Galaxy S21 to Exclude Earphones and Chargers in Some Countries

'Chungjeongi·Ieopon Exclusion' Specified in Brazil Certification Process

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samsung Electronics will exclude chargers and earphones from the Galaxy S21 package released next year in some countries.

On the 8th (local time), during the certification process of the Galaxy S21 series from Brazil's certification agency Anatel, Samsung Electronics specified that chargers and wired earphones would not be included in the product package.

In August, Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy Note20 in the United States without bundling AKG wired earphones, providing them only upon request. From next year, it appears the company plans to exclude chargers as well, depending on the region. Samsung Electronics stated that there is "no confirmed decision" regarding the charger exclusion policy.

Depending on national regulations, chargers and earphones may still be provided in some regions. Apple excluded wired earphones (EarPods) and chargers in most countries when launching the iPhone 12 series, but included EarPods in France. This is due to electromagnetic wave regulations in France that require hands-free kits or headsets to be included to protect children under 14 from electromagnetic waves.

Following Apple, Samsung's exclusion of chargers and earphones is interpreted as a cost-saving measure. Smartphone prices have increased annually, and high-end models are launched at prices approaching 1.5 million KRW, increasing the burden on consumers. The industry views that Apple also excluded chargers to reduce costs as the iPhone 12, a 5G smartphone, had higher component costs.

Angelo Zino, Senior Research Analyst at CFRA Research, explained, "Apple emphasized environmentally friendly rules, but the cost-saving move is also beneficial for the company's finances. The 5G frequency components included in the iPhone 12 are 30-35% more expensive than the previous model, so Apple tried to reduce costs in other areas."

Previously, Apple faced consumer backlash for excluding chargers and wired earphones from the package under the pretext of environmental protection. Apple included a USB-C to Lightning cable in the iPhone 12 package, but iPhone users who owned models before the iPhone 11 Pro used USB-A type chargers. Since they had to purchase an additional USB-C type charger to charge the iPhone 12, there were criticisms that the cost was passed on to consumers.

In response, Samsung Electronics mocked the charger exclusion in the iPhone 12 on social media in North America, including the United States. Samsung Mobile posted a photo of a Samsung charger adapter with the message, "Galaxy gives you what you’re looking for," introducing that "chargers are provided free of charge, and it supports the best camera, battery, and even a 120Hz refresh rate."