The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have been my go-to TWS earbuds for over a year. They were almost perfect, except for the fact that they would easily fall off of my ears, even with the smallest of movements.
A few weeks ago, I got a brand-new pair of Galaxy Buds FE, which on paper, aren’t as impressive as the Buds 2 (review). However, after using them for over two weeks, I feel the Galaxy Buds FE could be a better pair of earphones for most users. Here is a detailed comparison between the two.
The carry cases are identical with different looking/feeling buds
While the case itself is identical, the buds look different (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
Before I got myself a pair of the Buds FE, I had a notion that its carry/charging case would be significantly larger than that of the Galaxy Buds 2. To my surprise, the cases are identical. This makes the Buds FE one of the most compact earbuds from a big brand.
However, when it comes to the buds themselves, the Galaxy Buds FE are a lot different from the Buds 2. The Buds FE are bigger, packing a bigger battery and delivering better battery life.
The touch inputs on the Buds 2 are more versatile, but the Buds FE, with its limited controls, are more practical under everyday use cases.
Designed for a comfortable wearing experience
The Buds FE are bigger but more comfortable (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
While using the Buds 2, I always had this issue of at least one bud falling off of my ear as the Buds 2 have a glossy finish. The Buds FE, with its matte finish and a tiny ear hook on each bud, offer a snugger fit, and due to the unique shape, they are also much easier to operate to access features like ANC and ambient mode.
I also felt the noise cancellation and noise isolation on the Galaxy Buds FE are better than the Galaxy Buds 2. Both offer an IPX2 splash/sweat resistance rating.
Has almost all the features that one expects from a flagship bud
The Buds FE misses out on wireless charging (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
The Galaxy Buds FE has almost everything that you expect from wireless earbuds of this class – active noise cancellation, in-ear detection, and AI features, if you pair these with a select Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
However, unlike the Galaxy Buds 2, the Galaxy Buds FE misses out on wireless charging capability. One other feature you will miss out on the Buds FE is the 360-degree audio.
Both earphones can be controlled, updated and tuned via the Samsung Wear app. While these buds can also be used with an iPhone, there is no app support as of now. The audio output was almost similar, with the Galaxy Bud FE being slightly louder than the Buds 2.
Buds FE offers better battery life
Galaxy Buds FE despite being an affordable model are better in most aspects (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)
In my testing (with ANC) the Galaxy Buds FE lasted longer (five-plus hours), at least by an hour, in comparison to the Galaxy Buds 2 (four-plus hours).
This, when combined with a more comfortable fit, the Galaxy Buds FE, despite being a cheaper model, comes out as a better product for most users. However, if you already have a pair of Galaxy Buds 2, there really isn’t really anything that you are missing out on.
The Galaxy Buds 2 currently retails for Rs 9,999 and the Galaxy Buds FE can be bought for Rs 6,899, making them a much better deal, especially for those who are looking for Samsung earbuds.
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First uploaded on: 28-04-2024 at 16:00 IST
