Cheap Earbuds can look exciting, but many lose trust once the sound, comfort, calls, and battery start feeling weak fast.
The QCY Melobuds Pro caught my eye because they promise 46dB ANC, LDAC audio, app controls, and 34 hours of battery life.
That sounds like a lot for budget wireless earbuds, but specs alone do not tell you how they feel every day.
I tested them across commutes, work calls, music, videos, and casual gaming to see where they shine and where they annoy.
I will be telling you about their sound, ANC, battery, app features, comfort, value, and real user opinions.
Before judging the hype, let us first look at what the QCY Melobuds Pro actually offer.
About the QCY Melobuds Pro
The QCY Melobuds Pro, also known as the HT08, arrived in 2024 as the brand’s most feature-packed wireless earbuds for budget-conscious buyers.
The earbuds earned the VGP 2025 Gold Award, a Japanese audio product evaluation that assesses sound quality and cost-performance, which adds some third-party weight to the spec claims.
The earbuds come in multiple color options, including Black, White, and Gold, giving buyers a few style choices beyond the usual plain finish.
Their stem-style design follows a familiar look, making them easy to use for both Android and iPhone users.
For people who want premium-like features without stepping into the expensive category, the Melobuds Pro makes a pretty strong first impression.
What’s in the Box?
Here is what QCY gives you inside the Melobuds Pro box:
- QCY Melobuds Pro earbuds with medium ear tips already attached.
- Compact pebble-style charging case with a USB-C port.
- USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable for wired charging.
- Three silicone ear tip sizes: small, medium, and large.
- Quick-start guide and warranty card.
You do not get a wall adapter, so you will need your own charging plug.
Design and Build Quality
The QCY Melobuds Pro use a stem-style design, so they feel familiar the moment you pick them up. The outer stem has a shiny mirror finish, which gives it a cleaner look than most cheap earbuds.
The case is slim, flat, and easy to slide into a pocket without making your jeans look packed. The earbuds are made from ABS and PC plastic, but they do not feel weak in the hand.
The seams are neat, the lid feels smooth, and the buds sit nicely inside the case.
I would not call them premium, but they feel better than their price suggests. They also have an IPX5 rating, so sweat and light rain are fine, but do not take them near a pool.
How Comfortable are They for Long Wear?
The Melobuds Pro are comfortable for long sessions because the oval ear tips seal well without pushing too hard.
You get small, medium, and large tips, so most users should find a decent fit. One issue is wear detection, which can mistakenly pause music or cut calls.
I wore them for three-hour stretches without any ear fatigue, which is more than I can say for a lot of budget earbuds I have tried. For call-heavy users, turning it off in the QCY app is the smarter move.
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Multipoint, and the LDAC Trade-off
The QCY Melobuds Pro connect through Bluetooth 5.3, and pairing is quick once you open the case. After the first setup, they reconnect to the last device without much fuss.
The normal range is around 10 meters, but LDAC can bring it closer to 8 or 9 meters. Here is the real trade-off:
- LDAC gives better audio quality for music on Android.
- Multipoint turns off when LDAC is enabled.
- Spatial audio also turns off with LDAC.
- Video sync can feel weaker on LDAC.
- iPhone users stay on AAC, so LDAC is not available.
For Android music listeners, LDAC makes sense. For laptop and phone switching, multipoint is more useful.
If you are still deciding between this and other budget earbuds worth considering, the LDAC-multipoint conflict is worth factoring into the comparison.
Sound Quality of QCY Melobuds Pro
The QCY Melobuds Pro sound clear, punchy, and fun for daily use.
The 12mm drivers give the bass good weight, so pop, hip-hop, EDM, and gym songs feel lively without covering the vocals. Voices in podcasts, calls, and YouTube videos also stay easy to hear.
Android users get the best sound when LDAC is enabled, with music sounding cleaner and more detailed. iPhone users stay on AAC, which still sounds good, but it does not provide the same level of extra detail.
Spatial audio makes movies feel wider, but it can add a light echo in songs. For gaming, normal stereo is better because direction feels more accurate.
Audio sync is fine on AAC, but LDAC can add a small video delay.
App Connectivity & Features
The QCY app works on both Android and iOS, but Android users get more control because LDAC is available there.
iPhone users will use AAC, which is still fine for daily listening, but the Hi-Res part is not really for them. The app connects quickly once the earbuds are paired.
You can use the app for:
- EQ presets and custom sound tuning
- ANC and transparency mode control
- Touch control changes
- Gaming mode
- Sleep mode
- Wear detection on or off
- Firmware updates
- Find my earbuds ping
Sleep mode is actually useful, not just filler. It lowers touch sensitivity, so pillow taps do not mess with playback. It also keeps the volume lower, which makes more sense for podcasts or calm audio at night.
Active Noise Cancellation: Does 46dB Hold Up?
The QCY Melobuds Pro handle low sounds really well for the price. Things like fan noise, traffic rumble, bus engines, and train hum get pushed down clearly.
The 46dB hybrid ANC claim meets the measurement threshold used by the VGP 2025 evaluation, which sets the effective ANC benchmark at 40dB or higher for near-transparent noise isolation.
In offices or cafes, the ANC helps you focus, but it will not fully block people talking nearby.
The 46dB claim sounds big, and honestly, it does feel strong in steady noise. Still, sharp sounds like keyboards, sudden voices, or dishes clashing can break through.
Adaptive ANC is the best mode for most places because it changes with the noise around you.
For travel, study, daily commutes, homework, and noisy rooms, the noise canceling is easily one of the stronger parts of these earbuds.
If you specifically want to use ANC gear for travel, it is worth reading about noise-canceling gear for travel to see how different earbuds handle cabin hum and long-haul conditions.
Battery Life & Charging
The QCY Melobuds Pro give around 8.5 hours from the earbuds with ANC off, and about 7.5 hours with ANC on. For normal daily use, that is enough for work, travel, the gym, and night listening.
Quick notes:
- Buds with ANC off: up to 8.5 hours
- Buds with ANC on: up to 7.5 hours
- Total with case: around 34 hours
- Quick charge: 10 minutes gives about 1 hour
- Charging: USB-C only, no wireless charging
One annoying thing is that the app does not show the battery. It only shows each earbud battery, so travelers may need to charge the case before leaving.
Calls, Gaming, and Everyday Use
The QCY Melobuds Pro are solid for daily use, especially if you take calls, watch videos, and switch between work and music.
The six-mic setup keeps your voice clear indoors, and it can handle light background noise well. Wind noise is better than that of many cheap earbuds, but it is not perfect outside.
For everyday use:
- Calls: Clear indoors and decent in busy spaces.
- Gaming: Low-latency mode gives around 80ms delay.
- Videos: YouTube and Netflix sync well on AAC.
- Work: MultiPoint helps with phone and laptop switching.
- Controls: Taps work well, but wear detection can act weird.
For casual gaming, they are good enough. For serious FPS matches, you may still want faster gaming earbuds.
Price, Warranty, and Where to Buy
The QCY Melobuds Pro usually sells between $36 and $48, depending on the store and ongoing discounts. As of now, they are listed for $47.99 on the official QCY website.
You can buy them from QCY’s official store, Amazon, and AliExpress, which are the most common and reliable options.
QCY includes a 1-year warranty for manufacturing defects and also offers a 30-day return period through its official store.
The earbuds feel well built for the money, but there is one thing worth noting. Some long-term users have reported weaker battery performance after six months or more of heavy use.
That is not unusual for budget earbuds, but it is something to keep in mind if you plan to use them every day for years. Overall, the value is strongest during the first year of ownership.
What People Are Saying About QCY Melobuds Pro?
Many people on Reddit who bought the QCY Melobuds Pro shared mixed opinions about them. Some users said the sound, ANC, and value were great for the price, especially when used with Android and LDAC.
Others had the opposite experience and complained about weak fit, cheap build feel, flat sound, and the QCY app feeling messy.
The biggest pattern is that user experience depends a lot on fit, phone type, and possibly unit quality.
One iPhone user said the sound felt worse because LDAC does not work on iOS. Another user felt the bad experience may have come from a defective pair.
So, the Melobuds Pro are not a universally loved product. They can feel like a great deal for some buyers, but a complete miss for others.
QCY Melobuds Pro vs Other Top Earbuds
If you are looking at other budget earbuds, the Melobuds Pro stands out for combining ANC, LDAC, multipoint, and a feature-rich app in one package.
Most rivals do one or two things well, but very few offer this many features at a similar price.
| Feature | QCY Melobuds Pro | Soundcore Life A3i | Moondrop Space Travel | Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $36 to $48 | $35 to $45 | $30 to $40 | $40 to $55 |
| ANC | 46dB Adaptive ANC | 40dB ANC | No ANC | 42dB ANC |
| Audio Codec | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Battery Per Charge | 8.5 hours | 9 hours | 10 hours | 7 hours |
| Total Battery | 34 hours | 50 hours | 35 hours | 28 hours |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Gaming Mode | Yes | No | No | No |
| Companion App | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IPX5 | IPX5 | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Best For | Feature lovers | Battery life | Audio tuning | LDAC users |
The Soundcore Life A3i is a better pick if battery life matters most. The Moondrop Space Travel suits listeners who care more about sound tuning than ANC.
The Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 is a solid alternative for LDAC fans, but it lacks some of the extra features that make the Melobuds Pro so appealing.
If your use case is more workout-oriented than commute-oriented, workout-focused earbuds may suit you better than any of these options.
Should You Buy QCY Melobuds Pro?
The QCY Melobuds Pro are easy to recommend if you want lots of features without spending a lot of money.
You get strong ANC, LDAC support, multipoint connectivity, gaming mode, a useful app, and solid battery life in one affordable package. Few earbuds in this price range offer such a complete feature set.
That said, they are not perfect. LDAC comes with a few trade-offs; the app cannot show the battery level, and wear detection can be a little too sensitive.
Some users have also reported battery performance dropping after months of heavy use.
Who Should Skip the QCY Melobuds Pro?
- iPhone users who want LDAC, AAC is the ceiling on iOS.
- People who regularly switch between two devices, LDAC kills multipoint.
- Anyone who needs 50-plus hours of total battery life for extended travel.
- Competitive gamers who need sub-50ms latency.
Still, if your budget is around $50 and you want a feature-packed pair of earbuds for music, calls, travel, and daily use, the Melobuds Pro are one of the strongest options currently available.
Conclusion
The QCY Melobuds Pro make the most sense if you want many useful features without paying premium earbud prices.
The feature-to-price ratio is genuinely strong, and the VGP 2025 Gold Award gives the performance claims some external validation.
You should still know the weak spots before buying, especially if you use an iPhone or switch devices often. The case battery issue, sensitive wear detection, and mixed long-term reports are things I would not ignore.
Still, for Android users who want budget wireless earbuds with good features, these are easy to consider. If you want cleaner comfort, better polish, or safer long-term use, compare them once before buying.
Have you used the QCY Melobuds Pro? Tell us your experience in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the QCY App Required to Use the Melobuds Pro?
No, the earbuds work out of the box without the app, using their default settings.
The app is required to access custom EQ, remap touch controls, switch between specific ANC modes (Standard and Light ANC are app-only), enable sleep mode, or update firmware.
How Does the Melobuds Pro Hold Up for Long Flights or Travel?
The ANC handles aircraft cabin hum well in Adaptive mode, and the 7.5-hour ANC-on battery covers most long-haul flights in a single charge. The case adds three more charges.
Do the QCY Melobuds Pro Support Wireless Charging?
No. The case uses USB-C only.
The quick charge feature (10 minutes for 1 hour of playback) partially offsets this, but wireless charging is not available on the Melobuds Pro at any price point currently.
Can You Use the QCY Melobuds Pro with an iPhone?
Yes, but with limitations. iPhone users are limited to AAC since LDAC is Android-only. Sound quality is still good on AAC, but the Hi-Res Audio capability and the audio detail improvement LDAC brings are not available on iOS.
