8 days until Christmas: Are these Galaxy earbuds the best budget gift?

Most modern phones no longer have a 3.5mm audio port and don't ship with any earbuds. That is why Samsung Galaxy Buds make fantastic Christmas gifts in most situations. And in 2025, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE might be the easiest choice.

As we approach the end of the year, Samsung offers three sets of wireless earbuds: the Galaxy Buds 3, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and the Galaxy Buds 3 FE. The latter set joined the party later, and here's why it might be the most sensible choice.

While the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the better earbuds, being the best comes with a higher price. The Buds 3 FE are the cheapest, but more importantly, they offer good value. Despite the lower price, they can deliver decent sound quality even without planar drivers.

And even though the Buds 3 FE are missing a few features that even the Buds 3 have, the FE models sound better in practice. The Fan Edition earbuds have a more practical design than the Buds 3.

The Buds 3 FE's silicone eartips provide a better fit for sound insulation. This helps both the perceived sound quality and the effectiveness of active noise cancellation.

In short, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE sound better than the Buds 3 for a lower price. You can grab them for $149 before discounts, but right now, with roughly one week left before Christmas, the FE earbuds are only $119. At least in the USA.

As far as features go, here are some of the Galaxy Buds 3 FE highlights:

All in all, the Galaxy Buds 3 FE are a great choice. And it's a choice that happens to be among the friendliest for your wallet this holiday season.

To wrap things up, earbuds are a relatively safe choice for a gift. In this day and age, you can rarely go wrong with choosing a pair of Galaxy Buds as a Christmas gift for someone who could really use them.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for more inspiration, you can check out our 2025 wearable gift guide for ideas and suggestions. And if you can spend extra for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, they, too, are available at a holiday discount in many markets.