If you want deeper bass, hands-free Gemini access and more stated listening time with ANC off, choose SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3-FE; if you need IPX4 splash resistance and multipoint pairing, choose Sony WF-C710N. For swimming, though, neither product’s listed water protection supports recommending it for use in the pool.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3-FE vs Sony WF-C710N at a Glance
• SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3-FE strength: an 11 mm dynamic speaker, ANC and hands-free Gemini access. Trade-off: the listed information does not provide a water-resistance rating.
• Sony WF-C710N strength: IPX4 splash resistance and multipoint Bluetooth connection. Trade-off: its stated total battery listening time is up to 30 hours, versus Samsung’s up to 30 hours with the case but different ANC-off playback details.
• Choose Samsung if you use Galaxy devices, want voice access to Gemini or prioritize its larger driver and stated ANC-off earbud runtime.
• Choose Sony if you want a documented splash-resistance rating, app controls for ambient sound or simultaneous pairing with two devices.
• For swimming: neither is identified as suitable for submersion, so I would choose neither as a dedicated swimming earbud.
Samsung’s case rests on a straightforward mix of noise control, sound and Galaxy-device convenience. The 11 mm dynamic speaker is the larger driver specified in this comparison, and Samsung describes the sound as bass-forward. ANC is available when you want to reduce outside sound; Ambient mode offers a way to hear more of your surroundings without removing the earbuds. The product information gives up to 8.5 hours of playback with ANC off and up to 30 hours of total listening time with the case.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
I would skip the Buds 3-FE if swimming is the priority. Their supplied specifications do not state an IP water-resistance rating, so there is no stated basis here to rely on them around pool water. They may also be a less natural fit for someone who needs multipoint pairing across two Bluetooth devices, a feature Sony explicitly lists.
Sony’s most practical distinction is its IPX4 rating. That indicates splash resistance, which is relevant for sweat or splashes during ordinary movement, but it is not a swimming or submersion claim. For someone comparing wireless earbuds for swimming, that distinction matters: a splash-resistance rating alone does not establish that earbuds are safe to wear in a pool.
For day-to-day listening, the WF-C710N combines ANC with an ambient sound mode. The Sound Connect app lets you adjust ambient sound across 20 levels and use a Focus on Voice setting, which may be useful when you want to hear conversation without taking the earbuds out. Sony also specifies multipoint connection, so the earbuds can pair with two Bluetooth devices at once and switch to an incoming call from the other device. Its battery figures are up to 8.5 hours from the earbuds and up to 21.5 hours from the case, for up to 30 hours total; a five-minute charge is stated to provide up to an hour of playback.
Sony may suit someone who regularly moves between a computer and phone, or who wants more control over how much surrounding sound comes through. Its 5 mm driver and DSEE processing are described as providing bass and clear vocals, but driver size by itself does not establish which pair will sound better to a particular listener. I would look elsewhere if the main need is swimming protection or hands-free Gemini access.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best fit for Galaxy-device switching → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3-FE. Samsung describes automatic switching among Galaxy phone, tablet and PC.
• Best for a larger stated driver and bass emphasis → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3-FE. Its dynamic driver is 11 mm, compared with Sony’s 5 mm driver; that is a specification difference, not a guarantee of better sound.
• Best for adjustable ambient listening → Sony WF-C710N. Its app offers 20 ambient-sound levels and a Focus on Voice setting.
• Best for hands-free Gemini access → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3-FE. This requires compatible features, an eligible account and, for the described use, a Galaxy phone.
• Best for a stated splash-resistance rating → Sony WF-C710N. IPX4 is listed, but it should not be confused with protection for swimming or submersion.
• Best for quick-charge detail → Sony WF-C710N. Sony states that a five-minute charge can provide up to an hour of playback.
• Best for swimming → neither. Samsung’s supplied details do not state a water rating; Sony’s IPX4 rating covers splashes, not a swimming-use claim.
I would choose the Sony WF-C710N for general daily use if I wanted its IPX4 splash resistance, adjustable ambient mode and multipoint connection. Those are concrete conveniences for commuting, workouts and switching between devices.
For swimming, my recommendation is neither pair: the available specifications do not establish that either is suitable for submersion. I would not treat the Sony’s splash-resistance rating as permission to wear it in a pool. If swimming is the deciding use, I would look for earbuds specifically documented for that use.
Neither product is identified here as suitable for swimming. Samsung’s supplied specifications do not list a water-resistance rating, while Sony’s IPX4 rating is for splash resistance, not submersion.
Both list up to 8.5 hours of earbud playback under their stated conditions. Samsung specifies that figure with ANC off and up to 30 hours with the case; Sony lists up to 30 hours total with the case.
Sony lists Precise Voice Pickup technology for calls and multipoint connection for two Bluetooth devices. That combination may suit someone who moves between devices and wants calls routed from either one.
Samsung specifies an 11 mm driver and describes its sound as bass-forward, plus hands-free Gemini access under compatible conditions. Sony lists DSEE processing and a 5 mm driver, but neither driver size nor a feature description alone can guarantee which sound signature you will prefer. RECOMMENDED_ASIN: B0DWH4F1CJ
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