TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - The QCY G1 are inexpensive, well-built, and all-around wireless gaming earbuds. Its balanced sound is not just terrific for gaming; it's pleasant for music as well.
QCY G1 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2
6 - 8 hours playtime on a single charge (gaming mode off/on)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with three ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$40 - Check price on AliExpress (official QCY Store)
Below this QCY G1 gaming earbuds review, you will find comparisons of the QCY G1 vs Edifier X3s, GravaStar Sirius Pro, and QCY T13.
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Design, comfort and battery life
So far, all of QCY's highly affordable wireless earbuds have had a rather generic design. The first gaming earbuds of the company changes that. The charging case is heavier than the other offerings from the brand and a lot sturdier. The lid has the shape of a shield and comes with a metallic effect and a strong blue LED light that indicates the earbuds are charging within.
The earbuds have plenty of room in the case, and you can easily take them out. They too have big blue LED lights, and you can set up when they should be on and off via the free app support. Out of the box, they're off when you're playing music, taking a call, or playing a game, so it's doable to use them in the dark.
The earbuds have a familiar shape, with an oval part that goes into your ears, attached to a square-ish stem with some typical gaming accents. They're easy to fit in the ears and comfortable to wear for hours. They don't look too extreme for average daily use, happily - even though QCY mounts the oval rubber ear tips in such a way that the stems stick out a bit forward instead of down.
The battery capacity is solid, with up to 8 hours of playtime when listening to music and up to 6 hours with the gaming mode activated - although you should take away an hour from both times if you have an Android phone instead of an iPhone. Still: very solid performance. The case can recharge the earbuds three times fully before needing new power via USB-C, and even wireless charging is supported.
Controls and connectivity
The QCY G1 has straightforward controls that trigger when you touch the top end of the earbuds. The panels generally respond well to your input, but ironically, (de)activating the gaming mode can take some attempts.
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Hold R to skip to the next song
Hold L to return a song
Triple-tap R to switch gaming mode (2 beeps = on, 3 beeps = off)
Triple-tap L to activate the voice assistant
You can't change the controls from the QCY app. It's also impossible to change the volume straight from the earbuds.
Connectivity is never an issue on QCY earphones, and this is no exception - although it's better to deactivate the gaming mode if you're commuting and not playing games; it makes the signal more stable.
The Bluetooth connection holds strong up to ten 9-10 away from your device. The earbuds pair and connect quickly when you open the case, and you can always switch between listening to two earbuds or one.
Calling, video playback and gaming latency
Phone and video calls are easy to do with the QCY G1. Your voice is a bit thin, and you could perhaps sound a bit little louder. On the plus side, the voice output is clear in both phone and video calls. Noises like chatter and accelerating vehicles around you are reduced well, and even a bit of wind won't blow your voice away. Only brighter sudden background sounds, like laughter, come through clearly in calls.
Video playback is flawless on the G1 on both iPhone and Android, and the gaming mode works truly well to reduce the delay in sound effects on both systems.
QCY also states the G1 gets better spatial details in the gaming mode, so you can hear footsteps and gunshots around you better - and it's true; it is doable to locate enemies around you in Call of Duty mobile, for example. The combination of the low-latency and well-pronounced yet not piercing higher sounds, make the G1 capable gaming earbuds.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $50
APP SUPPORT of QCY G1
Like all earbuds from the brand, the QCY G1 gets extra functions from the free QCY app available on iPhone and Android. You won't be able to change the controls this time around, nor can you see the remaining battery life. What you can do:
Select a different sound equalizer
(De)activate the Gaming mode
(De)activate the Sleeping mode; meaning the earbuds will or won't turn off after a certain time of idle use
Toggle the LED light on the earbuds on or off
Update the firmware
Reset to default settings
Apart from the LED light, there's not much to the app. Like on other QCY models, the equalizers are... well... useless. Whichever you choose, they always completely reduce one of the other sound aspects - whether it's the treble or the bass. You can skip this function entirely.
Sound quality of QCY G1: Balanced
Unlike most affordable gaming headsets, the QCY G1 isn't a bass-heavy monster but instead delivers a nicely balanced sound.
There's some bass on the QCY G1, but it's never overpowering or even the dominant factor in the sound. The mid-bass is more of a gentle slam than a hard thump. It's quite a surprise after the wildly popular QCY T13, which does have a loose and loud thump. The G1 bass has quicker pacing and rolls off faster, adding to the balanced musical presentation of the G1. It's also clever for gaming: it makes sure explosions don't drag away the other sounds around you.
The sub-bass [the darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear] doesn't compensate for the gentle mid-bass. It can give a bit of a stab when pushed by songs but doesn't reveal itself easily, and it could also sound deeper. The G1 is a bit flat in the bass area.
Flatness is a good word to describe the higher frequencies as well. The G1 has a fair amount of treble in which the center-mids, upper-mids, and highs melt together. There's little tonal difference between typical center-mids like guitars and piano play on one hand and brighter upper-mid vocals on the other. Female and male vocals all have around the same brightness and coloration, with more representation in the higher notes than the lower ones, but they never go out of bounds. Highs are controlled and never sound too sharp, just like challenging cymbals and vocal outbursts.
The light emphasis on treble makes the G1 sound clear and assures some airiness - with musical details coming from your left and right, and even more surrounding spatial information when you activate the dedicated gaming mode. The G1 completes its balanced musical presentation with controlled lower-mids. Lower guitar play, the lowest male vocals, and darker electronic tones are forward enough to give the music some warmth.
The QCY G1 sound is not just suitable for gaming; it also convinces for music with its balanced presentation.
QCY G1 gaming earbuds comparisons
QCY G1 vs QCY T13: which is better for gaming?
While the cheaper, very popular QCY T13 also has a gaming mode, the G1 convinces with lower latency: sound effects trigger faster when you're playing games. It's also more capable in showing where footsteps and gunshots happen around you (tested in the excellent Call of Duty mobile). When listening to music, the T13 shows better separation, with a more dynamic sound and more outspoken left-right instrument placement. The T13 bass is stronger and rumbles more, both mid-bass and sub-bass. It has a more engaging sound, opposed to the more balanced approach of the G1. Call quality is good on both, and so is battery life. The deciding factor between these may be the $15 price difference or looks.
QCY T13 review ($25)
QCY G1 vs GravaStar Sirius Pro
The QCY G1 doesn't have the same coolness as the $130 GravaStar Sirius Pro, with its unique metallic case that even acts as a bottle opener. Feature-wise, however, you may save yourself around 100 dollars. The GravaStar pleases with strong mid-bass and accentuated lower-mids, which give a warm, energetic sound, but are less effective for competitive gaming than QCY's more balanced approach. Whereas both earbuds have low latency to enjoy gaming with them, the G1 has lower latency on iPhone. The G1 also shows more spatial details and makes it easier to detect footsteps and gunshots around you. There's more emphasis on treble - whereas the Sirius Pro can lack a bit of higher accents. The G1 has longer battery life, and its microphone is better as well.
GravaStar Sirius Pro review ($130)
GravaStar Sirius Pro vs Edifier X3s
If you own an iPhone, the $40 Edifier X3s is definitely worth looking into, convincing with minimal delay in sound effects when playing games on iOS. Both earbuds convince in spatial details and bring sound effects around you when you're playing. The G1 has a flatter, more comfortable sound with fewer high peaks, but explosions and gunshots do have more impact on the X3s. The Edifier is more engaging for music, with a stronger mid-bass, more pronounced lower-mids, and more center vocals. The G1 is more balanced. The microphone on both is good, although the X3s has more clarity. Battery life in both models is around 7,5 hours for music.
Edifier X3s review ($40)
Verdict
The QCY G1 are inexpensive, well-built, and all-around wireless gaming earbuds. Its balanced sound is not just terrific for gaming; it's pleasant for music as well.
4.5 stars - Great
Check QCY G1 gaming earbuds price:
Check price on AliExpress (official QCY Store)
I received the QCY G1 from the manufacturer to test and review. My reviews are unsponsored and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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