On June 27, 2025, Samsung introduced new wireless earbuds — the in-ear earbuds Galaxy Buds Core. These are a new version of the Bluetooth Galaxy Buds FE earbuds.
What’s new? Compared to the Galaxy Buds FE:
- A proximity sensor has been added, though the site doesn’t say what it’s for.
- Improved Bluetooth version – 5.4, instead of 5.2.
- Total battery life with the charging case jumped from 30 to 35 hours.
The rest of the specs are identical. Nearly a year and a half after the release of the wireless earbuds Buds FE, we get minimal cosmetic updates.
Ask any questions you have about this model, and I’ll try to answer them in the review.
Sound. Sound in the Galaxy Buds Core is presumably handled by a dynamic driver. There is support for the proprietary Scalable Codec Bluetooth codec, alongside the basic AAC and SBC codecs. The official website doesn’t provide information regarding the driver specs. Promotional materials for the Galaxy Buds FE only mention a “1-way speaker”. Therefore, I can assume the sound quality won’t change drastically.
Let me remind you that in the ranking of affordable wireless earbuds under $50, the Galaxy Buds FE took 5th place. Even though a bunch of interesting earbuds from OPPO, Realme, KZ, etc. came out this year, the Galaxy Buds Core can at least compete for the top 10. Whether these earbuds make it to us for review and into the ranking depends entirely on your activity in the comments.
Active noise cancellation. The earbuds feature 6 microphones — 3 in each earbud. Active noise cancellation support is claimed without specifying parameters. There is a transparency mode.
Features. The earbuds feature live and simultaneous translation. At the same time, the official website only lists the translator feature for the company’s flagship and top models. As of March 2025: Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Fold6, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Flip6, Galaxy Tab S10, and Galaxy Tab S9. Other features include multipoint connection to two devices and finding earbuds on a map. In the Galaxy Wearable app for Android and iOS, you can tune the EQ or choose a preset.
Design. The earbuds are available in white and black, featuring IP54 dust and water resistance. The dimensions and weight of the earbuds haven’t changed. But the total battery life has grown from 30 to 35 hours. I can assume the battery life was squeezed out through various optimizations, and in reality, we’ll get the exact same battery life as the predecessor.
Availability and price. The Galaxy Buds Core are currently only available in India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for approximately $50. For comparison, the Galaxy Buds FE cost $99 at launch.
What would you be interested in comparing this model with? Write in the comments.
