Wireless Earbuds / Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
LDAC and wireless charging under $100 — the budget benchmark.
Wins overall by 0.6 points
Quick Verdict
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.6 points. LDAC and wireless charging under $100 — the budget benchmark.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are both closely matched wireless Earbuds models, and the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is $20 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE ($99.99 vs $119.99). On Battery, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. On Value, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Features, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads (8.5 vs 7.5/10) — app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. Overall, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores 7.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 6 | 8✓ |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 24 | 40✓ |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Active Noise Cancelling with an additional microphone for background-noise reduction | Adaptive ANC 2.0, hybrid, with a claimed 98.5% noise reduction |
| Driver Size (mm) | 11 | 11 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Not listed on Samsung's US specification | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | No | Yes |
| Weight per Bud (g) | Not published by the manufacturer | 5.2 |
| Codecs | Not listed on Samsung's US specification | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | 360 Audio, but without head tracking on this model | Not published by the manufacturer |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White | Black, White, Blue, Pink |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are level here, at 7.5/10 each. tuning, detail and codec support is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Noise Cancelling
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are level here, at 7.5/10 each. weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Call Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on microphone performance and background noise rejection. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE if…
- • Call Quality matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE scores 7.5/10 here (microphone performance and background noise rejection).
- • Your main use case is calls.
Choose the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC if…
- • Battery matters most to you — the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores 9.0/10 here (playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case).
- • Value matters most to you — the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores 9.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Features matters most to you — the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores 8.5/10 here (app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores 7.5/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • You want to spend less — it's $20 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE
Pros
- +Stem design and Galaxy AI features at well under Pro pricing
- +Real-time translation and Gemini on Galaxy phones
- +IP54 dust and water resistance
- +11mm driver
Cons
- −No head tracking, unlike the Pro models
- −6 hours with ANC on is mid-pack at best
- −No wireless charging
- −The Galaxy Wearable app is Android-only, so there is no iOS support at all
- −Most of the interesting features need a Galaxy phone
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Pros
- +LDAC and Qi wireless charging at under $100 is an unusual combination
- +8 hours in the buds with ANC on matches flagships costing three times as much
- +Full custom EQ plus hearing personalisation
- +Frequently discounted well below list
Cons
- −Plastic build feels its price
- −ANC is strong for the money but short of Bose or Sony
- −Only IPX4, so no dust protection
- −Soundcore now sells the Liberty 5 above it, so this is the value tier rather than the newest
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or Soundcore Liberty 4 NC better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Battery, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores higher on Battery (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case.
Which is better for Value, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores higher on Value (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Features, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores higher on Features (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC scores higher on Noise Cancelling (7.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE worth the price difference over the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $119.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Battery.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE is the better fit if you mainly care about calls. The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the better fit for workout.
What's the warranty on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE vs the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE ships with a 12-month warranty; the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC — $99.99
Premium Option
JBL Tune Beam 2 — $109.95
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.