We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a single pair of wired earbuds with a metal build, inline remote and mic, and a carry pouch for everyday music and calls, choose Samsung AKG; if you need two pairs of spare earphones you can leave in different bags and not worry about losing, choose Amazon Basics Earbuds.
• Samsung AKG — biggest strength: a metal-bodied, single-pair design with a remote and microphone built for music, phone calls and work, plus a velvet carrying pouch in the box.
• Samsung AKG — biggest trade-off: it's one pair only, so if you lose or damage it you have no backup, and the listing is built around a specific Samsung/AKG identity rather than a budget multi-pack.
• Amazon Basics Earbuds — biggest strength: you get two pairs in one purchase, each with a built-in mic and control button, plus 4 spare silicon caps, so you're covered if one gets lost or worn down.
• Amazon Basics Earbuds — biggest trade-off: the control button handles calls and track skipping but does not adjust volume, and there's no noise control at all, so isolation is minimal.
• Who each is for: pick Samsung AKG if you want one nicer-feeling pair for music and calls; pick Amazon Basics if you want cheap, replaceable spares in multiple places.
The Samsung AKG wired earbuds are a single-pair, 3.5mm in-ear headphone with an inline remote and microphone. The headline detail here is the metal construction in black — that's a more substantial material choice than the plastic shells you typically find on budget earphones, and it's the main reason this set feels like the "nicer" of the two. The listing frames it around music, phone calls and work, which tells you Samsung is positioning it as an all-rounder rather than a throwaway.
In the box you get ear cushions and a velvet carrying pouch. That pouch matters more than it sounds: wired earbuds live and die by whether you can keep them untangled and protected between uses, and a dedicated soft pouch is the simplest way to do that. The item weight is listed at 0.02 kg, which is essentially negligible — these are light enough to forget you're carrying them.
Who should buy it? Someone who wants one pair they'll actually look after. If you take calls, listen to music on a commute, and want a remote and mic right on the cable, this is the pick. The "noise isolating deep bass" framing in the product name tells you the intent is a fuller, more enclosed listen than an open earbud.
Who should skip it? Anyone who treats earbuds as disposable. If you routinely lose them, or you want a spare set for the office, the car and the gym all at once, one pair won't stretch that far. And if you specifically need volume buttons on the cable, don't assume — the data sheet here doesn't list on-cable volume control, so plan to adjust volume on your device.
The Amazon Basics wired earbuds are a 2-pack of 3.5mm in-ear headphones, each with a built-in microphone and a control button. That two-pair setup is the whole point: you get 2 pairs of in-ear wired headphones plus 4 spare silicon caps, so you can keep one at your desk and one in a bag without ever moving them.
The control button is genuinely useful and worth understanding precisely. According to the listing, it can answer, end and reject calls, play/pause music, and skip to the next or previous track. What it can't do is change volume — the listing says so explicitly and tells you to use your device instead. That's a small but real limitation, and it's the kind of thing that annoys people who expect a full three-button remote.
On the technical side, these use an 8.6 mm dynamic driver, a stick-shaped in-ear design, and a plated 3.5mm jack for wide compatibility across devices. Noise control is listed as none, so don't expect these to block out a train or a busy office. The build is plastic-bodied in black, and there's a 1 year limited warranty. Weight is listed at 12.1 g.
Who should buy it? Practical, low-drama buyers. If you want earphones for calls and podcasts, want a backup pair ready to go, and don't care about premium materials, this is the sensible choice. The spare caps alone extend the usable life of both pairs.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for build and materials → Samsung AKG. Metal body versus the plastic build on the Amazon Basics set.
• Best for having a spare → Amazon Basics Earbuds. Two pairs and 4 spare silicon caps versus one pair and a pouch.
• Best for travel and storage → Samsung AKG. The included velvet pouch is purpose-built for keeping one pair tidy.
• Best for call handling → Tie. Both have a mic and a control button for answering and ending calls.
• Best for track control → Tie, with a caveat. Both skip tracks, but only the Amazon Basics listing spells out the button's full functions — and neither set adjusts volume from the cable based on the data provided.
• Best for quiet listening environments → Amazon Basics Earbuds. With no noise control and an 8.6 mm dynamic driver, they're a straightforward everyday pair.
• Best for people who lose earbuds constantly → Amazon Basics Earbuds. Having a second pair in the box is the cheapest insurance you can get.
• Best for one "good" pair you'll keep for years → Samsung AKG. Better materials and a case usually mean you look after them more.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Samsung AKG pair if I were picking for myself. I want one set I actually like using, and the metal build plus the included velvet pouch suggests it's designed to be kept rather than replaced. The remote-and-mic setup covers calls and music, which is 90% of what wired earbuds get used for.
That said, if your history with earbuds involves losing them in coat pockets or having a pair die at the worst moment, the Amazon Basics 2-pack is the smarter buy. Two pairs and spare caps solve a real problem that a nicer single pair can't.
FAQ
Not universally. Samsung AKG uses a metal body and ships with a velvet pouch, which suggests a more premium, single-pair product. Amazon Basics gives you two pairs and spare ear caps. "Better" depends on whether you value materials or redundancy.
No. The listing states the control button handles calls and playback — answer, end, reject, play/pause and track skipping — but does not adjust volume. You change volume on your connected device instead.
Both use a 3.5mm jack. The Amazon Basics listing specifically describes a plated 3.5mm jack for wide compatibility. If your phone has no headphone jack, you'll need an adapter, which isn't listed for either product.
The Amazon Basics Earbuds. Two pairs plus 4 spare silicon caps means you're covered if one is lost or the tips wear out, and the 1 year limited warranty adds a bit of backup. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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