QCY T5 review: can budget earbuds really be good?
QCY is known for good, affordable earbuds, and the QCY T5 is often seen as one of the better budget options. Does it live up to that reputation? In this review, we put the QCY T5 true wireless earbuds through their paces. Are the sound and microphone as good as people say? Let's find out.
In this article
Pros and cons
Here's a quick look at the pros and cons of the QCY T5.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Good sound ✔️ Value for money |
❌ Microphone could be better ❌ No QCY app support |
QCY T5 specifications
- Chipset: Jieli/Realtek
- Codec: AAC, SBC, APTX
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Range: 10m
- Case battery: 380 mAh
- Earbud battery: 43 mAh
- Cable: micro USB
- Driver: 6mm
- Mic: CVC 6.0 Noise Reduction
You can activate Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana on the QCY T5 by pressing and holding the touch control. The earbuds also have a gaming mode with very little delay.
QCY T5 sound quality
Sound quality score: 7
The QCY T5's sound stands out at this low price. Almost every part of the frequency range comes through well enough. The deepest bass could use a little more presence for a truly good sound. Still, the bass is much more prominent than on the newer QCY T10. On that front, the QCY T5 is easy to recommend.
The treble comes through nicely too, bringing out the details in your music. The mids are also better than average. Along with the deepest bass, they're often the most neglected part of the sound on budget earbuds.
All in all, a lovely sound for the price. Could it be better? Absolutely. Earbuds that cost just €20 more already offer much more power. That's worth keeping in mind.
Another area where the QCY T5 stands out is gaming mode. This mode reduces delay to a minimum. Tap the right earbud three times to activate it. Tap three times again to return to standard mode. It's a nice feature that helps these earbuds stand out. In our experience, the earbuds already have fairly little delay without gaming mode enabled. That makes it hard to tell whether switching it on improves things. Still, it's certainly a welcome feature for gamers.
Microphone: how good are QCY T5 calls?
Microphone score: 5.5
A good microphone always matters on earbuds. When someone calls, you want to at least be able to hold a decent conversation. We know that QCY earbuds usually don't have the best microphones.
If there's one thing about the QCY T5 you might rather not hear about, it's the microphone's audio quality. Don't get us wrong: it's not the worst microphone out there, but it's not the best either. We consider the microphone quality below par.
You can hear the QCY T5's microphone quality in the recording we made below. Keep in mind that what you hear may vary depending on your playback device and its speakers. Listening with earbuds may be your best option.
In the recording, the voice is clear and understandable. You'll notice some static and echo in the background, though. The lower frequencies are also missing.
At this price, we don't expect much from the QCY T5, so this is no surprise. Manufacturers tend to use cheaper components or compromise on overall quality to offer a product at a very affordable price. The QCY T5 is no exception.
Want to know which earbuds have the best microphone? We've put together a comparison with all the audio clips.
Fit: how comfortable is the QCY T5?
The QCY T5 is among the most comfortable earbuds you'll find on the market. It also comes with three pairs of silicone ear tips in different sizes. You can swap out the fitted pair to find a comfortable fit for your ears.
However, the QCY T5 earbuds have a large body compared with most on the market. They're quite big for earbuds, which looks good. Overall, though, they feel snug and comfortable.
TIP: For more comfort and a better fit, we recommend foam ear tips for the QCY T5 rather than silicone ear tips. These replace the silicone ear tips included in the box. The softer foam helps them fit your ears perfectly. The QCY T5 earbud on the right in the image above has a black foam ear tip fitted.
Earbud controls
The QCY T5 is straightforward to use, with easy touch controls. There are no physical buttons, so all controls work through the touch panel.
Controls: 6
Unfortunately, the earbuds have no volume control. That's quite inconvenient, as you have to reach for your phone to adjust it. A quick workaround is to use voice commands through Siri, Google Assistant, or Cortana. Also worth noting: the earbuds don't support the QCY app, which lets you customize the controls.
How do the QCY T5 touch controls work?
| Left | Right | |
| 1x | None | None |
| 2x | Pause / play / answer call / end call | Pause / play / answer call / end call |
| 3x | None | Gaming mode on / off |
| 1.5 sec. | Previous track | Next track |
|
4+ sec. |
Ignore call | Ignore call |
The QCY T5 is easy to use, and the controls are easy to remember. As mentioned above, though, there are no controls for adjusting the volume.
Charging case
The QCY T5 comes with a built-in 43mAh battery on each piece. At full charge, the earbuds are rated to last up to 120 hours on standby mode, 4.5 hours when listening to music, and up to 4 hours of talk time. However, it is best to note that these usage ratings can vary depending on the level of volume and some other factors.
Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?
With a fully charged case, you get up to 25 extra hours of music thanks to its built-in 380 mAh backup battery.
The case itself is sturdy, despite its plasticky feel. It also comes with smart charging technology that lets you charge the QCY T5 earbuds on the go.
Conclusion: is the QCY T5 any good?
| Score | |
| Sound | 7 |
| Microphone | 5.5 |
| Fit | 6 |
| Battery | 5 |
| Controls | 6 |
| Stability | 6.5 |
The QCY T5 is a good choice if you want decent earbuds without spending too much. The T5 offers good sound quality with solid bass, mids, and treble.
The fit is just good enough. The earbuds are fairly large, but their low weight makes them quite comfortable. They have a gaming mode that any gamer would appreciate. The microphone isn't particularly good, but it's about what you'd expect at this price.
On the other hand, if you want earbuds with great sound and plan to use them for lots of calls and video meetings, you're better off choosing a slightly higher-priced pair.
Alternatives
QCY T5 vs. SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE
The QCY T5 is a good choice on a tight budget. The sound is decent, the mic is just good enough, and the fit is okay. But if you want a real step up in quality, with richer, fuller sound and a much better microphone, you're better off with the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE.
Others also viewed:
- Explore all our wireless earbuds articles
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- Explore our in-depth article on QCY earbuds
- Also check out our article on AirPods alternatives
- Check out the 3 best earbuds for running
- Also check out our hands-on look at the Eardopes B6 pro. It costs a little more, but the quality is worth it.
