It seems as though Samsung was determined to steal Google’s thunder when it unveiled its new hardware around the same time as the Made by Google launch event. The South Korean tech giant introduced a new Galaxy S23 series device, as well as new tablets, earbuds, and a smart tag accessory. As such, we’re here to take a look at Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds FE, and the Galaxy Smart Tag 2 – let’s get started!
Galaxy Smart Tag 2
Samsung’s sequel to its first-gen Galaxy Smart Tags is specially designed for folks looking for a rather convenient way to make sure they don’t lose their valuables. Dubbed the Galaxy Smart Tag 2 (nice and simple, we love it), the latest version of Samsung’s portable smart tag features some neat functions.
The Galaxy Smart Tag 2 is designed to be used in tandem with Samsung Galaxy phones, allowing users to accurately pinpoint missing items which are attached to their tags. Samsung has included a Lost Mode feature which saves user info as well as a custom message, and can be scanned on the tag via a smartphone, in case someone comes upon your lost items.
For hardware, the Galaxy Tag 2 packs an internal battery that Samsung says can last for up to 700 days (that’s roughly two years worth of use), and can maintain a Bluetooth connection for up to 120 meters. Additionally, the Smart Tag 2 packs Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and built-in UWB support.
Perhaps one of the coolest features that folks can use with the Smart Tag 2 is a Compass View feature, that lets you view and track your missing tag using a compass-styled interface on your smartphone’s screen. For compatible Samsung phones, users can also go into an augmented reality view while looking for their item. The Galaxy Smart Tag 2 is available in Black and White colour variants.
Galaxy Buds FE
Building on the popularity of its “Fan Edition” branding, Samsung also launched its newest addition to the Galaxy Buds line with the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, which is meant to be the most affordable Galaxy Buds model to date, priced at just £99 in black and white.
One thing that stands out about the new Samsung earbuds is the wing-styled design, which can be replaced with a different size depending on a user’s individual fit. Samsung claims that this design adds comfort for users who like to listen to music for long periods of time, somewhat similar to the “tail” design that we saw on the Pixel Buds A-series from a couple of years back. Additionally, users can also swap out the eartips for an improved fit.
The Galaxy Buds FE come with several features including active noise cancellation (ANC), ambient sound mode, and improved background noise reduction and speaker voice clarity. In terms of battery endurance, the Buds FE can also last a decent amount of time, with around 8.5 hours worth of use (without ANC) and 30 hours total using the charging case. ANC does reduce your listening time down to 6 hours, and 21 hours with the charging case.
