It was a decade ago when Onkyo unveiled the first-ever TWS (True Wireless Sound) earbuds to the world. Back then, its mere existence wasn’t even acknowledged.

A year after, Apple shook the world with their first-gen AirPods.

Much like any new experimental product, it has received a bag of mixed reactions — mostly laughs and criticisms because of how “absurd” the whole idea was.

Despite all that, other audio brands have followed suit.

Ten years in, both companies and consumers have fully realized the true value of wireless earbuds.

It’s not even limited to the major players anymore. Budding companies like QCY can go up the ladder and compete against them.

The MeloBuds N70 is here with their very first flagship-grade offering that can truly disrupt the scene — and I would be lying if I didn’t say how excited I was the moment I knew everything about the product.

Function over form

At first glance, the QCY MeloBuds N70 isn’t too different from other earbuds in the market.

QCY took the usual route with its design: sucker-type buds along its long stems where all the sound drivers, mics, and batteries are stored.

Hear me out: This isn’t a criticism. There’s nothing wrong with being conventional. It’s been proven and tested for a long time.

IMHO, this design is the most effective way to house everything without compromising anything.

After all, brands (and designers) can only do so much when making a new pair of wireless buds.

Most just change their choice of CMF (colors, material, finish) that make one pair different from another.

That said, the pair I received came in black.

Although 90 percent of my wardrobe is black, my color preference among gadgets goes the other way as black is my least fave.

Still, the QCY MeloBuds N70 isn’t limited to the generic Midnight Black colorway as prospective buyers have the freedom to choose between Starlight Purple and Titanium Gold — the latter being my preferred shade.

As someone whose ears can adapt well between open-ear and rubber-quipped, I can confidently say wearing these felt comfortable enough even after many hours of prolonged use.

If the default one won’t stick to your ear canals, the package comes with extra tips in different sizes.

QCY-peasy

After getting the new pair of buds out of the box and placing them beside any modern Android device, the latter will instantly recognize the product and reveal its key info.

That’s thanks to Google’s Fast Pair feature. Not only does it make pairing faster and easier, it even lets your phone install the proprietary app needed for that corresponding pair of earbuds.

In my case, setting up my new QCY pair along the QCY app was easy-peasy.

Once everything has been set up, you can take full advantage all of the features within the MeloBuds N70.

The main page displays battery levels for the buds and the case.

Switching to the second tab reveals all EQ (Equalization) presets as well as Noise Cancellation Modes with varying scenarios.

You can even customize your EQ based on what your ears prefer.

Last tab is where you can change touch functionality and other specific settings.

Personally, I prefer touch controls more over force-touch sensors as they don’t require too much effort to control something.

The only thing I wish the QCY MeloBuds N70 was capable of is the ability to adjust volume level through the swipe up / down gesture.

Although the workaround I did was to just assign the long press function.

Double-tapping should have been the limit — which is typically reserved for going back or forth between tracks.

The triple-tap function feels odd especially when one of the buds misreads (or misses) some taps I did.

Sound Superiority

As someone who has tried and tested several earbuds over the course of my six-year career, I can now confidently say that my ears have been extra sensitive and ever-critical when it comes to full-on audio quality.

While I still don’t consider myself a devoted audiophile, being able to differentiate better-sounding earbuds against low-performing ones is a special skill.

To be specific, I can discern those that sound straight out of a tin can or those that sounds muffled. Others felt like I’m in an aquarium or a hollow cave.

In order to justify my listening experience, the closest comparison would be comparing the MeloBuds N70 up against the Redmi Buds 6 Pro I’ve held and used since February 2025.

To recall, I wasn’t too satisfied with its overall audio quality as there’s barely any oomph in its bass.

Some songs I listened to sounded dull even after customizing my own EQ levels.

To add more fuel to the flame, the Xiaomi Buds 5 I’ve tested prior has the better quality — and it’s the best I’ve used during that time.

Now back to the QCY MeloBuds N70. Its tagline says “Hear Every Note”, and I can attest to that claim.

I clearly hear all the less-prominent hums, subtler beats, and the undervalued adlibs of the K-Pop songs I’m listening to with the MeloBuds N70.

Default EQ, as it implies, is as plain as vanilla. You get a good amount and balance between its mids, highs, and lows.

However, switching to the Heavy Bass preset is purely immaculate — at least to my own taste. I can really hear that deeper bass kicking in my ears.

That’s something I thought was already great on my Xiaomi Buds 5. The MeloBuds N70 proved otherwise.

Never a loss with Lossless

A reason why I can never leave Apple Music (over any other streaming platform) is mainly due to the existence of Lossless Audio. Albeit, you can only take full advantage of this if your audio peripheral has THE better audio codec.

Usually, earbuds in the same price range only offer SBC (Subband Codec), or the lowest and most standard codec you can get among generic wireless earbuds.

As surprising as it seems, QCY was able to feature the top-tier LDAC codec in the MeloBuds N70.

The Xiaomi Buds I mentioned sticks only had Qualcomm’s aptX. On the other hand, the Redmi pair only relies on AAC.

While others are already contented with aptX, I prefer Sony’s LDAC codec more due to its higher achievable bitrate — even if some say aptX is more stable when streaming.

All that said, its Hi-Fi wonder should work well in most (if not all) apps. I used it while watching a K-Drama on Netflix, streamed the latest K-Pop music videos, and the vocals are crystal clear. Music? Totally divine.

ANC without being too pricey

For any earbuds tagged with this price, one shouldn’t expect anything grand. However, my opinion quickly changed the moment I wore the buds for the first time.

Again, the Redmi Buds 6 Pro had an inconsistent and overall dissatisfying ANC performance.

Meanwhile, the QCY MeloBuds N70 beg to differ with how effective both buds cancel out noise almost instantly regardless of the environment or surrounding you bring it in.

Case in point: I unboxed the product in a café with loud people conversing in the background. I wasn’t able to hear the instructions of my colleague, MJ, when we were recording the unboxing.

Another was a speeding motorcycle that passed by, all while I was waiting for the stoplight to go green.

I even wore them both in various modes of transportation.

Train screeches? None.

Someone’s child throwing tantrums inside the bus? Surprisingly quiet.

Plane’s roaring engine and pilot announcements? Completely silent.

This list could go on and on. The bottom line is that I only heard pure music and/or vocals. Noise was completely non-existent.

This further proves that QCY took ANC seriously in this new model.

As one would expect, Transparency Mode exists. Albeit, I’m the typical introvert who uses undisrupted ANC 100 percent of the time. By that, I have to manually remove the buds before I decide to talk to someone else.

Good thing that these buds detect removal and automatically stops music when doing so.

Although it may just be my unit but sometimes, it automatically pauses by itself even when it’s plugged rightfully in my ear.

Promises are made to be broken

On paper, the QCY MeloBuds N70 promises up to 10 hours of battery on a single charge. A 10-minute case top-up will provide extra two hours of playback.

While I may not know QCY’s metrics when testing the MeloBuds N70 to justify those claims, it’s still able to last around 3.5 to 4 hours on a single charge with ANC turned ON along its overall volume set around 70 percent.

That’s when I used the earbuds non-stop during the course of my two-hour commute. The extra two hours passed by while I was writing this review before it ultimately died down.

Another real-life use-case is when I used it non-stop in my Manila to Hong Kong flight that lasted for around 2.5 hours.

From 5:22AM (100 percent), the batteries totally went off by 8:49AM — with 4 percent remaining on the left bud.

It even has a female persona whose voice notified me that the buds needed to be charged as it’s already below 10 percent, or if it’s already shutting down due to battery exhaustion.

Even though the QCY MeloBuds N70 doesn’t have the monumental endurance as promised, these new buds were still able to alleviate my battery anxiety among TWS earbuds with ANC.

To add more to the surprise, its case supports wireless charging —  something one shouldn’t expect in a buds priced in such range.

As expected though, it’s slower than wired charging. Regardless, it’s a good add-on in case you’re on a pinch where you don’t have a power bank and cable with you and can only rely on your phone’s reverse wireless charging.

Is this QCY MeloBuds N70 your GadgetMatch?

With a price of just US$ 59.99, most people will doubt how reliable the QCY MeloBuds N70 are.

But the buds’ price-to-performance is just unmatched. There’s honestly no reason to Swipe Left except if you don’t prefer the sucker type of wireless buds.

For me, it’s both a Swipe Right and a Super Swipe.

In contrast to the previous earbuds I have reviewed, QCY’s offering is more compelling for being able to beat them (or at least be in the same level) in terms of battery life, ANC effectivity, and overall sound quality — all for an even lower, more affordable price tag that major brands barely slap on nowadays.

Backed by a good software experience, hi-res LDAC audio alongside Lossless audio playback, plus the additional wireless charging support, what more can you ask for?

All points considered make the QCY MeloBuds N70 a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

When a feature film comes out with an accompanying game, the game usually suffers in overall quality. That was the case, at least, in the PS2 to PS3/ Xbox to Xbox 360 era. And while Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Hinokami Chronicles 2 isn’t exactly marketed as an accompanying game to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the events of the two pieces of media lead directly to each other. 

The story mode of Hinokami Chronicles 2 (This is what we’ll call the game henceforth) covers the Entertainment District, Swordssmith Village, and Hashira Training Arcs. All these lead up to the events of Infinity Castle (This is what we’ll call the feature film henceforth). Suffice to say, if you’re a Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- fan, you’re eating well. 

Before AND after? 

Yes, you read that right. Hinokami Chronicles 2 is great both before and after watching Infinity Castle despite the events of the game being those that directly preceded the film. 

I say this because this is exactly how I experienced the two Demon Slayer offerings. I was in the middle of my Story Mode playthrough when I received an early screening invitation for Infinity Castle. 

For the film, it’s important that you’re at least caught up with the anime. That’s really all you need to fully enjoy both Demon Slayer things. 

READ: Now Playing: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

I’ve been quite busy preparing for a couple of overseas coverages when I received the code to review Hinokami Chronicles 2. That’s why when the invite to watch the film came, I was still very early on in the story mode. 

I had hoped to finish the game prior but my schedule just didn’t allow for it. Fortunately, it didn’t sour my experience of either the game nor the film. 

After seeing Infinity Castle, I was even more hyped to immerse myself in more Demon Slayer things. Thankfully, Hinokami Chronicles 2 was right there to satisfy my craving. 

Hinokami Chronicles 2: Visual stunner

The game is stylish and visually striking! Aniplex and CyberConnect2 is top-of-the-hill when it comes to presentation of anime in games. Hinokami Chronicles 2 is just another testament to that. 

Each move, every attack, and all the specials scream “Sakuga” with how much of a feast to the eyes they are. With over 40 characters to choose from -each one feeling mostly unique- you’ll find yourself burning a few hours on the game pretty easily.

The game also added Dual Ultimates. These are extra flashy finishing moves if you pair the right characters together. Finding the right pairs and executing their specials is one of the many thrills of the game.

Better than Hinokami Chronicles 1?

I never really got to play the first game so I can’t comment substantially about the changes. I will say, though, that the Story Mode does feel robust. 

To keep players engaged, some key moments offer some changes that will certainly elicit a reaction from the player. Won’t spoil any of them here. It’s best experienced while playing! 

Based on what I’ve read and seen from other reviews so far, it appears that Hinokami Chronicles 2 is an excellent refinement of the first game. That’s usually the case with good sequel games – especially with those that you already know the story of. 

The game does mix things up when you get to the Hashira Training Arc. It offers a roguelike mode which is perfect for upping the game’s replayability. 

Core gameplay 

If you’ve played arena fighting games before, then this game will feel familiar. I, for one, have spent significant time playing the My Hero Academia: One’s Justice and Naruto Storm games, among others. 

Hinokami Chronicles 2 offers technical differences but the general gameplay will be relatively easy to pick up if you’ve played similar games before. 

Crowding, when to attack, when to pull-back, and when to unleash your devastating special attacks will all be determined by your innate action fighting game timing. 

It’s easy to feel that you’re pretty good at the game early on. However, there are a handful of mini bosses and boss level battles in the story mode that will truly test you.

Infinity Castle DLC?

Many are already speculating that there will be some Infinify Castle DLC down the line. After all, I’m sure many Demon Slayer fans will be itching to recreate the match-ups in the film.

While I am personally hopeful, my gut tells me that the entire Infinity Castle Arc will be a third game that will come out at around the same time that the third film in the Infinity Castle trilogy will be released in theaters. 

I would point to My Hero Academia which is doing exactly just that. It’ll certainly build up anticipation for both the game and the ending of the story if they execute it this way. 

Should you play Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Hinokami Chronicles 2?

If you’re a Demon Slayer fan AND a gamer, this isn’t even a question. It’s an easy Super Swipe. The game lets you relive key battles in the anime while also letting you play out ‘fantasy matches’ in the versus fighting mode. 

The game is now available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. If you can get it on the current generation platforms, definitely go for that. If you’re on the Nintendo Switch 2, maybe wait for a version that’s actually made for the platform. The current one available on the Switch just isn’t as visually good as the current gen version. 

All told, it’s a fantastic anime arena fighting game that will have you conjuring your own breathing forms as you play.

These days, there is so much you can do with even the cheapest of smartphones. I feel that’s exactly the selling point of the new POCO M7, which is equipped with a larger-than-ever battery capacity and a 6.9-inch display.

I think of this new phone as an anti-boredom brick that supports entertainment consumption, light gaming, and simply everyday tasks. It’s not meant to impress, but rather just to be of service.

I can tell you right off the bat that it’s not useless. But having been used to legitimate mid-rangers and even a few flagship killers, there are obviously limits to what the POCO M7 can provide you with.

Let’s try to make sense of the entire package.

Price

 

First and foremost, here are the asking prices of the POCO M7, which comes in two storage configurations locally, to help us contextualize everything:

• 6GB+128GB: PhP 7,499 (approx. US$ 131.18 / SG$ 168.56)
• 8GB+256GB: PhP 8,499 (approx. US$ 148.67 / SG$ 191.02)

There’s no doubt they’re incredibly cheap, all things considered, but how does its performance and added value fare?

Casual audiovisual experience

For your endless social media doom scrolling, streaming apps binge-watching, and the like, the POCO M7 can provide more than the bare minimum.

However, while the display is listed at 6.9 inches big on paper, the screen-to-body ratio is only 84.9%. There’s thick bezels especially on the top and bottom sides.

 

Thankfully, the panel has an FHD+ resolution and an ample pixel density of 374ppi. This is quite rare for a handset this cheap.

Content on YouTube played at 1080p, for instance, will come out with better detail and clarity. Just don’t expect it to pop out the same way it does for lower mid-rangers.

Graphics will still look jagged on the edges on some cases, so you’ll be better off settling for medium graphics as in the case of gaming. This has to do with limitations in processing power too.

The panel has a 144Hz refresh rate on paper, but with the same limitations, it’s something you won’t even probably feel in most scenarios. The display already lags while playing videos at 1080p.

If anything, the audio sounds alright for its price segment, to my surprise. There’s a level of crispness and wholeness to it relative to other devices. Gaming sessions are accompanied with impactful audio. That’s chiefly thanks to Dolby Atmos.

Moreover, the screen’s maximum brightness is sufficient for outdoor use. You can still see what’s on the screen. However, the reflective screen may redirect that painful sunlight straight to your eyes so be cautious.

Gaming

As for gaming, the POCO M7 has a dedicated interface like most other devices these days. You can adjust or toggle settings on or off through this panel.

There no problems running lighter titles, like MOBA favorites Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Honor of Kings.

Where it gets jittery is with the more demanding games, like Call of Duty Mobile. I once tried playing at high graphics and 60fps and the overall experience was just unfavorable.

There were way too many frame drops and having my character look different directions went unsmooth. This also causes misfires a lot. Still managed to rack up several MVP citations per session, though.

As I’ve mentioned, medium graphics would suffice as the display quality isn’t exceptional to begin with. At least, you’ll be able to enjoy smoother frame rates that way.

Once, my nephew tried downloading Genshin Impact on this device. To be fair, it pushed through, but consumed a significant amount of internal storage. Naturally, it defaulted to low graphics, and my nephew didn’t bother playing the game at all.

Speaking of storage, the 128GB configuration feels inadequate if you’re downloading a ton of games. Better opt for the 256GB variant if you’re even considering this handset.

Multi-tasking: A challenge

Simulating a snippet of a delivery rider’s day, with location turned on, Google Maps running, Messenger, and a few other apps, the phone slows down significantly and heats up too.

You’re better off focusing on one task at a time, one app at a time. As I’ve said, even just playing 1080p videos already causes the display to lag or stutter quite a few instances.

This is where you’ll feel how inferior it is as even just swiping, switching from one app to the other, typing, or dragging something takes a while.

What more if you’ve got chat heads open or when notifications just keep on pouring?

Long battery life, reverse charging support

If anything, its 7,000mAh battery is a bonus. You can definitely watch videos all day on this device and still have a lot of juice left.

Same goes for music and other casual tasks like messaging and calling. The 18W reverse charging support is a nifty add-on.

 

Now, had this device had 5G capability, then you’re talking about a worthy internet hotspot-slash-power bank brick. Sadly, it’s not the case. 4G signals can be spotty even in the metro.

Camera: Absolute deal-breaker

Onto its camera, I was not able to really take that many photos for the simple reason that the camera app kept shutting down. I don’t know why it kept on happening.

This really irked me. I couldn’t even take a photo of something that looks cool in real-time because my device wouldn’t let me too.

There are some scenes that you want to freeze in time because they look good, and supposedly, even the cheapest of phones should at least have a decent functioning camera.

Not the case for the POCO M7. I can’t even call it serviceable.

There are obvious issues with color. For example, the pink salmon became yellowish, the orange carrot slices became intensely red. Some subjects come out a lot paler.

To be fair, there’s decent detail from its 50MP main camera. There will just be some smudged parts. It’s really more of moment-keeping and documentation.

For challenging scenarios, Night Mode hardly helps. Results are still noisy, grainy, and underexposed.

Hardly took selfies too but they’re decent, I guess.

Appearance, feel

The POCO M7 has a “futuristic design” The official colorway of the unit we reviewed is Blue although the actual appearance is more bluish gray. Design wise, it’s more Mondrian to us. To be fair, it doesn’t look as if a lot is going on. It’s neat.

However, the backside is very slippery. And if you’re going to use it with a case, it will feel a bit difficult to grasp with one hand. You know, if you’re gonna have to pull it out of your pocket.

It’s chunky and girthy. Those few extra inches matter. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Plus, as I’ve mentioned, there’s thick bezels on the top and bottom parts which affect the viewing experience.

Is the POCO M7 your BudgetMatch?

It doesn’t come as a surprise that we’ll have to Swipe Left on this one. For a device that is somehow marketed for the chronically online, this is not the first budget smartphone you’d think of.

There are plenty of options out there, all delivering better performance, optimized usage, and cameras.

Shell out a little extra, and you’ve got yourselves an even wider variety of choices.

 

POCO M7 specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 685, 4×2.8GHz, 4×1.9GHz
• OS: Xiaomi HyperOS 2 (Android 15)
• Memory: Up to 8GB base RAM, with expansion
• Internal storage: Up to 256GB
• Display: 6.9-inch FHD+ 144Hz IPS LCD, 850nits high brightness mode
• Battery: 7,000mAh
• Charging: 33W wired, 18W reverse wired
• IP64 dust and water resistance