Where to buy? Official Store at AliExpress
Today I’m talking about bluetooth earphones that cost very little, 25 USD, and delivered much more than I expected: the QCY T13. It’s a true wireless model with basic presentation. Glossy white case with square shape and horizontal layout, USB-C connection for charging and capsules with AirPods-like stems.
I admit that when they arrived from China, the packaging didn’t excite me too much and I left them in storage for a while. However, when I started using them, I soon realized that they are among those affordable earphones worth remembering.
It’s easy to see that the lid of the case doesn’t have a robust material, as well as the hinge doesn’t seem to be strong, but they’re acceptable. The capsules themselves are lightweight and fit very well in my ear canals. They moved very little and caused no pain after long periods of use.
The critical aspect in their build was the absence of any certification against water – the manufacturer doesn’t confirm any. I’ve used them while walking on the treadmill and haven’t had any problems, but they shouldn’t be earphones suitable for rain or sports in general.
The controls built into the capsules work from at least two taps. By default, it’s possible to play/pause, skip and rewind music, call the voice assistant and activate the low latency mode for games. It’s not possible to change the volume, although you can add this command in place of the existing ones through the QCY application.
That’s right, there’s an app, which is even surprising for earphones in this category. In addition to changing the controls, it can update the firmware, locate the T13 on the map and select pre-made equalizers. I should say that, after playing with these EQs, I wasn’t a fan of any of them. The good news is that the factory sound has already satisfied me.
On the sound side, QCY aimed for a safe profile. Bass is the dominant frequency, with emphasis on the mid-bass. I think they’re tuned just right to sound powerful, without bothering the listener with excessive muffling. They’re accompanied by highs that have some sparkle, though they don’t dominate the show. The weakest frequencies are the mids, what can be noticed in the lack of power of certain guitars in songs that mix them with lots of bass.
Overall, the T13 has a very nice beat, and their merit lies in how well the low frequencies sit on the spectrum. The audio department is completed by the good performance of the microphones, which, in phone calls, deliver a full sound with minor inconsistencies.
Battery was another highlight. In continuous use, with volume above half, I got about 7 hours and 20 minutes of autonomy, with 3 extra charges provided by the case. It’s a result that certainly wouldn’t place the T13 at the top among all the TWS earphones, but they’re among the best considering cheap models.
I also have to highlight the presence of a gamer mode, with low audio latency. That’s a great feature for sure. It went very well when I played Free Fire on Android, but it can also be activated while watching movies, why not? You don’t need to do that, since the bluetooth 5.1 signal is stable and fast enough for videos in standard mode.
The good assessment I make of the QCY T13 shouldn’t raise too much the expectations of those reading. They are neither revolutionary nor impressive in any way, but they’re earphones that do everything right within their limits. No relevant glitches, good audio and decent battery life. It’s more than enough for the price range, so now I keep that name to easily recommend it to friends who don’t want to spend a lot.