TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
4.5 STARS - They have respectable battery life, and you can take a simple call with them, but most of all: the Haylou GT6 half-in-ears wireless earbuds sound absolutely amazing. For just 20 dollars, all you need is the right fit.
Haylou GT6 specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
5,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3,5 times
$20 - Buy on AliExpress, Amazon US or from other Amazon countries
Below this Haylou GT6 review, you will find comparisons between the Haylou GT6 vs Haylou MoriPods, SoundPEATS TrueAir 2, Fiil CC2, and QCY T5.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The GT6 is Haylou's newest pair of half-in-ears earbuds, the form factor Apple made famous with its original AirPods. Its earbuds come without rubber ear tips that fill up your ear canals: you can just 'hang' the Haylou GT6 in your ears.
Available in black and white, the GT6 buds separate themselves from the AirPods and earlier released Haylou MoriPods thanks to a subtle duotone design. The lower part of the stem is shiny; the upper part is matte. This color variation comes back on the mound that goes into your ears. That itself is what you would expect. They're light, comfortable, and snug enough.
However, to get the most out of the sound, you may have to press the GT6 in deeper than you'd like and is comfortable to you. The fit is a bit trickier than the popular SoundPEATS TrueAir2 - some Scarbir.com readers mention that they can't get any bass in the sound, as they can't get the Haylou GT6 deep enough in their ears. This is what prevents the GT6 from scoring a 5 stars overall rating.
While Haylou states the comparably designed MoriPods is IPX4 splashproof, there's no waterproof rating for the GT6. It survived a light rainfall while testing, but there's no guarantee. They also let in much wind noise when you're catching speed, for example on a bicycle. And the weirdest of all: it doesn't come with a USB-C cable. You probably already have them lying around everywhere, but it's still good to know.
The GT6 comes in a delightfully compact and light charging case, in which the earbuds lie flat so you can clean the charging dots easily when you need to. A single LED light shows the remaining case battery, and the case can recharge the earbuds 3,5 times before needing new power via USB-C itself. Each charge feeds the earbuds up to 5,5 hours of playtime - plenty of juicy for commuting and everyday activities.
Connectivity and controls
The Haylou GT6 has solid connectivity. The earbuds pair and connect quickly after you take them out of the case, and keep a strong connection up to 9-10 meters away from your device, also in areas crowded with wireless signals.
The music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out, but it's always possible to switch between listening to one or two earbuds - meaning you can listen to one earbud while charging the other, put the charged bud in your ears, and immediately listen in stereo again.
While the touch panels respond well to your input, controls on the GT6 are rather limited.
Tap L or R to play/ pause music
Double-tap R to skip to the next song
Double-tap L to activate low-latency gaming mode
Triple-tap L or R to activate the voice assistant
Unfortunately, it's not possible to change the volume directly from the earbuds, and it's also not possible to return to a previous song.
Calling and video quality
Watching videos is a breeze on the Haylou GT6, with flawless synchronization between audio and video on iPhone and Android. That includes the YouTube app.
The Haylou has a low-latency mode which reduces the delay in sound effects while playing games, although there's still a tiny gap between shooting and hearing the sound effect in the likes of Call of Duty mobile.
It's doable to take a phone call with the Haylou GT6. Your voice sounds a bit tinny but has plenty of clarity and volume. Darker and constant sounds around you are successfully left out of the call, but brighter and peaky sounds like accelerating traffic or chatter do come through. It's best to avoid noisy office or outdoor environments. Video calls like Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings aren't a top strength either. Your voice is loud enough most of the times but can dip in volume, making you harder to hear.
Also read: The best AirPods-like earbuds under $50
Sound quality of Haylou GT6: Wow!
If you're a frequent Scarbir.com visitor, chances are you've read this before. But it has to be said again: as the speakers from half-in-ear earbuds aim sideways in your ears, they have to cross a longer way to your ear canal than fully in-ear earphones with rubber tips. It's much harder to get them to sound good. Apple may have put the form factor on the map, but its AirPods sounds mushy for a reason.
While most of the market is now aiming towards full-in-ear earphones with or without active noise cancelling, some affordable Chinese brands properly figured out how to improve the half-in-ears sound and beat Apple to its own game. The Fiil CC2 has an engaging bass and buckets of crispness, the Haylou MoriPods sports an open character, and then there's the beloved $30 SoundPEATS TrueAir 2, which has this soothing warm and bassy sound.
And now, Haylou's back with the Haylou GT6. When you can acquire a right, deep-enough fit: wow.
Haylou nailed the most difficult part: the bass. There's a steady mid-bass thump that provides plenty of punch to modern music genres like dance, techno, and hip-hop, without overstaying its welcome. The mid-bass may not be the fastest, but it's tight and sounds full without bloating. Sub-bass is impressive on these AirPods-likes as well, as the lowest of bass tones can deliver a nice stab and appear lovely deep. The GT6 even easily handles multiple basslines at the same.
Lower mid-tones are slightly boosted, which gives the GT6 a subtle warm character. Drums and darker electronic tones can sometimes sound as loud as medium male vocals, but they are lush, like the lowest of male voices. You can't just hear Leonard Cohen - you'll feel his voice vibrating in his newer work.
Higher vocals? They sound good as well. The GT6 invites upper-mids and highs but throws them out before they start to dominate the party. Female and higher-pitched male vocals sound forward, clear - and yes, they do have a slight tinniness that seems to come with half-in-ears, but they don't overtake the sound. Even loud cymbals and claps don't sound too harsh or bright.
By controlling the highs, the Haylou even leaves room for the center-mids. Snare drums, guitar, and piano play may not be the most prominent part of the music; center-mids sound natural and textured. And just like them, the amount of detail also convinces: there's not just air in the sound, but the GT6 also boasts solid separation between instruments and puts details on your left and right.
Last but not least: as the volume goes from bedtime-proof soft to definitely loud enough, the Haylou GT6 is as versatile as it's great. So here we have it: fantastic sounding half-in-ear wireless earbuds. For 20 dollars.
Haylou GT6 comparisons
Haylou GT6 vs SoundPEATS TrueAir2
The SoundPeats TrueAir 2 was the best sounding half-in-ears wireless earphone (a bit of) money could buy. And now it's not. While the SoundPEATS pleases with its thick, full lower tones and warm sound, the Haylou has better balance and detail. The GT6 bass is more precise, better separated, and dives deeper; center-mid tones are clearer and more textured; upper-mids and highs are more forward, crisp, and engaging. The Haylou has an hour more battery life per charge and handles indoor phone calls better; the SoundPEATS is better for outside calls and throws in volume controls.
Haylou GT6 vs Haylou MoriPods
The MoriPods is a more expensive half-in-ears in the Haylou line-up and has better specs on paper: better codecs, more microphones, and a mentioned IPX4 waterproof rating. It indeed handles both phone calls and video calls more naturally - but when it comes to sound, the GT6 takes the win. The MoriPods extends upper-mids and highs further and has a brighter sound, but the GT6 barely gives in on clarity, and adds a fantastic layer of lows in the sound, with fuller lower-mids, punchier mid-bass, and deeper sub-bass.
Haylou GT6 vs Fiil CC2
With clearer call quality and its formal, sleek looks, the more expensive Fiil CC2, is still is a competitor to the Haylou GT6. The new Haylou has better battery life and a more comfortable fit. The CC2 pushes higher-pitched vocals less forward, making it sound flatter and more flow-y than the Haylou. The GT6 has a more dynamic, engaging sound with increased separation between the lows, mids, and highs. Its bass kicks more and feels deeper, and female and higher-pitches male vocals sound more upfront and striking.
Fiil CC2 full review ($55)
Haylou GT6 vs QCY T5
Do you want the best wireless sound on the cheapest, no matter the form factor? The two-year-old QCY T5 full-in-ears still come recommended. Not especially for the battery life (3,5 hours) or call quality (comparable to the GT6), but mainly for their wonderful comfort and sound. However... the GT6 has deeper and more textured bass, better separation between basslines and lower-mids, and its more forward and full-bodied vocals make for a more engaging sound. The GT6 has more spaciousness and more precise instrument placement as well. Especially for their price, center-mids on both are exquisite. The T5 puts them in a more balanced, natural landscape; the GT6 throws them in a more dynamic, more detailed, and engaging setting.
QCY T5 full review ($15)
—> See all TWS reviews and ratings here
Verdict
So here we have it. The Haylou GT6 has respectable battery life, and it's possible to take a simple call with them, but those are mere sidelines to what it actually is when you acquire a good fit: the best sounding pair of half-in-ear wireless earbuds on the market. For 20 dollars, it's an absolute steal.
4.5 stars - Great
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I bought the Haylou GT6 with a discount from the manufacturer to test and review myself. All my reviews are 100% honest and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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