The Samsung AKG Type-C are wired-only headphones with a comfortable fit. Their non-detachable, braided USB-C cable makes it easy to connect to newer smartphones with USB-C ports, and their low latency makes them suitable for watching videos and movies. Their sound profile is quite neutral, though there's a little extra boom in the bass range that can please fans of genres like hip-hop and EDM. However, these straightforward headphones don't offer a lot of extra features, and you can't customize their sound. That said, they offer a decently neutral sound profile at a cheap price.
Our Verdict
The Samsung AKG Type-C are satisfactory for neutral sound. Their bass range is slightly overemphasized, which adds an extra boom and punch to the mix that may be overwhelming for fans of neutral sound. However, the rest of their range is quite neutral and balanced, resulting in clear and present vocals and lead instruments. Unfortunately, you can't customize their sound.
- Outstanding frequency response consistency.
- No sound enhancement features.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are sub-par for commute and travel. They have a portable design and a comfortable fit, so you can wear them for long flights without a lot of fatigue. However, they struggle to isolate against background noises, so you can still hear bus and plane engines while wearing them.
- Comfortable and portable.
- Mediocre noise isolation.
- Can't use wirelessly.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are mediocre for sports and fitness. While they're stable enough for casual listening sessions, they aren't designed to be used while working out, and they may fall out of your ears during more intense exercises. Also, their non-detachable cable can snag on something. That said, they're very comfortable and portable headphones.
- Comfortable and portable.
- Not stable enough for exercise.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are middling for office use. These comfortable headphones don't leak a lot of noise, so you can enjoy your favorite tunes without bothering nearby coworkers. However, they have mediocre noise isolation, so you may hear background noises like the sound of bus engines.
- Comfortable and portable.
- Mediocre noise isolation.
- Can't use wirelessly.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are wired-only headphones, so they aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are decent for wired gaming. Thanks to their wired connection, they have low latency on PCs. You can comfortably wear them for long gaming sessions, and their somewhat bass-heavy sound adds an extra boom and punch to action-packed scenes. Unfortunately, you can't use them with your PS4 or Xbox One consoles.
- Comfortable and portable.
- Low latency on PCs and mobile devices.
- No sound enhancement features.
- Not compatible with Xbox One or PS4.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are fair for phone calls. Their in-line microphone has a good recording quality, but it can struggle to separate your voice from background noises, so it's best-suited for making calls from quiet environments. They have mediocre noise isolation, so some bass-heavy background noises may distract you from your call.
- Good recording quality.
- Mediocre noise isolation.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 27, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Dec 11, 2020: We've updated the USB Audio test results.
- Updated Dec 03, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Nov 26, 2020: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung AKG Type-C come in 'White' and 'Black' variants. We tested the 'Black' one, and we expect the other color variants to perform similarly. Samsung also sells wired in-ears with a USB-C connection and an ANC feature, but we haven't tested them.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Samsung AKG Type-C are cheap wired-only headphones with a USB-C cable that's suitable for connecting with devices with a USB-C port. They have a very neutral, balanced sound profile, with a touch of extra boom in the bass range. They're well-built and comfortable, but their fit isn't as stable in your ear as some of the other headphones we've tested. See our recommendations for the best USB-C headphones, the best cheap wireless earbuds, and the best wired headphones.
The 1More Triple Driver and the Samsung AKG Type-C are wired headphones with similar overall performances. The Samsung are more comfortable and better-built, and they're compatible with devices that have a USB-C port. The 1More have a 1/8" TRRS connection, and they're more stable.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are better headphones than the Google Pixel USB-C Earbuds. The Samsung are better-built and more comfortable. They have a better-balanced sound profile, and they isolate against more background noise. However, the Google have a more stable fit.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are better headphones than the Razer Hammerhead USB-C ANC. The Samsung have a more comfortable fit, and they have a better-balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. However, the Razer are more stable, and they come with a portable case, unlike the Samsung.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are better headphones than the TIN Audio T2. The Samsung are more comfortable, and they have in-line controls and a microphone, unlike the TIN. Also, they have a better-balanced sound profile. However, the TIN are better-built, more stable, and they leak less noise.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are better headphones than the TIN Audio T3. The Samsung are more comfortable, and they have in-line controls and a microphone, unlike the TIN. Both headphones have a little extra boom in the bass range, but the Samsung have a more neutral sound than the TIN. However, the TIN are better-built, more stable, and leak less noise.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 and the Samsung AKG Type-C are very different headphones, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Astro are gaming-oriented over-ears that are more comfortable and better-built. They're compatible with the Astro Command Center that lets you customize their sound, but some users have experienced issues when using it. Conversely, the Samsung are in-ears with a USB-C connection, and they're more portable. They have a more consistent audio delivery, better noise isolation, and they leak less sound.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are better than the Samsung AKG Type-C. The Buds+ are wireless, and they have a more stable fit. Their sound profile is more neutral, they leak less noise, and they have more sound customization features. However, the wired AKG Type-C can be connected to devices with a USB-C port.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are a bit better for wired gaming than the Logitech G333. The Samsung have a more neutral, slightly bass-rich sound profile, which some users may prefer. Their mic has a slightly better recording quality and they provide low latency with PCs via their USB-C cable. On the other hand, the Logitech G333 are compatible with PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X as well as PCs. They have a very bass-rich sound profile with a lot of rumble and punch, which some users may prefer. They're also more compact and come with a soft zip-up pouch for storing the headphones.
The Samsung AKG Type-C and the Sony MH755 have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. The Samsung use a USB-C connector and can only connect to corresponding devices such as newer smartphones. They're also more comfortable and have an in-line mic, which is handy if you like to take calls on the go. However, the Sony use a 1/8" TRS cable. They have a more stable in-ear fit, their sound profile is somewhat more neutral, which some users may prefer, and they can block out more ambient noise around you.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Samsung AKG Type-C are very straightforward wired in-ears. They have a braided, non-detachable USB-C cable with in-line controls. They're available in all-black or all-white variants.
The Samsung AKG Type-C are very comfortable. They're lightweight, and they sit comfortably within your ears, so you can wear them for long listening sessions without experiencing a lot of fatigue.
These headphones have fair in-line controls. You can adjust the volume or use the middle button to play/pause your music, answer/end a call, or activate the voice assistant. The buttons are very clicky and responsive, but unfortunately, there isn't any audio feedback when you input a command. You also can't use them to skip tracks forward or backward.
These headphones are impressively portable. Like most in-ears, they're small and lightweight, so you can easily fit them inside pockets or a bag. Unfortunately, they don't come with a case.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have a good build quality. The earbuds are mostly made of silicone and plastic, which feel solid and durable. The braided cable also feels quite solid. However, they don't feel quite as premium as some of the other wired in-ears we've tested, like the TIN Audio T3.
These headphones are passably stable. They should stay in your ears during casual listening sessions, but they aren't designed to be used while working out. Low-intensity movements can make them fall out of your ears, and their non-detachable cable could get snagged on something.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have a fairly neutral yet bass-heavy sound profile. There's a bit of extra boom in the bass range that can please fans of hip-hop and EDM. However, the rest of the range is quite neutral, so they're suitable for lots of different audio content.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have outstanding frequency response consistency. You should be able to get a consistent audio delivery each time you use them, regardless of their fit, seal, or positioning on your head.
These headphones have very good bass accuracy. The entire range is slightly overemphasized, resulting in an extra boom, punch, and thump in some mixes. However, the range is quite even, and it shouldn't be too overwhelming.
These headphones have excellent mid accuracy. The range is quite neutral and balanced, but the slight dip in the mid-mids can push vocals and lead instruments slightly towards the back of the mix.
These headphones have amazing treble accuracy. The entire range is balanced and even, so vocals and sibilants are bright and airy.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have impressive peaks and dips performance. The peak in the high-bass adds warmth and boom to the mix, while the dip in the mid-mids pushes vocals and lead instruments towards the back of the mix. The mid-treble is uneven, so sibilants like cymbals can sound alternatively piercing or dull.
These headphones have impressive stereo imaging. Their weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in a tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers of our unit are well-matched in phase response, but there's a bit of mismatch in amplitude and frequency response. As a result, some objects in the stereo image may not seem accurately placed or localized. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and your experience may vary.
These headphones have a terrible passive soundstage. Interaction with the outer ear is one of the key factors in creating a speaker-like soundstage, but by design, these headphones bypass the outer ear. As a result, sound seems like it's coming from inside your head, rather than from speakers placed all around you. Also, due to their closed-back enclosure, their soundstage doesn't seem as open as that of open-back headphones.
These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.
These headphones have a good weighted harmonic distortion performance. Aside from a peak in the mid-range at max volume, all frequencies fall within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have passable noise isolation. They struggle to block out bass-heavy noises like bus or plane engines. However, they can isolate against higher-frequency sounds typically found in an office setting, like voices or the hum of a nearby AC unit.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have impressive leakage. Most escaping audio is in the treble range, so it may sound thin. Those around you may be able to hear it, but it shouldn't be too noticeable beneath the noise floor of an average office.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have an in-line microphone.
The microphone has a good recording quality. Your voice sounds a bit thin, but also neutral and natural.
The microphone has acceptable noise handling. It can struggle to separate your voice from background noises, even in moderately noisy environments.
These wired-only headphones don't have a battery.
These headphones don't have a companion app.
These wired-only headphones aren't Bluetooth-compatible.
These headphones are wired-only.
Update 12/11/2020: We've updated the USB Audio results from 'Yes' to 'USB Type-C' to improve clarity. These headphones can receive audio when connected to a PC or mobile device with a USB Type-C port. The scoring of this test hasn't changed.
The Samsung AKG Type-C have a non-detachable USB-C cable. They have very low latency with PCs, and their latency is reduced to 0ms when using a USB-C Android phone. As a result, they're a solid choice for watching videos or movies.