Samsung has apparently stopped bundling its flagship phones with the popular AKG wired earbuds in North America, and in case you're wondering, this is true for the new Galaxy Note 20 series. You will get the complementary AKG USB-C earbuds when buying one of the Galaxy Note 20 models in Europe, but they're no longer included in the retail box for customers in the USA. Fortunately, not all is lost and customers in the USA can get their earbuds if they know to ask for them.
According to Samsung USA, the company has decided against offering wired headphones in its flagship retail boxes in North America as more customers are opting to use Bluetooth solutions. Samsung claims that the usage of wired headphones […] has steadily declined, and so the accessory has been removed from the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra boxes. It's worth highlighting that Samsung's official statement doesn't outright mention the Galaxy Note 20 series but its entire flagship portfolio moving forward.
Ask and you shall receive, presumably for free
The good news for Galaxy Note 20 buyers in the USA is that they can get the AKG USB-C wired earbuds along with their flagship as long as they get in touch with customer care and ask for them. In Samsung's own words, for those consumers that prefer the USB-C wired headphones, our customer care team can offer them on request.
It's not entirely clear how a customer would go about getting the USB-C wired headphones when ordering the Galaxy Note 20 online, but getting in touch with customer care would be the first step. Also, Samsung doesn't clearly specify this but we assume that the USB-C wired headphones will be given for free to customers who ask for them.
So there you have it. If you buy a Galaxy Note 20 or Galaxy Note 20 Ultra from Samsung USA, don't forget to ask for your earbuds if you're not a fan of wireless solutions. As to when Samsung will stop offering the AKG USB-C earbuds altogether, that remains to be seen with future flagships.
SamsungGalaxy Note 20
