QCY T13 Review: the $25 Earbuds With 40-Hour Battery and Surprisingly Good Calls (2026)

At ~$25 the QCY T13 shouldn't be this good, but Scarbir gave it 4.5 stars for a reason: 7.5–8 hours per charge, 40 hours total with the 380mAh case, 4-mic ENC for calls, a warm 7.2mm driver, Bluetooth 5.1, QCY app EQ and a low-latency gaming mode. No ANC, IPX5 only, but for students, commuters and backup pairs, it is the battery king of budget buds.

Key Takeaways

• Battery is real: 7.5–8h buds + 40h total. Scarbir measured 7.5h; QCY rates 8h buds / 40h case (380mAh case, 45mAh buds). 5-min charge = 1h play. Wireless charging supported on case.
• Calls punch above $25. 4 mics (2 per bud) + ENC cut street noise well; voices stay clear on calls and video. Not studio-grade, but better than Redmi Buds 6 Play rivals at this price.
• Sound: warm, bassy, wide, 7.2mm bio-diaphragm, AAC+SBC. Thicker mid-bass than QCY T5, wider soundstage than Edifier X3, more control than Haylou GT7's aggressive tuning. Rock/mid-range slightly recessed.
• Does it have ANC? No. ENC is for calls only (not music). Need ANC? Get QCY T13 ANC (~$30) or step up to Redmi Buds 6 Play. Need gaming? Low-latency mode helps video; serious gaming still wants a headset.
• App + comfort win. QCY app (iOS/Android): battery view, custom EQ, remappable touch. Short-stem, snug, run-proof; IPX5 sweat/rain-proof, not shower-proof (Mpow S is IPX7).
• Buy it if you want max battery + calls + EQ under $25. Skip it if you need ANC, shower-proofing, or neutral studio sound.

Full Specification Table

Feature	QCY T13 (QCY official)	What it means for you
Driver	7.2mm dynamic, bio-diaphragm, AAC + SBC	Warm bassy sound, punchy but controlled; louder max volume than T13 ANC
Battery	8h buds, 40h total; 380mAh case + 45mAh/bud; USB-C 1.5h, 5min=1h; wireless charging	A week at 4–5h/day; top up 10min for 2h extra (Scarbir)
Mics / calls	4 mics + ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation, calls only)	Clear on street/café; sudden loud noises leak slightly (T13 ANC voices louder)
Bluetooth	5.1, 10m, A2DP/AVRCP/HFP, instant pop-up pairing, low-latency mode	Fast stable; video in sync; multipoint easier than Edifier X3
App	QCY app: EQ presets + custom, touch remap, battery, sleep mode	Tune bass down for rock/podcasts; disable touch for gym
Build	15.7×32.3×15mm buds, 54×53.6×28mm case, IPX5, space-capsule case	Snug for runs; rain-proof, not swim-proof; case opens if dropped (Versus user note)
Price	$24.99 (often $22)	Cheaper than T13 ANC ($30) with 2h more per-charge battery

Main Characteristics

Sound signature: low-end-forward but balanced: rumbly bass, warm mids, controlled highs, wide stage. Versus T5: thicker bass, more detail; versus Fiil T1 Lite ($35): less bright, more forgiving. Calls: dual-mic per bud isolates voice; Sean Talks Tech rates street-call clarity excellent for price. Everyday use: students/commuters get 40h freedom, fast charge, comfortable 3-hour-plus wear, reliable auto-connect across Android/iOS/laptop.

QCY T13 vs Redmi Buds 6 Play vs Haylou GT7 vs T13 ANC

Earbuds	Battery (buds/total)	Calls	App/EQ	Price
QCY T13	8h / 40h	4-mic ENC, very good	Yes	~$25
Redmi Buds 6 Play	7.5h / 36h	Dual-mic, good	No	~$18
Haylou GT7	5h / 20h	AI ENC, average	No	~$20
QCY T13 ANC	5h ANC / 30h	Clearer voice	Yes + ANC	~$30

Pros and Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the QCY T13 good for calls and online classes?

Yes. Its standout feature. Four mics with ENC suppress street/café noise while amplifying voice. Reviewers rate it better than Edifier X3 and Mpow S for calls. For windy outdoor calls, add the foam tips for a tighter seal.

Does the QCY T13 have noise cancellation (ANC)?

No. It has ENC for calls only, it cleans your voice for the other person, it doesn't silence music surroundings. For music ANC at ~$30, buy the QCY T13 ANC (5h buds) or Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 Play comparison.

How long does the battery really last?

Scarbir measured 7.5h continuous; QCY rates 8h buds + 32h case = 40h total. At 4–5h/day that's a full week. Case recharges via USB-C in 1.5h (plus wireless charging); 5 minutes gives 1 hour.

Is it good for gaming and videos?

For videos yes: Bluetooth 5.1 + low-latency mode keeps lips in sync. For competitive gaming, latency (~150–200ms) is noticeable; use the low-latency toggle and keep one bud paired for calls.

QCY T13 vs Haylou GT7 vs Redmi Buds 6 Play, which to buy?

Battery + calls + EQ: QCY T13. Cheapest decent sound: Redmi Buds 6 Play (~$18). Most energetic bass on tight budget: Haylou GT7 (~$20, but only 20h total, no app). ANC on budget: QCY T13 ANC (~$30).

Is it waterproof / good for gym?

IPX5: sweat and rain-proof, snug enough for runs. Not shower/swim-proof (IPX7 Mpow S is). Wipe after workouts; disable touch controls in the app to avoid accidental pauses.