TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
4.5 STARS - The T17 is yet another pair of great ultra-cheap wireless earbuds from QCY. It convinces with good comfort, great battery life, and clear sound for a ridiculously low price.
QCY T17 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.1 with AAC codec
7,5 hours playtime on a single charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with three ear tips and USB-C cable
$20 - $25 - Check price on AliExpress, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries
Also available: QCY T17S with Bluetooth 5.2, AptX codec, two extra mics for phone calls and app support - Buy on Amazon US on AliExpress
Below this QCY T17 review, you will find comparisons of the QCY T17 vs QCY T13, QCY T16, Edifier X3, Mpow M13, and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.
All reviews on Scarbir.com are unsponsored and honest. You can support my quest to find great affordable audio by buying via the links on this site or via PayPal.
Design, comfort and battery life
QCY releases low-budget wireless earbuds like crazy. In this second half of 2021 alone, the T17 is accompanied by the new QCY T13 and QCY T16, and then the Chinese brand also upgraded some older earphones with S-versions.
While they're all sold between 20 and 50 dollars, QCY positions the T17 as the new ultra entry-level model. The brand sees it as a true successor to the QCY T1c or QS1, the $20 earbud that started it all for the brand in 2019, for the reviews on Scarbir.com, and for affordable wireless earphones in general.
The QCY T17 has all the things you expect for the price. It has a portable charging case with a single LED light to indicate the remaining battery, a USB-C port on the back, and compact size so you can easily slide it into any pocket. The case feels sturdy enough but expect scratches on the box very soon.
The earbuds are compact and remind of the Samsung Galaxy Buds lineup, as the buds are round on the outside and inside, and come with a small rubber ear fin that could help them stay tighter in your ears. QCY doesn't deliver multiple sizes of it, however. The fit is good: the round earbuds are light and not too big. They feel snug in (medium-sized) ears, and feel comfortable for hours.
They should be, because the T17 can actually reach QCY's advertised 7,5 hours of playtime on a single charge. An excellent performance for this price. The case can recharge the buds three times before needing new power itself, but fast-charging the earbuds or the case isn't supported.
Unfortunately, QCY doesn't provide a waterproof rating for the T17, but as the buds don't have any microphone holes near the top of the earbuds, they should survive a light rain - and did so during the test time.
Controls and connectivity
The QCY T17 follows the same control scheme as other models from the brand, only providing you with the basic controls. On the QCY T17S (see specs above), the free QCY app will let you change controls, but doesn't give the option to add more control options - so adding volume controls will always come at the cost of other functions. The regular T17 doesn't have app support.
The out of the box setup is easy to learn:
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Hold R to skip a song
Hold L to return a song
Triple-tap R to (de)activate the low-latency Gaming mode (two beeps means on, three means off)
Triple-tap L to activate the voice assistant
Connectivity is good. The used Bluetooth 5.1 chip holds strong up to 9-10 meters away from your device, and it's easy to switch between listening to one or two earbuds, for instance, when you want to charge an earbud while listening to the other. Music doesn't automatically pause when you take a bud out.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos isn't a problem with the QCY T17: synchronization between audio and video is good on iPhone and Android. There's a special low-latency mode for games. When activated, it successfully reduces the delay in sound effects when you're playing games. There is still a delay in Fortnite's gunshots, but its less noticeable than on many other earbuds. This may be one of the best ultra-cheap earbuds for gaming.
Phone calls are in typical QCY fashion - meaning your voice sounds loud enough and clear, but there are crackles on the line when you start talking and when the T17 tries to diminish noise around you. Sudden brighter sounds, like accelerating scooters, are still audible. Sounds like this and wind noise take away the volume of your voice, making you hard to hear. However, it's no problem to take a phone call in quieter areas and indoors.
Video calls aren't a strength of the T17. Your voice sounds thin, and again: when there are noises around you, they push away what is left of your voice. You can easily sound too soft for the people you're talking to.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $25
Sound quality of QCY T17: Clear and balanced
QCY positions the T17 as the true successor to the wireless earbud that started it all for the brand: the QCY T1c. The sound is a step up with incredible clarity and balance for the price.
Bass plays a supportive role. The T17 presents it clean and tight: mid-bass strikes are subtle and roll off quickly. This QCY doesn't stretch out bass tones, making drums sound natural, rather quick, and gives them impact. There's enough slam for electronic basses, but don't expect super heavy thumps in hip-hop or dance songs. The sub-bass is subtle as well. It rumbles in a tight, controlled way and doesn't dive very deep - as shown in James Blake's wonderful test track Limit to Your Love.
Going up in the frequencies, the QCY T17 shows a dip in the lower mid-tones, meaning lower electronic tones don't play a prominent role. Darker male vocals move up to the center-mids. These center-mids enjoy a nice presence. Male and lower female vocals sound detailed, and acoustic guitars and piano play come across naturally.
Snare drums, claps, and cymbals have solid texture, and these are the most striking examples of instruments that come from your left and right in the music. The T17 has an airy sound, with excellent separation in between instruments and vocals. It's caused by the fact that the T17 properly opens up the upper mid-tones and highs. Higher-pitched vocals and brighter instruments like violins are forward and sound formidably clear - rarely sharp, always well-presented and nuanced.
The QCY T17 sounds wonderfully clear, balanced, and tight for its budget-friendly price point.
QCY T17 comparisons
QCY T17 vs QCY T13: Which is better?
The recently released QCY T13 has a warmer sound than the QCY T17, with elevated lower-mids and a thicker, harder-hitting and looser mid-bass. The T17 gives more room for upper-mids and highs, both in extension (the T17 sounds clearer and brighter, it puts higher-pitched vocals more forward), and in a literal sense: the T17 has an airier sound that appears wider around you. Mid-tones like snare drums and claps have more presence on the T17, and its overall sound feels more detailed and precise. If you prefer a harder-hitting bass and a more entertaining sound: go for the QCY T13. If you prefer a more balanced and clearer sound, go for the QCY T17.
QCY T13 review ($25)
QCY T17 vs QCY T16: Which is better?
The QCY T16 is a slightly more expensive model from the same brand, with a distinctive egg-shaped design from earbuds and charging case. Both are clear and balanced in sound, with a supportive bass, but the T16 has a warmer undertone, more audible lower-mids, and longer-lasting bass tones than the T17. T16's mids and upper-mids are softer - less hooky, while highs roll off earlier and prevent the highest peaks from the T17. The T17 has more articulation in the mids and upper-mids; the T16 is a smoother ride and easier to listen to. The T17 wins on comfort and battery life.
QCY T16 review ($30 - $40)
QCY T17 vs Edifier X3
The Edifier X3 seemed to be a source of inspiration for the QCY T17. Both earbuds are round with a snug fit and compact charging case. The T17 sounds a tad more refined and detailed than the X3. The T17 has cleaner mids with more natural tonality; the X3 has heavier mid-bass and slightly boosts lower-mid tones, giving it a fuller sound - although the differences are minimal. The most important is this: the T17 controls highs better, preventing some bright, harsh peaks the Edifier sometimes displays.
Edifier X3 review ($25)
QCY T17 vs Mpow M13
The Mpow M13 is another brand new addition in the $25 subcategory of wireless earbuds, offering full waterproof level and two years of warranty to its (larger) round earbuds and compact charging case. It sounds much warmer than the QCY, with a thicker bass, boosted lower mid-tones, and toned down highs. The T17 sounds clearer and brighter than the M13, with more room for higher-pitched vocals. The Mpow is less detailed - it's smoother, you could also say: less tiring to listen to.
Mpow M13 review ($20)
QCY T17 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus you can get around $60 to $80 nowadays is well-known for its brighter, balanced sound with subtle mid-bass. The T17 isn't just similar in the shape of its earbuds, but the sound indeed closes in to Samsungs character. The Samsung is a bit smoother in the mids, with less body in the highs and slightly more in the upper mids, resulting in more vocal nuances. Even though the bass is quite comparable, drums are more textured on the Buds Plus. Its battery life and call quality are also better, but the QCY is only one-third of its price.
Samsung Galaxy Buds+ review ($60 - $80)
Verdict
The T17 is yet another pair of great ultra-cheap wireless earbuds from QCY. It convinces with good comfort, great battery life, and clear sound for a ridiculously low price.
4.5 stars - Great
check QCY T17 price:
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon Germany
Buy on other Amazon countries
Buy on AliExpress
Also available: QCY T17S with Bluetooth 5.2, AptX codec, two extra mics for phone calls and app support - Buy on Amazon US or AliExpress
I received the QCY T17 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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