Finding the best wireless earbuds can be challenging, especially if you have a budget to consider. If you are looking for one that is under $50, then the QCY T5 true wireless earbuds might be a good option to consider.
In this review, we are going to take a closer look at the QCY T5 wireless earbuds. Considered as one of the best budget wireless earbuds on the market. But do these earbuds stand what most claim it to be? You will find out in this review.
In this article
Pros and Cons
We laid out our quick TL;DR advantages and disadvantages of the QCY T5. So you immediately know whether the earphones are suitable for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Excellent rich audio quality ✔️ Value for its price |
❌Microphone needs improvement ❌Does not support QCY app |
Specification QCY T5
- Price: around 20 bucks
- Chipset: Realtek/Jieli
- Codec: AAC, SBC, APTX
- Bluetooth: V5.0 with Backward Compatibility
- Reach: 10m
- Battery of the case: 380 mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion
- Battery earbud: 43 mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion
- Cable: Micro USB
- Waterproof: Sweat & Water Proof IPX4
- Control: Touch
- Driver: 6mm
- Microphone: CVC 6.0 Noise Reduction
The QCY T5 is also compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana via long hold press of the touch panel. Additionally, it features a Gaming Mode that aims to reduce any forms of delay in the sound while playing games.
Sound Quality of the QCY T5
Sound quality score: 70%
Out of the box, the sound quality of the QCY T5 is outstanding considering its price. Listing to songs and videos, the audio quality it provides is rich and crisp. But it is far from perfect, it still has its share of flaws. Fortunately, they are barely noticeable.
When listening to powerful music or theatric videos, the bass it produces lacks some punch. Furthermore, lower tones could be improved but again, considering the price, it is hard to complain.
Lastly, where the QCY T5 really shines is its gaming mode. A feature built-in within the earbuds that aims to reduce any form of audio lag or latency while playing video games. By tapping the right earbuds three times, you will be able to activate this mode. In our experience, the earbuds already work really well without activating the gaming mode. So it is quite difficult to tell if there are any improvements when enabling this mode. Nonetheless, it is a feature that is welcome especially by gamers.
Microphone: calling and video conferencing with the QCY T5
Microphone score: 55%
If there is one thing that you should really outta know for the QCY T5, it is the microphone audio quality. Do not get us wrong, it is not the worst microphone out there but, it is not the best either. We consider the microphone quality below average.
Below you can hear the microphone quality of the QCY T5 with a record that we have made. KEep in mind that the audio quality that you will hear can vary depending (and it's speakers) on the device you are listening to. Maybe the best option is to listen to this audio with earphones.
If you listened to it, the voice is understandable and clear. However, you will notice some background drop echo static being produced as we speak. Furthermore, the lower tones are missing.
Considering its price, we are not expecting much out of the QCY T5 but this comes as no surprise. One way or the other, manufacturers tend to include cheap components or compromise with their product's overall quality to offer it at a very affordable price and the QCY T5 is no exception.
Fit: Does the QCY T5 fit well in your ear?
The QCY T5 is one of the most comfortable earbuds you will find on the market. It also comes with three pairs of silicone rubber tips that differ in size. So you can replace the default one to find that comfortable fit for your ear.
Fit score: 60%
The QCY T5 earbuds, however, have a large casing compared to most found on the market. They are considerably quite big for an earbud which gives off in terms of aesthetics. But overall, they fit snuggly and comfortably.
TIP: For better comfort and fitting, we recommend using a foam ear tip over silicone tips. Those are ear tips that you place on the earbuds instead of the silicone ear tips that come with the package. They are softer and made of foam, so they fit perfectly in your ear. The QCY T5 earbud in the picture above (right earbud) has a black foam ear tip applied to it.
Operating the earbuds
When it comes to operating the QCY T5, it is quite easy to use. It offers a user-friendly experience by means of its touch control. Speaking of touch control, you will not find any physical buttons in it. So control navigation can only be done by using the touch panel.
Operating score: 60%
Unfortunately, the earbuds lack volume control which is quite inconvenient since you have to grab your phone to control the volume. A quick workaround though is controlling the volume via voice command with the help of either Siri, Google Assistant, or Cortana. Another worth mentioning is that it does not support the QCY app that lets you tweak the controls.
What are the different functions behind the touch/buttons?
| Left | Right | |
| 1x | None | None |
| 2x | Pause/Play/Answer Call/End Call | Pause/Play/Answer Call/End Call |
| 3x | None | On/Off Gaming Mode |
| 1.5 sec. | Previous Track | Next Track |
|
4+ sec. |
Ignore Call | Ignore Call |
Using the QCY T5 is quite easy and the controls are easy to remember as well. However, as we already mentioned above, there are no controls to adjust the volume.
Battery: for how long can you use the earphones?
The QCY T5 comes with a built-in 43mAh battery on each piece. At full charge, the earbuds are rated to last up to 120 hours on standby mode, 4.5 hours when listening to music, and up to 4 hours of talk time. However, it is best to note that these usage ratings can vary depending on the level of volume and some other factors.
Charging case
With the charging case at full charge, you can add up to 25 more hours of listening to music thanks to its built-in reserve battery of 380 mAh.
The casing itself, on the other hand, is solid despite the plastic feeling you get from it. It does, however, comes with smart charging technology which enables it to charge the QCY T5 earbuds on the go.
Conclusion: How good are the QCY T5 TWS Earbuds?
| Score (%) | |
| Sound | 70% |
| Microphone | 55% |
| Fit | 60% |
| Battery | 50% |
| Controls | 60% |
| Stability | 65% |
The QCY T5 is a great earbud to consider if your budget is of concern. It offers great sound quality with a lightweight body design and a gaming mode feature that any gamer would appreciate having. Furthermore, the pros outweigh the cons for this earbud considering the price and value you get from it.
On the other hand, if you are looking for an earbud that offers above-average microphone quality and something that is great for video chat use such as Skype, Zoom, WhatApps, etc, then you better steer clear away from this one.
Alternatives
QCY T5 vs. SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE
The QCY T5 is a great earbud to consider if budget is a concern. It offers great sound quality and features that you will not usually find on other models but if you want an earbud that offers the best value for your money, then we highly recommend considering the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE.
Both earbuds have a price tag of under US$50 but the latter model outshines the former in every aspect.
| Overall Performance Score | |
| SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE | 8/10 |
| QCY T5 | 6/10 |
Commonly Asked Questions about the QCY T5
How to factory reset the QCY T5 earbuds?
To factory reset the QCY T5 earbuds, all you have to do is turn off the earbuds and then touch the steam of each ear piece for about 10 seconds. Wait for the white LED light to appear and turn red to green flashing alternatively.
How to charge the QCY T5 earbuds?
To charge the QCY T5 earbuds, all you have to do is to place it back to its case. If the case also has an empty battery, simply plug the charging cable to a USB power brick to charge both devices.
How to use the QCY T5 earbuds?
To use the QCY T5 earbuds, you first need to pair it with a supporting device. Take both ear piece out of its case and wait for its LED to blink. Once the red and green color blinks alternatingly, go to your phone and search the earbuds via Bluetooth settings.
How to pair the QCY T5 to my phone?
To pair the QCY T5 to any supported device, simply take both ear piece out of its case and wait for its LED to blink. Once the red and green color blinks alternatingly, go to your phone and search the earbuds via Bluetooth settings.
how to connect QCY T5 to laptop?
To pair the QCY T5 to your laptop, simply take both ear piece out of its case and wait for its LED to blink. Once the red and green color blinks alternatingly, go to your laptops Bluetooth settings and search the earbuds. If found, click Connect. Make sure that your laptop has a Bluetooth connectivity, otherwise, it's impossible to connect an earbud to a laptop that doesn't have any Bluetooth connection.
How long does it take to charge the QCY T5 TWS earbuds?
It takes roughly 2 hours to full charge both the QCY T5 earbud pieces and the case.
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