QCY Buds HT15 are in-ear TWS true wireless earbuds that offer features previously found mainly in more expensive models, but at a price of around 25 euro. The manufacturer equipped them with adaptive noise cancelling (ANC), as many as 6 microphones for calls, a dedicated mobile app, and a solid battery. The model is available in several colors (including white, black, gray, and blue). For this review I chose the white version. Can earbuds this cheap really compete with pricier alternatives? More on that in today’s piece. It’s also worth noting that I received the earbuds for review directly from the manufacturer. Thank you for supporting my channels and blogs. ,
First impressions
When I was looking for earbuds for myself, I was really surprised how many people buy the QCY HT15. I took a look at the reviews and it turned out they are very positive. But is gear that costs under 25 euro actually that good?
The Buds HT15 design focuses on minimalism and ergonomics. Each earbud has a small housing with a short stem, which makes it easier to grip and use touch controls. In the box you get silicone ear tips in three sizes (S, M, L), which helps match the earbuds to your ear canal. With the right tips selected, wearing comfort is very good – the earbuds are lightweight (each is just under about 4 g) and well-shaped, so they sit securely, don’t press, and don’t fall out even while running or moving intensely. Long listening sessions don’t cause fatigue or ear pain. During my tests they were practically unnoticeable even after a few hours. The charging case is made of matte plastic of good quality and easily fits in my closed hand. It has rounded edges, and the lid is magnetic and holds firmly. The earbuds inside also stay in place with magnets, so there’s no chance they’ll fall out on their own. The case is fairly hard, doesn’t pick up fingerprints, and has a texture a bit like upholstered furniture. In my opinion, though, the white color is more beige than snow-white, but that doesn’t bother me.
Overall – both the earbuds and the case – it feels like a well-finished product. Add to that the IPX4 rating (resistance to sweat and splashes), which makes the HT15 a good companion for workouts or running in the rain.
Sound quality
It doesn’t matter how elegant and expensive earbuds are if they simply sound bad. How is it with the QCY HT15? I have to admit they surprise positively with their sound. They use dynamic drivers with a biocomposite diaphragm, producing a warm, full sound with strong, clearly emphasized bass – lows are present and punchy, but they don’t overpower the rest of the spectrum. Mids stay natural, and highs are clean and not overly sharp, so the earbuds don’t become tiring over long sessions. The soundstage is reasonably wide for this segment, and overall quality works well for pop, electronic music, podcasts, and everyday listening. Of course, compared to higher-end models you may miss the finest details or truly audiophile-level instrument separation, but in their price class the Buds HT15 sound very good. They deliver a pleasant, balanced tuning that should satisfy most users.
ANC is one of the strongest points of these earbuds. The adaptive system can automatically adjust the level of noise reduction to the environment, and it does it really effectively. In practice, that means in a loud bus, at an airport, or in a café, background noise is clearly reduced, letting you sink into your music more easily. You can choose from 4 dedicated ANC modes: Indoors, which reduces things like air-conditioning or PC noise in an office, Transport, which mainly suppresses low engine sounds, train noise, and so on, Crowd, which targets a broader range including higher frequencies (like lots of voices in the background), and a wind mode that reduces wind noise and airflow.
There’s also a Transparency mode that lets outside sound through – useful for conversations or crossing the street when you want to hear announcements or traffic without taking the earbuds out. ANC in the QCY HT15 works surprisingly well for this price tier – it effectively reduces constant noise (engines, AC hum) and also partially voices and ambient sounds, though very loud or sudden noises may still be audible (just quieter, which is normal). Importantly, ANC doesn’t introduce strong self-noise or an unpleasant “pressure” feeling in your ears, so it’s comfortable to use even for longer periods. Overall, the adaptive noise cancelling in the Buds HT15 is a big advantage – it genuinely improves listening comfort in noisy places, bringing these budget earbuds closer to the experience you typically get from more expensive designs.
Voice calls
The earbuds are equipped with a total of six microphones (three in each earbud) supported by environmental noise reduction algorithms, which translates into very good call quality. People I spoke with heard me clearly and distinctly, even when I was outside or riding a bike.
Battery and charging
When it comes to battery life, the QCY Buds HT15 perform solidly. A single charge gives around 5.5 hours of playback (with ANC off) or about 4 hours with noise cancelling on continuously. The charging case acts like a power bank – it has a 350 mAh capacity and can recharge the earbuds several times, extending total runtime to about 25 hours (or around 18 hours with ANC). That’s a very good result, meaning with moderate use you only need to charge them every few days. Case charging is done via USB-C (the cable is included) and takes about 2 hours. Wireless Qi charging is missing, but at this price it’s hard to demand. The manufacturer did include a fast top-up feature: just 10 minutes in the case gives about 60 minutes of playback. In practice it’s very useful when, for example, you notice drained earbuds right before leaving home – a quick plug-in gives you power for the trip.
QCY app and extra features
The QCY app is definitely one of the weaker points of these earbuds. It likes to bombard your phone with pop-up notifications, for example that you aren’t currently using the earbuds. Fortunately, most of these messages can be disabled. The app has Polish language support, but the translation quality is poor. Sometimes it’s hard to understand what a given description actually means. Even AI-based translation would likely be more accurate. Still, it’s worth adding that the app lets you personalize sound, with several preset EQ options available, plus the ability to create your own profile. In game mode, audio latency drops to under 70 ms, which improves sync between sound and on-screen action. Sleep mode turns off signals and LEDs so they don’t bother you if you fall asleep with the earbuds in.
You can also control ANC modes, check battery status, update firmware, or locate an earbud by playing a sound. Importantly, the HT15 also support Dual Connection, meaning they can be operated with two devices at the same time. Unfortunately, volume control isn’t assigned to gestures by default, but you can configure it via the app by replacing, for example, the assistant function or a mode switch with volume control.
Summary
Sound quality is surprisingly good – a balanced tuning with pleasant bass, long runtime, a comfortable, light design with a secure fit. Add sweat and rain resistance, Dual Connection, a low-latency mode, and clean voice calls. Great value for money – you can buy these earbuds for about 25 euro, which is an excellent deal.
Cons: no proximity sensors (when you take them out of your ear audio playback doesn’t pause automatically – you have to stop it manually); default touch gestures don’t include volume control (but you can set it in the app); no support for advanced codecs (for example LDAC) – they work with SBC/AAC, which will be enough for most people; the case is solid and compact, but fully plastic and without a precise charge level indicator.
