QCY H3S headphones promise flagship ANC for $50, we try them on

QCY unveiled its new flagship over-ear headphones, dubbed the H3S. Featuring a design heavily influenced by the Sony WH1000 series, these promise flagship-grade ANC, excellent audio quality and impressive battery life at a fraction of the price of the established names.

The QCY H3S feature adaptive –56 dB active noise cancellation, powered by a 7-microphone array. In the company’s own test they managed to reduce subway noise by up to 92% and background chatter by 85%. For calls, three anti-wind microphones improve clarity by up to 80%.

The H3S offer dual drivers with a 40 mm titanium-coated diaphragm for powerful mids and bass with a 13 mm tweeter for crisp highs.

They weigh just 240 g, which is less than most competitors, improving comfort when worn for a long time. The cushions are covered in protein-leather and are rotatable and foldable for easier storage. IPX5 water-resistance rating means you don’t need to worry when out in the rain.

Despite the low weight the QCY H3S promise some of the most impressive battery endurance in the business. The company says they can work for up to 102 hours of playback or 58 hours with ANC on. A 10-minute charge restores up to 7 hours of battery life.

On the connectivity side you get Bluetooth 6.0 with dual-device pairing, enabling you to switch between your phone and laptop. Wired Type-C connection is also available if you want to go that way for some reason. Hi-Res Audio certification and LDAC support complete the list of highlights.

The QCY H3S are now available in Black, White, and Gray via QCY’s official webstore and Amazon, costing $50.

The three available color versions

We managed to spend some time with the new headphones and we are truly impressed by their performance. The ANC is not quite as good as the latest offerings from Sony and Bose, but it’s not too far either and the overall audio quality is alright too.

The app is the weakest link with some sections featuring needlessly complex options and poor translation, but once you figure it out the overall experience is easily comparable with headphones costing four times as much.