Budi EP20T | USB-C Handsfree Earphone | 15mm Dynamic Driver | In-Line Three-Button Remote | 1.2m Cable
Plug-and-play digital audio for phones that dropped the 3.5mm jack, with clean call pickup and comfort that survives a long daily commute.
Condition: New
Note: price and availability are subject to change without prior notice
Budi EP20T is a wired USB-C earphone available now at Mascom International for KSh 800, stocked at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. The Budi EP20T pairs a 15mm dynamic driver with a built-in DAC chip, meaning the earphone decodes the digital signal from your USB-C port itself instead of relying on the phone. A 1.2-metre flat cable carries an in-line three-button remote and a microphone. Every Budi EP20T unit sold by Mascom International is brand new and sealed, with countrywide delivery reaching all 47 Kenyan counties.
Most phones sold in Kenya since 2022 no longer carry a 3.5mm headphone jack. Samsung Galaxy A-series, Tecno, Infinix, Xiaomi and Oppo handsets now ship with a single USB-C port, and the earphones in the box either wear out or go missing within months. Matatu and boda commuters, students at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University and Strathmore, sales agents running twenty calls a day, and office staff joining Zoom and Microsoft Teams sessions all hit the same wall. Budi EP20T removes it without a dongle dangling off the charging port.
Roadside earphones priced between KSh 200 and KSh 300 usually fail inside a few weeks, often at the cable joint. Branded USB-C sets from Sony or JBL start near KSh 3,500. Budi EP20T sits between those two extremes at KSh 800, backed by a brand with a registered East African distributor rather than an unnamed import. Users consistently report the in-line remote and the microphone as the two features they actually reach for every day, rather than sound quality alone. Walk into our Kimathi Street store to plug a pair into your own handset, or order for delivery anywhere in Kenya and pay only once it reaches you.
Common Questions About the Budi EP20T
Will the Budi EP20T work on my phone if it only has a USB-C port?
Yes. The Budi EP20T is built specifically for phones without a 3.5mm jack, including Samsung Galaxy A and S series, Tecno Camon and Spark, Infinix Hot and Note, Xiaomi Redmi, Oppo and Vivo models sold in Kenya. Plug it into the USB-C port and audio starts within a second. No settings change, no app, no Bluetooth pairing. The connector is a standard USB-C plug, so it also fits USB-C tablets and laptops.
Does it work on phones that do not support analog audio over USB-C?
Yes, and this is the detail that separates the Budi EP20T from cheaper USB-C earphones. Many budget USB-C sets are analog-only and stay silent on phones that never built in the extra circuitry. The EP20T carries its own DAC chip, converting the digital audio stream into sound inside the earphone itself. That makes it far more widely compatible across Android brands. If your phone charges over USB-C, the earphone will almost certainly play.
How good is the microphone for calls and online meetings?
The in-line microphone sits roughly 25 centimetres below your chin on the cable, close enough to pick up your voice clearly without catching every breath. Callers hear you well on Safaricom and Airtel voice calls, WhatsApp calls, and Zoom or Microsoft Teams sessions. Because the connection is digital rather than analog, the signal avoids the hiss common on cheap 3.5mm sets. Wind on an open boda ride still causes noise, as it does with any wired microphone.
Do I ever need to charge or pair the Budi EP20T?
Never. There is no battery, no Bluetooth chip, and no pairing menu. Power comes from the phone through the USB-C connection, drawing a very small amount of current. That is the practical advantage over wireless earbuds, which die mid-call after four or five hours and need a case. For long study sessions, overnight bus journeys to Kisumu or Mombasa, or a full workday of meetings, the earphone simply keeps working.
Is the sound good enough for music, or only for calls?
Music holds up well for this price. The 15mm dynamic driver is larger than the 8mm to 10mm units in most bundled earphones, which gives it more low-end weight on Afrobeats, gengetone, drill and gospel tracks. Bass is forward, mids sit slightly behind, and treble stays controlled rather than sharp. Audiophiles chasing flat studio response should look higher up the range. For streaming on Spotify, Boomplay or YouTube, it is more than adequate.
Will it stay comfortable through a long commute?
The in-ear housing uses two different bevel angles, so the nozzle enters at an angle matching the ear canal rather than pressing straight in. Most users report no soreness across a two-hour stretch, which covers a Rongai or Thika Road commute both ways. The silicone tips seal enough to block a fair amount of matatu noise passively. Ears vary, though, so test a pair at our Kimathi Street counter if you have had fit trouble before.
Is the cable strong enough for daily use?
The 1.2-metre cable is flat rather than round, which is the main reason it resists tangling in a pocket or bag. Flat cables also spread bending stress instead of concentrating it at one point. The housing is ABS plastic with a copper voice coil inside, and the joints at the plug and the Y-split are reinforced. Budi rates the earphone as resistant to sweat and light rain, so gym use and a Nairobi downpour are fine.
Why choose this over wireless earbuds selling around the same price?
Wireless earbuds under KSh 1,500 in Kenya typically use older Bluetooth chips, drop connection in crowded areas, and lose battery capacity within a year. The Budi EP20T has no battery to degrade and no connection to drop, so year three sounds identical to day one. Latency is zero, which matters for gaming and video. The trade-off is a cable, and for commuters, students and call-heavy workers that trade-off usually favours wired.
What warranty covers the Budi EP20T, and how do I buy one?
Mascom International covers the earphone for 12 months against manufacturing defects, handled at our Nairobi CBD service desk. The price is KSh 800. Buy in store on Kimathi Street, or order by phone, WhatsApp, email or our website for delivery across all 47 counties. Nairobi orders arrive the same day. You inspect the earphone and pay only once it reaches you, which removes the risk of paying upfront for accessories.
Technical Specifications
Driver and Sound Output
- 15mm dynamic driver, noticeably larger than the 8mm to 10mm drivers fitted in most bundled phone earphones.
- Copper voice coil with a high-resolution diaphragm, the combination responsible for the earphone's forward bass response.
- Tuned toward deep bass with softer mids and controlled highs, suited to Afrobeats, gengetone, gospel and podcasts.
- Built-in DAC decoding handles digital-to-analog conversion inside the earphone rather than depending on the handset.
- Passive noise isolation from the silicone tip seal reduces matatu engine drone without needing battery-powered cancellation.
- Wide soundstage for a wired in-ear at this price, keeping vocals separated from backing instruments on busy tracks.
- No equaliser app required; the tuning is fixed, though your phone's built-in equaliser still applies normally.
Digital USB-C Connection and Device Compatibility
- Standard USB-C plug fits any device with a USB-C audio-capable port, no adapter or dongle needed.
- Works with Samsung Galaxy A and S series, Tecno, Infinix, Xiaomi, Redmi, Oppo, Vivo and Realme handsets.
- Compatible with USB-C tablets and laptops, useful for Zoom and Microsoft Teams calls on a work machine.
- Built-in DAC means the earphone plays even on phones that omit analog audio support over USB-C.
- Digital signal path avoids the background hiss and interference common on inexpensive 3.5mm analog earphones.
- Plug-and-play operation with no drivers, no pairing screen and no companion application to install first.
- Draws a small amount of power from the host device, with negligible impact on daily battery life.
Microphone and Call Handling
- In-line microphone positioned on the cable near chest height, close enough to capture speech clearly.
- Handles Safaricom and Airtel voice calls, WhatsApp calls, Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams sessions.
- Noise reduction on the microphone trims steady background sound such as office fans and street traffic.
- Answer a call with a single press of the middle button; press again to hang up.
- Long-press the middle button to reject an incoming call without reaching for the phone at all.
- Useful for sales agents, dispatch coordinators and customer care staff handling high call volumes each day.
- Voice recording through phone apps works normally, since the microphone registers as a standard input device.
In-Line Controls and Everyday Operation
- Three-button remote covering volume up, volume down and a central multifunction button for playback.
- Single click on the centre button plays or pauses whatever is running on the phone.
- Double click skips to the previous track; triple click advances to the next track in the queue.
- Volume buttons mirror the phone's own media volume steps, so adjustments carry across every app.
- Controls sit within easy reach on the cable, letting you change tracks without unlocking the handset.
- No battery indicator or charging routine to monitor, since the remote draws power from the phone.
- Buttons use a tactile dome that gives a clear click, helping you operate them without looking down.
Cable Build and Physical Durability
- 1.2-metre cable length, long enough to run from a trouser pocket to your ears without pulling.
- Flat cable profile resists tangling in bags and pockets far better than traditional round cabling.
- Flat construction also distributes bending stress along the cable instead of concentrating it at one weak point.
- ABS plastic housings keep each earpiece light, reducing the downward pull that loosens fit while walking.
- Reinforced strain relief at the USB-C plug and the Y-split, the two points where cheap earphones usually fail.
- Rated by Budi as resistant to sweat and light rain, covering gym sessions and unexpected Nairobi showers.
- Available in black and white, both finishes using the same driver, remote and cable specification.
Package Contents
- Budi EP20T USB-C earphone with attached 1.2-metre cable, in-line remote and microphone
- Sealed Budi retail display packaging
- Product documentation
- Mascom International warranty card
Note:No charging cable, adapter or carry case is required or included, since the earphone draws power directly from the connected device. Mascom International stocks Budi USB-C cables, chargers and power banks separately for customers building out a full accessory set.
Warranty
The Budi EP20T carries a 12-month Mascom International warranty covering manufacturing defects under normal use, including driver failure, remote button failure and microphone faults. Physical damage from crushing, cutting or pulling the cable is not covered. Our Nairobi CBD service desk processes claims directly, and you deal with our staff rather than a distant importer.
Buying the Budi EP20T from Mascom International
Mascom International stocks the Budi EP20T in black and white at our Nairobi CBD location: Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street. Walk in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to plug a pair into your own phone before committing.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi and its environs receive the earphone the same day. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Garissa, Nyeri, Meru, Kakamega and all other major towns receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You inspect the earphone and pay only when it arrives.
The Budi EP20T comes with the 12-month Mascom warranty detailed above.
Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for accurate accessory specifications, current Kenyan market pricing, and after-sales support handled in person at our Nairobi CBD store rather than over an anonymous phone line.
Disclaimer: We can not guarantee that the information on this product is 100% correct
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