Amid all the times I’ve tried and tested wireless earbuds, I don’t get to do the same with headphones.

Though I have tried playing some songs through my colleagues’ Sony WH-1000XM6, JBL Tour One M3, and Dyson OnTrac, none of them comes close to how extensive I did with Lenovo’s Yoga ANC last 2021.

As a a matter of fact, this is only the second pair of headphones I got to intimately try as a GadgetMatchmaker for seven long years.

Cutting all that slack, let’s go straight to my in-depth review of the all-new QCY H3S headphones.

Gleamingly clean

I sound like a broken record for always telling this in my write-ups: despite having a dominantly black wardrobe, black devices are my least favorite.

Thankfully, the QCY H3S pair I have comes in this pure, off-white colorway.

Aside from this classic color plus the subdued black shade, there’s also one in gray just in case you want something in between.

Going back to the unit I possess, I’m obsessed with how clean it looks — near and afar.

If you wanted it to pair up with your daily OOTD, you can never go wrong with this color choice.

Not only does it fit perfectly with your unplanned Mix n’ Match, it also stands out from the crowd regardless of the fabric color you prefer to wear.

The headphones are mostly composed of plastic materials — an understandable compromise to further cut down overall product cost.

From its adjustable (or extendable) levers all the way to its buttons, they all come in one singular material and shade.

Only time will tell though how clean or dirty it will get over continuous wear and tear.

One minor detail that I truly love about this pair is how QCY decided to differentiate the material of its neck band.

That stainless steel choice felt premium despite the majority of rubber parts the headphones have.

At the opposite side is still that plush, padded material that’s comfortable enough when the pair rests on your neck.

And, before I forget, the QCY H3S has rotatable and twistable cups so that they can be folded and fit perfectly in small bags or third-party headphone cases — as this pair doesn’t have a bundled one.

Mind you, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 can’t even do this 🤷🏻

Favorable and comfortable

Looks are one thing, but comfort is for another.

Despite being *spoiler alert* priced in the same range as generically smaller on-ear headphones, the QCY H3S is actually an over-ear type of headphones.

At just 240 grams, the QCY H3S is lightweight — given the materials the headphones are made of.

Admittedly, I’m not someone who has a petite facial structure. Given that I have a bobblehead, it’s also understandable I have an ear size bigger than an average individual.

Its large ear cups seemingly fit well on most (if not all) ear shapes and sizes.

Even with my earrings on my left ear, I felt nothing but utmost comfort as the cups totally go over my ears.

QCY H3S’s ear cups are composed of protein leather that are soft to the touch.

The inner part is then covered by a canvas-like (or cotton-like) material that enables smooth and steady audio output.

Having to know which side is which is easily identifiable thanks to that large L and R markings on the actual ear pads.

Once worn, controls are placed at the right side of the device where they are not fiddly and are easily reachable.

Those buttons in various shapes surely help as you won’t accidentally press something you didn’t intend to change:

• Top: ANC modes (short rounded rectangle)
• Middle: Power On/Off (circle)
• Bottom: Volume (long rounded-rectangle)

Immaculate sound

Resting beneath those ear pads are the dual-driver architecture of the H3S. Aside from a 40mm mid-bass driver, it also has a 13mm dedicated tweeter with crossover.

But, here’s the thing: It’s hard to describe how good or bad a sound is just with hardware specs and an editorial piece alone.

Part of my journalistic integrity though is to tell viewers my honest and transparent views.

And, to make that judgment not one-sided and as unbiased as possible, I let GadgetMatch’s Senior Editor, Rodneil, try the pair out.

After that listening sesh with several songs in the list, he told me that these can be on par — or even beat — midrange offerings produced by JBL and Bose.

If only I was able to document his shocked reaction, you’d know that this isn’t some marketing speak.

He also told me it’s a far cry from Soundcore’s output — despite QCY being its direct competitor.

For a better grasp, I also need to reference MJ’s Dyson OnTrac.

While we’re out in one fine shooting day, the team was able to try his pair out.

All of us had one response: flashy looks CANNOT make up for its very underwhelming sound quality.

Dyson OnTrac’s metallic aesthetics goes well with its sound quality — a muffled, deafening one that sounded like an inside of a tin can.

It’s just so flat, the layers are barely there at all.

Believe me or not, QCY H3S is heaps superior.

Even just on YouTube with a compressed audio format, I was able to cherish H3S’s superb sound.

The same can be said when streaming titles on Netflix or Disney+.

Aside from that audible and fuller dialogue, drama OSTs are also well-appreciated the moment they kick in.

LDAC that doesn’t lack

Putting one surprise on top of another, the QCY H3S also boasts the best imaginable sound experience.

Aside from the ability to play tracks in both Hi-Res Lossless and Dolby Atmos audio formats (through Apple Music of course), it has LDAC audio codec as well.

In layman’s terms, it’s simply the best audio tech one could get via Bluetooth without losing a track’s truest sound quality.

Its closest counterparts are either stuck with AAC or aptX at the very least. Worse of all? None other than the SBC codec.

Just a precaution: turning on LDAC means you’re disabling its Dual-Device Connection ability.

If you prioritize high-fidelity (like I do), you have to always disconnect the headphones from one device before you can connect it to the other.

Additionally, its upgraded Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity made me enjoy latency-free streaming — which meant playback without delays in simpler terms.

And, despite the lack of a 3.5mm audio port, wired listening is still very possible through its USB-C port without compromising that Lossless experience.

Lastly, I didn’t dare to try it but, the QCY H3S also has an IPX5 rating. Meaning, the pair will still be protected even if you’re suddenly caught in the rain.

EQ-uality For All

Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of its default sound presets.

Unlike my experience with the Heavy Bass preset of QCY’s wireless earbuds I tested out months ago, the bundled presets of H3S weren’t totally bad. It’s just that I felt like overall sound output could be improved further.

Fortunately, you can configure your own settings through Custom EQ in QCY’s proprietary app. Your personal preference can even be saved multiple times.

I’m not a devoted audiophile for all we know. But, my ears don’t lie.

After manually fine-tuning each and every bit of frequency I hear, I was finally able to balance out the three fundamentals: bass, treble, and mids.

Not only I was able to hear the thump and oomph of every K-Pop song I listen to. Instrumentals, adlibs and even hidden backtrack vocals (that are often under-appreciated) were all heard and layered like a luscious piece of tiramisu cake.

Heavenly ANC

All the great stuff don’t end just with its clean looks and superior sound.

From the perspective of both an introvert and commuter, ANC is a true gift from the gods.

The moment I wore the headphones and turned on ANC, it felt like I’m in my own, distant world.

Annoying chit chats were instantly silenced. White noise was barely heard.

It’s the perfect device for appreciating summer-studded songs like WJSN Dayoung’s “body” or divine albums like TWICE’s 10th-year Special.

More so, for that uninterrupted and focused gameplay. A better gaming headset minus a dedicated mic, if I must say.

Still, its 7-mic array (with six ANC mics) plus three (3) anti-wind mics should be more than enough for calls even in noisier environments.

Again, when you go inside the QCY app, there are multiple ANC presets for you to choose.

Personally, I choose commuting by default as I use it entirely for avoiding rowdy crowds whenever I’m indoors or out.

You can also turn ANC off completely to preserve that battery life. Unapologetically, I never turn this feature off even under severe battery anxiety.

Battery that’s immortal-like

Already introduced in the last section, the battery and endurance of the QCY somehow felt immortal. It’s so hard to kill in just one sitting.

For instance, I’ve used it for repeatedly streaming NMIXX’s ethereal Blue Valentine and band-worthy Spinnin’ On It. All while writing several review backlogs (including this one) for five long hours.

From 100 percent, it depleted to 75 percent — a measly 25 percent decrease.

Another example is when I wore it during my two-hour commute going to the metro. Shockingly, it consumed only around 8 to 10 percent of charge.

In another use-case, I edited our very lengthy M5 iPad Pro review for YouTube.

From 3:30 in the afternoon up until past 11 in the evening, the QCY H3S went from 30 percent down to 10 percent.

If you do the math, that’s 7.5 long hours of non-stop usage — which BTW, adds up to the comfort testament I stated earlier.

Lastly, I took it on a streaming spree one fine day while I was working on launch articles inside a café.

From the moment I wore it at exactly 9:15AM up until I removed it seven minutes past 3PM, that 10 percent charge was unchanged and unfazed.

Mind you, ANC was turned ON all of the time as I can’t bear hearing at least a tinny noise and wanted to focus solely on its audio prowess.

Even when I’m writing this part of the piece, I was only able to charge the device twice.

Although I’m not having any type of 10+ hours worth of flight any time soon, this might just be the best companion to bring for those long-haul travel up in the air.

Is the QCY H3S your BudgetMatch?

As mentioned quite a few times between the lines, the QCY H3S is meant for the budget class. It’s priced at a shockingly affordable price of only US$ 49.99 / SG$ 43 / RM 299.

Even more surprising, the Philippines has the cheapest price tag of as little as PhP 1779.

Just like me, you’re probably wondering how on earth was it possible for QCY to deliver excellent sound and affordable price tag at the same time.

It’s something only the company can answer. For me though, my answer is as crystal clear as how the pair sounds.

If my key points stated above aren’t clear enough, let me frankly say that the QCY H3S is definitely and definitively a Swipe Right and a Super Swipe.

It’s not just about its minimalist looks or the sole hardware specs on paper.

My honest first-hand experience with the QCY H3S, together with my colleagues’ impressions, further solidify my main point that a great pair of headphones doesn’t always need to have an exorbitant price tag.

Given, the QCY H3S may not be the flashiest and most elegant of the bunch. However, its clean aesthetics, mean sound punch, and even lean pricing all make this pair a deserving recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

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BLACK FRIDAY SALE INCOMING!

With the annual Black Friday Sale coming up, QCY is also offering latest deals — including the all new H3S headphones.

You can get between 25% to 50% off when you check out items in QCY’s Official Site from November 20 (Thursday) until December 5 (Friday).

Additionally, Prime Members of Amazon US can get up to 35% off from November 20 until December 1 (Monday).

The QCY H3s is now being sold at an even more ridiculous value at just $39.99 (was $59.99)!

Moreover, two more products are being sold for an even cheaper value.

• MeloBuds N70 ANC Earbuds: Now $47.99 (from $71.99)

• Crossky C50 Clip-On Earbuds: Down to just $28.99 (was $47.99)