TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
FOUR STARS - With a gaming mode and clear calls, the QCY T4 or QCY M10 has something going for it... but it isn't sound quality this time.
Specs of the QCY T4/ QCY M10:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips and micro-USB cable
$25 on GearBest, or look it up on AliExpress
I've added a general link to AliExpress instead of a direct product link, as stocks and prices change rapidly between sellers. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Below this QCY T4 or QCY M10 review, you will find comparisons of the QCY T4 vs QCY T5, QCY QS2, QCY T9S, SoundPEATS TrueDot and Edifier X3.
Design, comfort and battery life
For the first time after the successful QCY QS1, QS2, T3 and T5, QCY is betting on multiple horses simultaneously. The recently reviewed QCY T6 is a new model with big sport wings around the ears, the QCY T9s is a model with sport wings inside your ears, and then there's the QCY T4, which aims to be the volume model. This is the true QCY QS1 and QS2 successor, you may think.
The T4 is a typical QCY when it comes to design. It's as simple as can be, with a compact (now rounded) charging case powered by micro-USB, and matte black earpieces with the QCY logo imprinted on them.
The earpieces did grow a bit, however. The round part on the inside is a bit fatter than the one on the QS1 and QS2. Thanks to a slight bulb near the nozzle, it also feels a lot bigger inside your ears. It can be hard to acquire a great fit with these - sometimes, you may have the feeling your ears want to push the T4 out. They aren't very comfortable and don't come recommended for sports - but see, QCY has other new models for that.
The battery on the T4/ M10 lasts around 4,5 hours on a single charge, and the case can power them up four times before needing a recharge itself. Nothing bad, nothing spectacular either.
Connectivity and controls
Surprisingly, QCY opted for actual buttons on the T4. Ones you have to press, the operate the earpieces. By doing so, you don't push the earbuds too deep in your ears. The control scheme is straightforward: play and pause by tapping the earpieces once, skip to the next song by pressing the right bud twice - and return a track by double-pressing the left earpiece. Finally, a long press activates the voice assistant.
With the QCY-app it's possible to change the controls. You could, for example, increase and decrease volume to the right or left bud. This always goes at the cost of another control function, unfortunately. Besides, the T4/ M10 earbuds don't always register the double-tap correctly, which can make it hard to change volume, pause the music, or change a track - whichever control you choose.
The QCY T4 has quite a few user reviews complaining about the connectivity, and those complaints are justified. While you can always switch fast between listening to one and two earpieces (while recharging the other), the Bluetooth 5.0 connection suffers within ten meters from your device, and there are minor but frequent sound hiccups while you're walking or cycling with them. This way, listening to music takes a hit.
Calling and watching movies with QCY T4/ M10
It's time for the good news now: QCY finally managed to improve their game when it comes to calling quality. Like the QCY T5, you can hear slight beeps and crackles while you're in a call, but your voice comes through loud and clear to the other end of the line. As you're presented with a typical telephone-like voice, wind noises are reduced decently, and surrounding noises are suppressed great.
The QCY T4 is suitable for both indoor calling and outside calls when there's not too much wind. It's also better than the great Edifier X3 on this aspect.
Watching videos with the QCY T4 works great too, with perfect audio-video synchronization on iPhone (including the challenging YouTube-app) and Android. Sometimes though, you need to pause/resume a video to get perfect lipsync.
The QCY T4 has a gaming mode by triple-pressing one of the earpieces, and you'll hear an unclear beep that gives feedback if you activated or deactivated the gaming mode. The truth is - it's a bit hard to tell while gaming. The effect is less noticeable than on the QCY T5, where the gaming mode cuts off some sounds but increases the speed of sound effects. Here, you won't find strange sound effects or crackles - but the low latency mode isn't the same.
—> Also read: The best TWS under $25
QCY T4/ M10 app review: changing controls and EQ
With the official QCY app for iPhone and Android, you can give the QCY T4/ QCY M10 some extra options once you've registered an account. In order to use the app, you have to put the earpieces back in the charging case and take them out again until you no longer see the message on the screenshot right.
The app unlocks the opportunities to update the firmware (none were available while writing this review), and change the controls as described in the connection/ controls part.
QCY's application on Android also lets you find the earphones nearby with a Bluetooth-powered find function. On both iPhone and iPad, the app also and has an equalizer with six presets.
Forget the addition of the app equalizer immediately. It is a laugh, with the slightest manual change destroying the balance in the sound of the earphone, and the Bass, Pop, and other preset frequencies also ruining the frequencies and left-right separation in the sound.
It's good to be able to change controls, but it would have been better without an app and more extended controls.
Sound quality of QCY T4/ M10: missing lows
The thing that made previous QCY's stand out from the bunch and still makes the previous models worthwhile is their sound quality. The QCY T4/ M10 misses that mark.
As with previous QCY endeavors, the T4 has an emphasis on the higher frequencies. Upper-mids and highs are a bit lifted from the rest of the music, with forward female and higher-pitched male vocals. There's a fair amount of detail to be had from violins, cymbals, and guitars too.
Unfortunately, the QCY T4 or M10 doesn't back it up by a striking lower-end. You could describe the bass as shy. It fails to push, it's slightly loose and doesn't reach the depths and the power of the (sub-)bass on the T5.
Lower-mids are also repressed. They play a background role, causing darker electronic tones and instruments like cellos and drums to sound soft.
The QCY T4/ M10 has a decent soundstage with good left-right separation, but instruments can't be placed precisely. When it comes to tone, the T4 sounds brighter and thinner than the magnificent T5, which gave vocals and instruments a warmer and more pleasant undertone.
While certainly decent in the sound area at this price point, a lot of wireless earphones even at this price perform better. The QCY T4/ M10 can sound just too flat, too bright, too dull.
Selected comparisons
QCy T4 vs Edifier X3
The comparably priced Edifier X3 has a more powerful lower-end than the QCY, with a steadier bass slam and more presence in the lower-mids. Both earphones can sound a little bright, with the T4 further extending the highs. The X3 balances out the highs better with the other frequencies, though. The result is more body and nuances in detail and an overall more engaging sound on the Edifier. The T4 is a tad better when it comes to calling quality, but the X3 delivers 1,5 hours more battery life, better comfort, and a more compact charging case.
QCY T4 vs QCY T5
The excellent QCY T5 surprisingly seems to have a slightly more accurate gaming mode than its followup, and comfort is better too, thanks to tinier parts that go into your ears. The QCY T5 has a more balanced sound quality. Mids and highs are just as emphasized as on the T4/ M10, but the T5 delivers a pleasant warmer undertone, fuller lower-mids, and more depth in the bass. The T4 is crispier on top.
QCY T4 vs QCY T9S
Size comparison: QCY QS1 vs QCY T4 vs QCY T9S
Both the QCY T9S and T4/ M10 are part of QCY's mid-2020 line-up, and both are available for 20-25 dollars. They both have the same battery life, great call quality, around the same size charging case, and tactile buttons. The T4 has a (disappointing) low-latency gaming mode to throw in as an extra; the T9S gives you sport wings. Both don't have the most comfortable fit. Soundwise, they both sound bright with elevated and far-extended upper-mids and highs. The T9S does deliver a stronger, warmer bass section and better connection strength, however. They may be a bit too big for some ears, but technically, they're a better choice.
QCY M10 vs QCY QS1/ QS2
With the release of the QCY T4/ M10, the QCY QS1 and QS2 seem to be even cheaper. It's good to know that, while it doesn't have the same call quality or gaming mode, it sounds better. The QCY QS2 is more balanced than the T4, with less extended highs. The QS2 bass strikes harder and rumbles deeper, and vocals and instruments sound warmer and more vivid. The T4 does have better battery life and features, however.
QCY T4 vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
The SoundPEATS TrueDot is the best sounding TWS under $25 and maintains that position easily against the T4. Its bass is more powerful and more textured, there's more lower-mid presence without being anywhere near dominant, and tonality and instrument placement is better. The QCY T4 does have better call quality and an extra hour of battery life.
Verdict
The QCY T4/ QCY M10 is a good pair of wireless earphones for its price, but apart from the improved call quality, it doesn't offer anything better over its predecessors.
Four stars - very good
Buy QCY T4/ check current price:
Check the price of the QCY T4 on AliExpress
I bought the QCY T4/ QCY M10 myself for testing and review purposes. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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