TWS true wireless earphones - $25 - $50
FOUR STARS - The QCY T20 convinces with an open sound and strong phone call quality, but fit and controls can stand in the way of enjoyment.
QCY T20 AilyPods specs and features:
This model is both sold as QCY T20 and QCY AilyPods. As these are the same products, this is a review of both.
Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC codec
IPX4 waterproof rating (splash proof)
5,5 hours playtime on a single charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with USB-C cable and English manual
$35 - Check latest price on AliExpress
Below this QCY T20 Ailypods review, you will find comparisons of the QCY T20 vs Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro, SoundPEATS Air3, and Edifier X6.
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Design, comfort and battery life
Nope, these are not AirPods 3's. The QCY T20 AilyPods mounts grey instead of black panels near the top, and the stems are more square-shaped - but these look like cheap clones. Like Apple's example, you can just hang the buds in your ear. They're extremely light and very comfortable, yet secure enough to not fall out.
However - you may have to push them further in for an even tighter grip and to get the most out of the bass, and reassure the fit every now and then to keep getting it. It's a problem seen before on sister-brand Haylou GT6. More on this issue in the sound part of this review.
Feature-wise, the T20 ticks the first boxes. The buds deliver up to a decent 5,5 hours of playtime on a single charge, and there's an IPX4 waterproof rating to protect them against light water splashing.
The shape of the case is great: this matte-white pebble is flat enough to slide in any pocket. It can be tricky to get the earbuds out, however, as the lid closes with the lightest movement.
Controls and connectivity
The T20 has a weird position for its touch panels. Not on top (like most earbuds), or down the stem (like the AirPods), but in the middle, just below the roster. Sadly, the controls are not always responsive. It can take multiple attempts to trigger an action, or you'll activate the wrong function. Playing and pausing with the right earbud is a big hassle on the review model.
The standard control scheme is also a bit limited:
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Triple-tap R to (de)activate the gaming mode
Triple-tap L to activate the voice assistant
You can add track or volume controls with the app, but it will come at the cost of existing controls.
Sadly, the QCY T20 doesn't share the QCY T18's superpower. It can't connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch automatically between them. Standard connectivity is good: the Bluetooth 5.3 connection holds strong up to 10 meters away from your device.
Calling and watching movies
The QCY T20 shines in phone calls. Your voice has telephone-like clarity and loud. The microphone picks up your voice much better than surrounding noise, of which even a bit of wind, accelerating scooters, and passing trains are reduced to mere zoof-like sounds. Not many wireless earbuds handle calling in (a bit of) wind this well. Impressive!
Strangely, the T20 is only mediocre for video calls, like Microsoft Teams and Zoom meetins. It needs time to pick up your voice, and your voice loses clarity and volume when there's noise around you. It's better to call in silent areas.
Another good feature of the AilyPods is its latency handling. Video playback is flawless, and the dedicated gaming mode works very well to reduce the delay in sound effects when you're playing games - the sound is nearly in sync with what you on screen.
App support of QCY T20: Limited
It's nice the QCY T20 has app support on iPhone and Android, but it's a struggle to connect the earbuds to the app on the latter. You may have to put the earbuds back in the case and take them out - and again and again, before it finally recognises up the earbuds.
You can change controls… somewhat
The app could make better use of your phone screen
The most useful app function is the ability to change the controls, but this is limited. As you can only change the single-tap and double-tap on both earbuds, you can only activate four functions from the earbuds at most. As one of them will no doubt be the play-pause button, you can't add total volume and track controls to the earbuds. Besides, it's impossible to activate the gaming mode from the app, so you may want to leave that control on the earbuds as well.
As with other QCY models, the app equalizers don't add much, as they don't so much as tweak the sound, but drown most of it.
There's one nice feature remaining: a Sleep mode with which you can turn off the controls entirely, so you don't trigger a function by accident. Still, even though this is a $30 pair of wireless earbuds, QCY needs to step up its app game.
Also read: Best cheap AirPods-like earbuds
Sound quality of QCY T20: Air and clarity
The QCY T20 AilyPods has a surprising amount of bass for AirPods-like earbuds, but you may have to push the earbuds in your ears quite a bit to get the most out of them...
Without a secure enough fit, you'll miss the solid, nicely thumping mid-bass and the controlled, gentle rumbles the sub-bass (deepest darkes bass tones) can provide. A problem we've seen before on the sister-brand model Haylou GT6, which sound excellent - but only when the buds go in deep enough.
Things are a bit better than on the GT6 here, however. Because even when you don't have the perfect fit, music on the AilyPods still sounds pleasant.
Lower-mids (like drums and darker electronic tones) are gently boosted, and there's a soothing, warm undertone under the center-mids (like guitars and piano) and both female and male vocals, even higher ones. Higher voices are a strong suit here - they're moderately forward, and have plenty of room for nuances. The T20 has a striking balance between warmth and clarity.
Besides the very pleasant mid and vocal tuning, there's also an enjoyable air to the sound. Music feels around you, and instruments and effects appear from your left and right. They're separated well from each other too, even in crowded tracks.
With a bad fit, air and clarity will increase further on the T20. That seems great, but isn't. Especially on the highest volume, a bad fit can let in too much brightness and shoutiness. No, it's not all perfect.
With the ideal fit, though, the QCY T20 combines its lovely combination of clarity and a warm undertone, with gentle lows and a steady, non-overpowering bass. It's up to you if you want to take the ideal fit-bet.
QCY T20 AilyPods comparisons
QCY T20 vs SoundPEATS Air 3
The SoundPEATS Air3 has an easier fit than the QCY T20, and its touch panels respond better as well. Contrary the name, the QCY has a more airy sound. It leaves more space between vocals and instruments. The T20 also has more upper-mids clarity and extends highs further. That not to say the Air3 doesn't have air - but it's more focused on the lower end of the sound. Even when you get the ideal fit on the QCY, the SoundPEATS has a stronger, more prominent mid-bass and further boosted lower-mids. Male vocals are a bit weightier because of this, while higher (female) vocals can be more powerful on the QCY.
Feature-wise, the QCY wins on battery life, offers clearer phone calls, and has even better latency in games - although the SoundPEATS has a less flat, more immersive gaming sound. The Air3 also controls better.
SoundPEATS Air3 review ($40)
QCY t20 vs Edifier X6
The Edifier X6 may not have QCY T20's app support, so you can't change its limited controls, but its battery life is even better - delivering up to 6 hours of playtime. The Edifier X6 is bulkier and feels less comfortable, but has an easier fit. Next to the good phone call quality, it's also excellent for video calls and games. Sound-wise, these are quite close. The Edifier has good clarity and balance in its sounds, with slightly more focus on the lower-mids than the QCY, and a flatter mid-bass. But the QCY has a slight edge: its airiness makes it easier to place vocals and instruments around you, and its subtle warm undertone feels just a tad more natural than Edifiers colder tonality. As the Edifier X6 has a more straightforward fit, it reveals its bass and overall balance quicker.
Edifier X6 review ($30)
QCY T20 vs Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro
The Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro sound almost feels a little dense next to QCY's openness. It misses the extension of highs and the air in the top end, but does come with a stronger and pleasant mid-bass fullness. Lower-mid tones are boosted further, so the Onyx Ace Pro presents drums, lower male vocals, and darker electronic tones more pronounced. It gives the music a warmer and perhaps even friendlier character - although you give in on QCY's crispness of higher vocals. The Tronsmart has slightly longer more battery life and better video call quality; the QCY handles regular phone calls even better.
Verdict
The QCY T20 convinces with an open sound and strong phone call quality, but fit and controls can stand in the way of enjoyment.
Four stars - Good
check QCY T20 price:
I received the QCY T20 AilyPods 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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