samsung Galaxy or other Android smartphones running more current Android operating systems and the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app.
Sound quality:We found the Galaxy Buds FE provides excellent active noise reduction and delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. The overall sound can be summarized as somewhat grainy and a bit bassy. With the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app equalizer set at Normal setting (the as received state of the earphone regardless of whether it's used with an Android mobile device or some other Bluetooth device) and the noise cancelling mode is engaged the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is a touch prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is somewhat grainy and a bit hazy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a bit smeared and sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). The sound also has a decent sense of liveliness and is a bit open--sound-wise it seems a bit like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. It also does a decent job of recovering the room ambience of recordings. When used with an Android mobile device the tone settings of the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones. This model provides excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. A very, very faint rushing sound can be heard in quiet environments when there is no audio program to drown it out.
Comfort and Fit:As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening that might be uncomfortable for some.
Small
Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels bulky in their ear bowl.
That said, most users, regardless of their ear bowl size, will probably find that these earphones will stay in place during casual use and are stable even with vigorous head movement.
Some users might find pressing the various earphone controls drives the earphones farther into the ear canal and may cause ear discomfort.
Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional playing or pausing.
