TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
FIVE STARS - Two years after the brilliant QCY T5, the Chinese brand has done it again. Tremendous battery life, great sound quality, and adequate phone and video calls performance: the QCY T13 is a steal for its 25 dollars price tag.
QCY T13 features and specs:
Bluetooth 5.1 with AAC codec
7,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes rubber ear-tips, English manual, USB-C cable
$25 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this QCY T13 review, you will find comparisons between the QCY T13 vs QCY T17, QCY T5, Edifier X3, Haylou GT6, Mpow Mbit S, and Fiil T1 Lite.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The QCY T13 has a simple design and feels well-built for its friendly price tag. The earbuds are completely white and have a short stem. The oval part rests in your ears comfortably, without feeling very big (in medium-sized ears). It's doable to wear them for a few hours in a row, and they're in your ears snug enough to take a run or workout with them. While QCY doesn't provide a waterproof rating, their smooth and hole-less design should make them withstand rain.
The T13 battery lasts a long time - it delivers up to 7,5 hours playtime on a single charge. That's a fantastic score for this price, outlasting competitors like the Edifier X3 and Mpow Mbit S and many more expensive earbuds as well.
The charging case can recharge the earphones fully three times before needing new power via USB-C itself. Or you can top-up the buds in the case for 10 minutes - it will immediately get you up to 2 hours of extra listening time.
The charging case is the least exciting part of the package, as it could have been smaller.
Connectivity and controls
The QCY T13 has touch controls on the earbud's upper part, which respond well to your input. The control scheme is simple:
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause
Hold R to skip to the next track
Hold L to return to the previous song
Triple-tap R to (de)activate low-latency gaming mode
Triple-tap L to activate the voice assistant
In the standard scheme, it's not possible to change the volume from the earpieces directly. However, you can change the controls via the free QCY app. As the T13 doesn't support a single tap, you can't have both simultaneously. However: you won't activate controls just by adjusting the earbuds a bit - that's nice.
Connectivity on the T13 is solid. The Bluetooth 5.1 signal holds strong up to 9-10 meters away from your device, and it's easy to switch between listening from one to two earbuds at all times. There can be slight hiccups between the left and right bud, but these are rare.
Calling and video quality
It's safe to take a phone and video call with the QCY T13. With its 4-microphone setup, the QCY T13 picks up your voice well - loud and clear. Constant and darker surrounding noises such as distant traffic or accelerating heavy vehicles, are reduced well. Your voice can sound a bit softer when you're walking in the wind and there's a lot of noise around you, but other than that, you're perfectly audible. The call quality is best in class for its price.
In video calls, such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings, your voice sounds full, warm, and loud enough. The people you're talking to can occasionally seem a bit tinny and come with some crackles, but it doesn't stand in the way of the conversation.
Watching videos is a breeze, with good synchronization between audio and video on Android and iPhone. With a triple-tap on the right earbud, you can activate a low-latency gaming mode which successfully reduces the delay in sound effects when playing games.
App support for QCY T13
The free QCY app gives the T13 some extra functions, which is still pretty insane at this price point. The app doesn't require you to set up an account, although you may have to put the earbuds in the case and then take them out again to make all the app features work. Those features are:
Update the firmware of the earbuds
See a pop-up menu with the battery life on both earbuds
Change the controls
Select different equalizers
Find your earbuds on a map
Clean pairing records
The T13 shows a pop-up menu in the QCY app
You can change, but not add extra controls
EQ options are still worthless
As with previous QCY's, it's nice to have app support, but you shouldn't expect anything from the different sound equalizers. Whether you choose Pop, Bass, Rock, Soft, Classic or set up your own sound via the 10-band equalizer: every change in the sound rules other frequencies out immediately, taking away the balance and the liveliness the T13 has out of the box.
Also read: Best wireless earbuds under $25
Sound quality of QCY T13: Engaging
The QCY T13 probably has the biggest soundstage you'll encounter on a pair of very cheap wireless earphones.
That means that music feels around you. Vocals are right in the front, and individual instruments and details surround you. For example, in classical pieces, violins can appear from your sides from afar - and in rock songs, drum sequences can shift from your left to your right. It's easy to separate layers in the music, and it's doable to position instruments as well. Listening to say a high-quality recording of a blues or jazz song can feel like you're in a pub listening to the live performance - a remarkable achievement for earbuds this price.
Happily, the QCY T13 also nails the basics.
The QCY T13 boosts the lower frequencies, which gives the sound a pleasant warm character. The mid-bass is elevated the most. Its pumped-up performance gives modern music genres like dance, pop, and electronic music thick, fat, rumbly bass strikes. It can be a bit too generous at times, and it lacks tightness, but the deep and strong hits definitely provide energy to songs.
Female and higher-pitched male vocals are slightly forward and stand out from instruments surrounding them, yet upper-mids and highs stay in control. Unlike other recent QCY's, highs roll off quite early and never sound too harsh or bright. Usually, piercing sounds like claps and cymbals don't penetrate your ears.
As this earphone forwards both vocals and lower tones, there's less space left for the center mid-tones. Guitars and pianos aren't as natural or detailed as they can be on more audiophile (read: more expensive) earphones, and darker male vocals can be a bit recessed. Mids do sound a tad warmer than average - but it's a safe bet, as they are at least pleasant on the ears.
The QCY T13 combines an energetic and warm sound with a remarkable spacious stage, making it an impressive performer on a tight budget.
QCY T13 comparisons
QCY T13 vs QCY T17: Bassier vs Balanced sound
The QCY T13 has a warmer sound, emphasizing lower-mids and a thicker and looser mid-bass than the even newer QCY T17. 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 T13 vs QCY T5: Which is better?
At a ridiculous 15 dollars, the QCY T5 was the perfect entry into wireless earphones for anyone for about two years. The QCY T13 outperforms the QCY T5 easily when it comes to features. The T13 offers 4,5 hours MORE playtime each charge (!), while it's smaller and more comfortable in your ears. The T13 handles phone and video calls better, and thanks to the app support, you also get more control options. Sound-wise, the T5 has more opened-up upper-mids and highs and sounds a bit more natural and balanced. The T13 has a thicker mid-bass, and lower-mids are more boosted, providing a warmer and more engaging sound. Vocals are livelier on the T5; the T13 has more separation and details around you.
QCY T5 review ($15)
QCY T13 vs Edifier X3
The Edifier X3 were the recommended cheapest all-around earbuds on Scarbir.com for around a year... until now. Even though the charging case of the Edifier is still unbeatably compact, the QCY T13 wins on features and sound. It has 1,5 hours longer playtime per charge, performs better in video calls, has a low-latency mode, and is much easier to connect with multiple Bluetooth devices. The QCY bass has a bigger rumble - something you could like or not - sounds pleasantly warmer and keeps higher-pitched vocals and other upper-mids a bit better in control. The T13 offers a wider soundstage and shows more (spacial) details in the music as well.
Edifier X3 review ($25)
QCY T13 vs Mpow Mbit S
The Mpow Mbit S was the most engaging sounding wireless earphone under $25, but sees a strong competitor in the QCY now, as the T13 delivers a more consistent musical performance across all volume levels. While the Mbit S sounds a bit mushy on lower volumes, the QCY T13 remains its bass strength on those levels. The QCY also has a warmer tonality, a more balanced sound and more spacial details. The Mpow is beaten on battery life (-1,5 hours per charge) and call and video call quality as well, but it still has its impressive, shower-proof IPX7 waterproof rating to counter the QCY.
Mpow Mbit S review ($25)
QCY T13 vs Fiil t1 Lite
If you're looking for the best sound quality at the lowest possible price, the $35 Fiil T1 Lite could tickle you a little more than the QCY T13. The Fiil elevates upper-mids and extends highs much more than the QCY and can occasionally sound a bit bright and piercing at higher volumes. In return, you'll get an immersive sound with more vocal nuances, better representation of center-mids, and more controlled bass. The QCY has a more rumbly and energizing bass, warmer undertone, controls highs better, and offers a wider soundstage - the choice is yours. The T13 has 1,5 hours longer battery life per charge and handles phone and video calls better; the Fiil has an actual sport-proof IPX-waterproof rating.
Fiil T1 Lite review ($35)
QCY T13 vs Haylou GT6
Prefer half-in-ears, like the original AirPods? Don't overlook the GT6 from QCY's sister brand Haylou - another fantastic pair of wireless earphones for around $25. The Haylou reaches up to 5,5 hours of playtime on a single charge, even though it has longer stems - but if you can get a good fit, they're likely even more comfortable than the T13. With the optimal fit, the GT6 sounds more open than the T13, putting vocals more forward and extending highs more. The bass is tighter, and the sub-bass is deeper, whereas the T13 has a much more powerful mid-bass, warmer tone, and smoother, thicker vocals. The QCY fares better in outdoor phone calls and video calls.
Haylou GT6 review ($20)
—> See all TWS reviews and ratings here
Verdict
Tremendous battery life, great sound quality, and adequate phone and video calls performance. The QCY T13 is a steal for its 25 dollars price tag.
Five stars - Excellent
Buy QCY T13/ check lowest price:
Buy QCY T13 on Amazon US
Buy QCY T13 on Amazon Germany
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Buy QCY T13 on AliExpress
I bought the QCY T13 myself to test and review it. All my reviews are 100% honest and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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Also read:
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