QCY has a new addition to its highly popular line of budget earbuds. The QCY AilyBuds Pro+ is the brands first half-in-ear earbuds after quite some time.
It makes for a perfect opportunity to take it into battle against some strong competitors: the Xiaomi Air 3 SE and the highly regarded Oppo Enco Air3. Which of these is the best?
QCY AilyBuds Pro+ review: A weird little ANC trick
$35 — 5 hours playtime — LDAC Codec — IPX5 waterproof
The QCY AilyBuds Pro+ has a ton of features for its small 40 dollars asking price and can sound entertaining too - if you're willing to make an ‘offer’.
The QCY Ailybuds Pro+ follows the latest trend of capsule-like charging cases. The lid is about half the size of the total case, and reveals the entire earbuds when it's open. It looks great, but you may want to double-check if the stems are placed correctly. Otherwise, the earbuds won't charge.
The earbuds itself look trendy as well, with a shiny finish on the stem, and a large AirPods 3-like mound on the inside. It's comfortable to wear and feels secure enough in average-sized ears - unless you're planning to sweat a lot with them, perhaps.
The Ailybuds Pro+ (let's just hope no one asks you what the name of your earbuds is) ticks the boxes with 5 hours playtime on a single charge and an IPX5 rain- and sweatproof rating. It also has easy to use, extensive controls you can setup via the free QCY app on iPhone and Android phones. This way, you can add both track and volume controls to the earbuds directly - convenient.
Furthermore, the Pro+ supports multipoint connection, meaning you can connect it to two devices at the same time and switch between them when you receive a call, or when you pause on one device, and play on the other.
Speaking of calls: the microphone quality is convincing. It picks up your voice clearly and loud enough, reduces noises around you very well, and the microphones can even withstand a bit of wind. The gaming mode is great too, rapidly revealing the sounds that follow the action on your screen.
The biggest feature of the QCY Ailybuds Pro+ is the availability of ANC - but it's not what you'd expect. ANC doesn't stand for Active Noise Cancelling here, but for Adaptive Noise Cancelling. After using these earbuds extensively for two weeks, I can't help but think it's a gimmick and an annoying one at that.
See, the Ailybuds Pro+ doesn't sound good out of the case. The sound is flat, concentrates on the mid-tones alone en lacks bass. It needs you activate the ANC. Hold one of the stems for a long second, and the QCY takes two seconds to scan your ears and then activate the function. Then, suddenly, higher tones are better controlled, music gains warmth, and a second later, the bass deepens too.
Every time you activate the function, there's this moment of ‘wow, this sounds really good’ - but after two weeks of using them, I can't help but think that QCY weakened the default sound to achieve this effect.
Ailybuds Pro+ has the brands best app support to date
Upon activating the ANC, the QCY Ailybuds Pro+ never achieves its promised 42 decibel noise reduction from your surroundings. It can dampen higher sounds like car tires on wet roads, and take the brighter edge of keyboard clicks and kids laughter, or it can reduce the volume of someone talking when you take the ANC scan at the time they're talking - that's the Adaptive part, probably. The point is that the ANC only reduces the sounds it hears during the scan. The next sound that wasn't scanned, comes through clearly again - even when the QCY app gives you the feedback you have the perfect fit after activating the ANC function.
Still, you'll be using the ANC function every time as it improves the sound quality so much. The AilyBuds Pro+ performs the best after the scan and on higher volumes (although the maximum volume could be a tad higher).
The QCY then shows a solid mid-bass with quick thumps, and a sub-bass that is capable of a round, lighter rumble. Especially for half-in-ears, it's a tight performer, with clean strikes and no bass-bleeding into other frequencies. Meanwhile, lower-mid tones are pleasantly boosted and make lower male vocals and instruments and darker electronic tones pop.
Higher up, vocals and instruments keep on having a subtle warm tonality, while the QCY offers good clarity too. Female and higher male vocals are forward, and violins, trumpets and higher electronic have plenty of presence, but they all cut off before they can become sharp or overpower other aspects of the music. Things can get a little congested in crowded musical pieces, but overall, the Ailybuds Pro+ is a great, warm, entertaining listen when you give it a bit of volume. It's a shame it loses so much of its dynamics when you reduce the volume to moderate or background volume levels.
The QCY AilyBuds Pro+ is a weird offering. It rocks good comfort, clear calls, a great gaming mode, and multipoint connection - but you'll have to go through a 3-second process every time to maybe get a bit of ANC and to get its great entertaining sound - which only shows itself with enough volume. There are easier alternatives.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Comfortable and secure enough, decent battery life
Controls and connectivity: 4.5/5 - Multipoint connection, adjustable controls, no auto-pause
Playback: 4/5 - Flawless in videos, good for gaming too
Call quality: 4/5 - Clear voice with reduced noise, even withstands some wind
ANC: 2/5 - Only dampens the sounds it hears during a scan
Transparency mode: -
App support: 3.5/5 - Plenty of features, asks too many permissions on Android
Sound quality: 4/5 - Requires activating the ANC to sound good, needs volume to show its quality with deep, full bass, warm lower-mids and controlled highs
VERDICT: 4 STARS (Good)
$40
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Oppo Enco Air3 review: Fantastic half-in-ears under $50!
$40 — 5 hours playtime — AAC Codec — IP54 waterproof
Immediately after my recent review and praise of the Huawei Freebuds 2SE, I received multiple requests to review the Oppo Enco Air3 as well. Readers that already have them, love the sound quality on these. And… they're right! These are excellent for their friendly price.
Before I jump to the sound, it's good to know that the Oppo Enco Air3 is a total package. Like the ACY Ailybuds Pro+, it has a capsule-like case with the earbuds lying underneath the lid. As the charging magnets are on the inside of the earbuds’ stems instead of the bottom, it has no problem charging the earbuds - and you'll get immediate feedback because of the LED-light behind the transparent lid.
The Enco Air3 has a small speaker mound, reminiscent of the earlier AirPods models instead of the AirPods 3, and it's very comfortable because of it. It's easy and light to wear during its 5 hours playtime on a single charge, although the fit could be a bit too loose if you're planning to sport or sweat with them. Rain isn't a problem, however, thanks to its IP54 waterproof rating.
All controls can be setup via the HeyMelody app on iPhone and Android phones, which makes it easy to change tracks and volume from the earbuds. It controls really well, and affirms your taps on the top of the stems with neat clicky feedback.
While it's a model from last year, the Enco Air3's features are up-to-date. No gimmicky Active Noise Cancelling here, but the Oppo can switch between two devices easily thanks to the multipoint connection. Phone and video calls are clear, as the microphones put your voice through natural and clear. Noise around you is audible but not too loud, and your voice also survives a bit of wind. The gaming mode is equally convincing, with the sound effects fluently following the action on a challenging game like Call of Duty mobile.
As good as it may be as an all-rounder, it's the sound quality where the Oppo Enco Air3 stands out from the fierce competition.
The bass for instance, immediately shows you don't need an ANC-scan to optimize it. The Enco Air3 has a solid, gently thumping mid-bass that barely feels lighter than many earbuds with rubber tips - even more so when you select the well-balanced Bass Boost EQ from the app. There's a decent bass kick and underneath it, the sub-bass gives off a round, controlled rumble in James Blake's ideal test track Limit to Your Love.
The Oppo Alive Audio, a 3D-sound setting, doesn't do anything here
The Enco Air3 lifts the lower-mids somewhat, making it easy for darker electronic tones to make music flow. Like darker (male) vocals, higher singers are boosted as well. Vocals are very forward, and brighter voices even outweigh the also open treble. From moderate to the highest volumes; higher instruments and voices have space to breathe without becoming sharp, peaky or light.
But, as I've wrote before in my reviews: the thing that really separates the good from the great sounding earbuds is a good execution of the center-midtones in between the lows and the highs. That's exactly what's on display with the Enco Air3.
The center-mids here aren't pushed away by the bass, and they aren't intimidated by the forward treble. Guitars and piano play have body and striking the same balance between warmth and clarity as the treble; they feel natural. Guitar play can sound light and clear in a Jack Johnson song, and warm and full in a blues song. Mids aren't coloured one way; they're not dragged towards the highs or the lows, but keep their own tonality. Separation between instruments and details is good too; music feels airy, although it's hard to precise instruments precisely.
That said - this is the most natural and striking sounding pair of rubber tip-less earbuds to date. The sound is more natural and lifelike than Apple's $200 AirPods 3, the bass is more impactful than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, highs are better controlled than than on the Fiil CC2, and mids and treble reproduction are better than the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS and the Air4 successors. And yes - it also has more body in the mids than the Huawei Freebuds SE2. These are exceptional sounding half-in-ears.
The Oppo Enco Air3 throws in good call clarity, comfort, controls, multipoint connection and solid gaming performance on top of an exceptionally balanced sound. It's easily the top choice for half-in-ear earbuds on a budget.
Design and comfort: 4.5/5 - Decent battery life, wireless charging of the case, very comfortable, IP54 waterproof
Controls and connectivity: 4.5/5 - No auto-pause, but multipoint connection and extensive controls you can setup yourself
Playback: 4.5/5 - Flawless in videos, great synchronization in games
Call quality: 4/5 - Natural and clear voice reproduction, reduces sounds just enough and can stand a bit of wind
ANC: -
Transparency mode: -
App support: 4/5 - HeyMelody works like a charm, control and EQ customisation
Sound quality: 5/5 - Tight bass, natural with warm undertone, detailed too
VERDICT: FIVE STARS (Excellent)
$40 - $70
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Xiaomi Air3 SE review: A good AirPods-clone under $25
$25 — 6 hours playtime — SBC Codec — IPX4 splashproof
The Xiaomi Air3 SE could have been a stunning very cheap AirPods 3-alternative, but it's maximum volume should have been higher.
The Xiaomi Air3 SE is Xiaomi's own interpretation of the budget lineup Redmi Buds 4 Lite and it doesn't differ in many regards. The charging case in shiny white looks and feels more upmarket than the Redmi, and it might be the biggest difference.
Like the QCY Ailybuds Pro+, these earbuds have the big AirPods 3-like mounds that feel a little bit bigger in your ears than the Oppo Enco Air3 ones. The comfort is good, and the earbuds stay in your ears easily as well, but the Air 3SE is a bit fit-dependent. It can be uplifting and bassy one time, and sound a bit thin after a broad smile that moves the earbuds subtly in your ears.
With the right fit, the Xiaomi Air 3SE has an especially energetic mid-bass. It fires rapid slams. They have a nice kick and the quick pacing easily lets you tap your feet. The sub-bass that isn't very precise, but these darkest bass tones can emit a slight, controlled rumble.
Vocals take up the most prominent position in the music. They're so forward it can feel a little invasive sometimes, but they strike a neat balance between clarity and warmth. Like the Oppo Enco Air3 and QCY Ailybuds Pro+, mids come with a pleasant warm undertone, and lower-mid tones like darker electronic tones are boosted as well. Happily, center-mid instruments like guitars and piano play don't drown in all this. They're well-represented and sound natural. The Xiaomi also does a good job of positioning details on your left and right.
The highs are stretched a bit further than on the competitors, however, which can result in a bit of thinness and harshness from brighter vocals on the highest volumes. The main problem is that you'll likely have the Air3 SE in the three highest volume bars most of the time. The Xiaomi Air3 SE isn't a very loud earphone.
Other than a limited maximum volume (especially on Android phones, less so on iPhone), controls are also restricted to just changing tracks. The Xiaomi also lacks the multipoint connection of the higher-priced competitors.
The features the Xiaomi Air3 SE does have, it executes reasonably well. The gaming mode (hold both earbuds for a long second) could synchronize sounds with action better, but clearly pinpoints gunshots around you in Call of Duty mobile. Taking a phone call is doable as well, in both quiet areas and with some wind. Noise around you can tackle your voice a bit, however.
The Xiaomi Air3 SE is one of the many half-in-ear earbuds that offers good value for money for its friendly price. It's a letdown the earbuds can't go louder.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Decent battery life, comfortable, simple design
Controls and connectivity: 3/5 - Auto-pause, but limited controls and no multipoint connection
Playback: 4/5 - Flawless in videos, decent game mode with good sound placement
Call quality: 3/5 - Can stand a bit of wind, but noise can tackle your voice
ANC: -
Transparency mode: -
App support: -
Sound quality: 4/5 - Energetic, pleasantly warm, doesn't go very loud
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Good)
$25
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Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself or I received these products from the manufacturer or a distributor. 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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