TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
FOUR STARS - The Alien Secret Predator QCC010 offers much for an insanely low price: outstanding battery life, great wearing comfort, wireless charging and a hugely entertaining sound. Unfortunately, not all models are flawless.
Specs of the Alien Secret ‘Predator’ QCC010/ Anomoibuds QCC 010:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX codec
IPX5 water proof (sweat and rain resistant)
7 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 9 times
Comes with 6 sets of ear tips and USB-C cable
$25 on AliExpress or with Anomoibuds branding - check current price!
The QCC010 has different names. On AliExpress, it's called Alien Secret QCC010 and Alien Secret QCC 010. On the box, it says Predator QCC010. As of July 2020, it's also sold as Anomoibuds QCC 010. I'll use different names in this review.
Below this QCC010 review you will find comparisons between the Alien Secret Predator QCC010 TWS vs Mpow M5/ T5, QCY T5, Tronsmart Spunky Beat, Fiil T1X, Wavefun Xpods 3T, Haylou GT1 Pro and SoundPEATS TrueDot.
Update December 21, 2020: The overall score has been changed from 5 to 4 stars. Too many readers complain they have received a faulty QCC010, which has trouble pairing between the two earbuds. Because you don't know whether you will get a good or bad version, I've decreased the score to 4 stars overall instead of 5.
Design, comfort and battery life
Both the charging case and the earpieces of the Alien Secret ‘Predator’ look generic. They lack branding and look as if they're one of AliExpress many, many 15 dollar sets of wireless earbuds. Happily, that's also the worst thing to say about the design.
The charging case is a whopping 1000mAh - about twice the size average for the price - and keeps its battery an insanely long time. On the front, four LED-lights show the current battery status. It can recharge the earpieces up to 9 times fully (!) - giving the earpieces around 7 hours of playtime each charge. It supports USB-C and wireless charging as well. Still, the case is quite pocketable and not too heavy. It's only the height (around 4 centimeters) that you can consider bulky.
The earpieces have a pleasant size. On the outside, they look a bit generic in grey, with a center button with brushed steel effect, and a visibly positioned microphone. Around the buttons, you find a led light that doesn't blink when you're listening to them - phew! The in-your-ears-side of the earbuds is the best part, however. The Predators are round, with a slight bump in the middle. It makes for a very comfortable and relaxing yet tight fit, suited for most ears. It blocks out a fair amount of noise from your surroundings.
Also: as they disappear well in your ears and they have actual buttons instead of touch panels, they are perfect to wear in bed.
To complete the fit, the QCC010 comes with different kinds of ear tips. That's a standard procedure for any pair of wireless earphones, but this time, you get long and short ones. That's great, considering the standard tip is quite small and may not get you the best amount of bass. Try them all.
Its looks may not be top-notch; comfort is great - and the battery life of the Alien Secret Predator QCC010 are class-leading under 25 dollars!
Connectivity and controls
The Predator QCC010 wireless earbuds come with actual buttons on the sides, where more manufacturers keep making the jump to touch controls. The buttons, the brushed steel part, respond well to your touches and don't make you press the earpieces too deep in your ears.
With a single press, you either play or pause the music. Pressing twice on the right side, makes you advance a song. Doing so on the left side, makes you go back a track. Press three times to activate the voice assistant on your phone. Unfortunately, there are no volume controles on the earpieces.
The connectivity of the Alien Secret QCC010 is reliable. Its Bluetooth 5.0 signal keeps stable up to ten meters and holds steady as well when you're in areas more crowded with wireless signals. Sadly, it's not possible to switch fast between one and two earpieces.
Take note: Quite a few Scarbir.com readers complain they have received a faulty QCC010, which has trouble pairing between the two earbuds. That's why I deduct a star from this subscore (from 4 to 3), and one star from the overall score (from 5 to 4).
Calling and watching movies with QCC010
Watching videos with the Predator QCC010 is a joy. The audio syncs perfectly with footage on screen, on both Android and iPhone - including the YouTube app. The sound on shows and podcasts is wonderful: detailed and spacious with a medium bass, although it can be a bit sharp on some occasions.
Contrary the promo texts, there is very noticeable audio lag when you play games.
Calling isn't the strongest suit of the Predator. It's doable to have a phone call indoors, without too much noise surrounding you, although your voice may sound a bit metallic at times. When you're outside, your voice is heavily challenged by traffic and wind noise, however. It's best to stay indoor when calling with the QCC010.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of Alien Secret QCC010
The Predator QCC010 TWS has a sweet bass, delivering plenty of power in dance, hip-hop, techno, and other more modern genres. And there's more that makes the sound so entertaining.
The bass-slam is there when you want it to be, but can also hold back when it needs to. It makes for a perfect match for more acoustic and classic genres - yet the mid-bass is still striking hard enough in Billie Eilish' Bury a Friend. The same goes for the sub-bass. In challenging songs like James Blake's Limit to Your Love, the bass sounds deep, yet rumbles gently. A delicate balance between too little bass and relentlessly shaking up your ears - great work.
One of the strongest parts of the Predator QCC010 TWS sound is the spaciousness (or airiness, if you prefer) in it. Music sounds around you, rather than directly in your ears. The soundstage is impressive, and instruments and sounds effects are separated well and can even be placed precisely. The sense of space is amazing. Take the intro of The Doors Riders on the Storm: the rain and thunder are clearly audible, sound natural, and yet sound distant from you.
The Predator QCC010 elevates upper-mids, giving room to vocals. Especially female vocalists can take a central position in songs, coming from 'inside' your head, or right in front of you. Once in a while, it can sound a bit sharp on higher volumes, but most of the time, vocals and highs are controlled well. With the lower-mids (like darker electronic tones and drums) enjoying plenty of presence, the overall sound character is warm, rather than bright.
The Predator QCC010 is an engaging listen, with plenty of punch in the bass, an airy vibe, and impressive detail.
Selected comparisons
Alien Secret QCC010 vs Fiil T1X
The Fiil T1X, which is sometimes only 40 dollars in the United States, sounds more balanced than the Alien Secret Predator - which elevates vocals more and gives the bass a more significant thump. The Predator sounds airier than the Fiil T1X, and offers a warmer sound. The T1X offers more nuances, especially in the mids. Moreover, the Fiil T1X has a solid app that lets you adjust the sound and rubber ear-wings making the T1X better suited for sports. Still, the airiness of the Predator shine even holds this best-under-$100 wireless earphones.
Alien Secret QCC010 vs Tronsmart Spunky Beat
The Tronsmart Spunky Beat is a great choice to make under $25 but sees vast competition from the Predator. The QCC010 has a bigger soundstage with more precise instrument placement and sounds more balanced on the highest volumes - where the Spunky Beat can seem a little shallow. The Tronsmart has a more prominent bass thump and lower-mids, but can also sound brighter and harsher than the more friendly tweaked QCC010.
Alien Secret QCC010 vs Mpow M5/ T5
The sound signature of the great Mpow M5/ T5 is comparable with that of the Alien Secret. The Mpow has more weight in the bass and lower-mids and lifts vocals and upper-mids a bit more, however. It makes for a fuller sound. The Alien Secret sounds more balanced in comparison. The QCC010 has better battery life, more comfort, a more compact case and better battery life.
Alien Secret QCC010 vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
The Alien Secret Predator QCC010 sounds spacier than the $25 SoundPEATS TrueDot, thanks to its expansive soundstage. When the highs kick in, the Secret can seem harsher than the TrueDots, however. The TrueDot delivers more bass depth and fuller lower-mids, making the Alien Secret look a bit hollow in comparison sometimes.
Alien Secret QCC010 vs Wavefun Xpods 3T
The $30 Wavefun Xpods 3T is a fancy upgraded version over the well-regarded Wavefun X-Pods 3, with a bigger charging case - although it's still not as powerful as the QCC010. The 3T bass dives a little deeper but isn't as tight as the one on the Predator. The Predator pushes vocals more forward and convinces with its bigger soundstage and great instrument placement.
Wavefun X-Pods 3 review (XPods 3T may come later)
Alien Secret QCC010 vs Haylou GT1 Plus
At also $20, the Haylou GT1 Plus is a popular contender to the Predator. It has a smaller charging case than the Alien Secret, but also way less battery life. The Haylou sounds a bit colder, and while pretty detailed, the Predator offers a bigger soundstage and more precise instrument placement within it. The QCC010 also makes vocals stand out more, giving them more clarity and nuances.
Alien Secret QCC010 vs Edifier X3
Added August 28, 2020: In the middle of 2020, the Edifier X3 shook up the market of ultra-budget earphones with a lovely small compact case, good call quality and video playback, six hours of battery life and an engaging sound. It was instantly the most allround cheap TWS. So what did the USB-C and wireless charging-powered Alien Secret do? Lower the price to the same level. Now, these go head to head, with the QCC010 offering even better battery life in the earpieces and case. It's more suitable for using in bed, as it appears in your ears quite a bit, and sounds more engaging, with a harder-hitting bass, more spaciousness and even more controlled highs. The Edifier has better call quality outside.
Verdict
The Alien Secret Predator QCC010 has a lot to go for at an insane price. It offers comfort well-enough to even wear them in bed, great video playback, class-leading battery life, and an engaging and airy sound. Unfortunately, not all models are flawless - that's why the Alien Secret doesn't get the full score.
Four stars - Very good
Buy Alien Secret QCC010/ check current price:
I received the Alien Secret QCC010 TWS/ Anomoibuds QCC010 for testing and review purposes. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
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