Are you looking for a budget headset that offers exceptional sound quality at an affordable price? The Haylou S40 may be ideal for budget-conscious audiophiles. Designed to deliver premium sound under $50, this headset could be the solution for affordable, high-quality audio. Let’s see if it’s worth your money
What’s in the box
First, let’s examine the Haylou S40’s box contents, in the box you get:
- An owner’s manual,
- USB Type-C charging cable,
- Extra-flexible microphone,
- The headset.
Each accessory enhances the user experience. The USB Type-C cable ensures fast charging, minimizing downtime. The extra-flexible microphone enhances call quality, making it ideal for gaming or virtual meetings.
Design
The Haylou S40 boasts a striking, premium look and a satisfying feel, making it one of the best headsets available today.
But where it gets interesting is its earpads. The earpads of the Haylou S40 are made from a soft, leather-like synthetic material that provides a gentle and comfortable feel. This is especially beneficial for users who wear headsets for extended periods, such as during activities like gaming, jogging, or exercising.
The material used for the headband base and much of the frame is high-quality plastic, which contributes to the headset’s overall lightweight design. Although about 80% of the headsets are plastic, the plastic itself feels both premium and durable. After conducting various durability tests, including stretching and pressure tests, I found the plastic components to be resilient and sturdy, enhancing their appeal for everyday use.
Despite the predominant use of plastic, the material feels premium and durable. The headband is elastic and easily stretches to accommodate different head shapes. The base of the headband contains aluminum-like elements that are also flexible, boosting comfort and ensuring a secure fit.
While I was using the headsets, I couldn’t help but notice how nice they looked, which is a feature that most people look for when buying headsets. You should still exercise caution when using headsets in general, as they tend to break easily, especially at the base, since they often don’t come with a case.
Sound Quality
Haylou consistently delivers impressive audio for its price. The S40 features strong bass, crisp treble, and clear vocals. Playing Davidos with you highlighted its ability to handle lower frequencies. During calls, voices sound clear, a definite advantage.
But how does the haylou S40 sound after using it for an extended period? While testing, I did not experience any poor sound quality from this one, and I listened to Afrobeat extensively; trust me, it delivers. If you value sound quality, you’re in for a premium experience at a great price. You get excellent value without overspending money.
The only issue I had with these headsets was that the volume didn’t quite meet my expectations. I thought they would be louder, so it was a little underwhelming, but that’s my personal opinion, as I’m somewhat of an audiophile. These headsets still function effectively, even in noisy environments, although you may need to adjust the volume to its maximum setting for optimal performance.
If you are considering this one for the sound, you’ll enjoy a very premium feel. It’s a lovely one.
Comfort
The comfort of the Haylou S40 stands out among most brands. Whether you’re on a long call or taking an extended jog, these headsets fit so comfortably that you might forget you’re wearing them. Lightweight design and soft padding make prolonged use enjoyable, which is a top priority for many buyers.
The Haylou S40 does not apply pressure to the ear or head, thereby avoiding the discomfort and headaches often caused by other headsets.
As we mentioned earlier, the headband of these headsets is expandable and adjustable, allowing it to fit every head shape/size perfectly.
The foam padding on the earbuds is exceptionally soft, providing comfort and making them a reliable option for long-term use, which is perfect for gym-goers and individuals who go on long walks.
I recommend the Haylou S40 in terms of comfort, and you should consider getting it too because it’s one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve used in a while.
Active Noise Canceling
This model comes with three modes:
- Active Noise Canceling,
- Transparency mode
- Normal mode
Normal Mode. Normal Mode functions like most regular headsets without noise cancellation. Transparency Mode is particularly beneficial, as it allows you to listen to surrounding sounds without removing your headset, which is especially useful when you want to stay aware of your environment or engage in conversations.
The Transparency Mode is where the magic happens. When you turn on the Transparency Mode while using these headsets, you can hear every conversation going on around you, so you don’t necessarily have to take off your headsets. But you can decide to take them off when you’re having a conversation with an individual.
Active Noise Canceling. This mode is ideal for noisy environments. If you use mass transit or spend a lot of time in public spaces, then this is the correct mode for you, as it comes with what we call wind noise resistance. The wind noise resistance feature reduces wind noise interference with your audio. You can turn this feature on in the app.
One morning, I tested this feature during my daily commute on the subway. The usual clatter of motorbikes and chatter of fellow commuters was significantly diminished, allowing me to immerse myself in my music without distraction. Even when the doors opened at a busy station, the wind noise resistance kept my audio clear and uninterrupted. This experience truly highlighted the effectiveness of the Haylou S40’s noise-canceling capabilities.
The noise-canceling feature on these headsets singlehandedly boosts the sound quality to 100%.
When the Active Noise Canceling is on, it eliminates everything that you’re hearing from the background, which is a perk. And it also helps when making phone calls.
If you’re on the phone and turn on active noise cancellation, every outside noise is blocked out, making it easier to hear what the other person is saying.
In my opinion, the Haylou S40’s ANC is reliable and of top-tier quality.
Bluetooth & Range
This model features Bluetooth 6.0, standard for flagship phones and most earbuds. Pairing with my device was effortless and smooth.
Now, you need to know how frustrating first connections can be with headsets or earbuds like the SoundPeat Pearl clip Pro. However, the Haylou S40 connected effortlessly and quickly, without any stress.
When it comes to Bluetooth connections, I have generally had no bad experiences, and it offers some basic add-ons, such as LDAC and various Hi-Res audio standards.
With LDAC enabled, there was no lag when playing music. The connection is seamless, and you get no audio breaks.
These headsets also feature another add-on, known as multi-point connectivity, which is now commonly found on most headsets and earbuds. But what does multi-point connectivity mean? This means that you can connect more than one device to a particular Bluetooth device; that is, you can connect your phone, your laptop, and your tablet to a headset like the Haylou S40 or an earbud.
The multi-point connectivity is an excellent add-on because you can switch easily between your gaming console, laptop, gaming laptop, or phone without having to go through the stress of reconnecting.
But how does the range on this one perform
If you are someone like me who doesn’t like walking around the house with your mobile phone in hand, the range of these headsets will not be a problem because you won’t need to be in the same room as your phone to use them. With a maintained signal up to 40 feet through two walls, these headsets provide seamless audio connectivity, allowing users to roam freely around their homes without losing connection.
Battery Life
The next thing we’ll examine is the battery life of the Haylou S40. And the battery life of the Haylou S40 is where these headsets stand out.
It boasts over 90 hours of battery life on a full charge, and after testing it, I have concluded that their claim is very accurate. Before using these headsets, I charged them to 100% and used them for an extended period without needing to recharge them.
It also features fast charging; 10 minutes of charging delivers 15 to 30 hours of battery life, ideal for travel, gaming, or sports.
The battery life is reliable. According to the makers, you get up to 90 hours of gaming time, which is very accurate.
If you’re considering this one due to its impressive battery life and are looking for headsets with exceptionally long battery life, then the Haylou S40 is the perfect choice for you.
Call & Media Playback
This one comes with an in-built microphone, but you still get an extra physical microphone, which is really impressive.
When I used these headsets to make phone calls, I did not experience any situation where I had to yell so the person on the other end could hear me, and vice versa. Conversations were straightforward and stress-free. The phone calls were even better with the ANC mode. It’s like the call quality was on a whole new level.
I conducted a quick test using the built-in microphone by recording a 30-second audio clip, and then repeated the same process with the external mic. The audio quality from both microphones far exceeded my expectations; the results were outstanding.
When it comes to media playback, you can use these headsets for extended periods to watch movies on streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube, or any social media apps, without experiencing any issues. The media playback quality on this one is top-notch.
If you’re considering these headsets for gaming, calls, or media, they’re an excellent choice. They’re affordable, priced at just $50 on AliExpress, Amazon, or your usual gadget store.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with strong bass, clear vocals, and crisp treble
- Active Noise Canceling (ANC) with wind noise resistance and transparency mode
- Extremely comfortable fit with soft, leather-like earpads and adjustable headband
- Durable plastic build that feels premium despite being lightweight
- Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC and multipoint connectivity
- Fast, seamless pairing and stable connection up to 40 feet through walls
- Outstanding battery life up to 90 hours of playback, with fast-charge support
- Comes with two microphones (built-in and external) for clearer calls
- Great for gaming, calls, movies, and workouts
- Affordable price under $50 with premium-level features
Cons
- Maximum volume may be lower than expected for audiophiles.
- Although plastic is durable, it may not feel as premium as metal or alloy frames.
- No carrying case is included, making it more prone to physical damage.
- The ANC app feature may require manual activation for full performance.
App and button controls
The Haylou S40 app is like any typical earbud app, but it is reliable. I like how responsive it was and most of its features. On the app, you get
- ANC settings, which you can use to turn off either the ANC transparency or the normal mode
- An option to turn off the wind noise resistance, game mode, multipoint connectivity, LDAC, and spatial audio
- A section to turn on or off the equalizer
In the settings, you will find a “Find My headset” option and a firmware update section.
The Find My headset option proved to be one of the most valuable features, as it enables you to locate your headphones if they are lost. It basically shows the last location at which it was last used, and, in fact, it’s pretty accurate. Although the sound equalizer section is also quite reliable, as it enables users to customize their listening experience
However, my favorite was the button controls, which I tested over the course of my time with earbuds. Generally, I’ve never been a fan of touch controls. Instead, I prefer button controls, and on the Haylou S40, I was particularly invested in its button controls. I like how easy they are to use, and the fact that it was a pleasant experience.
On the button controls, you get by default.
- A power button that turns on the headset and allows you to pause and play songs
- A volume up and volume down button that also skips songs when pressed for a long time
- A button to turn off ANC, transparency, and normal mode
While testing, I noticed that all buttons on the like-touch control earbuds were exceptionally responsive and reliable.
Should you buy the Haylou S40?
This is a budget headphone, and personally, for that price, it’s a steal because you get premium sound, quality, and a very comfortable fit with the Haylou S40. I would 100% recommend the Haylou S40 if you’re on a budget and looking for quality and comfort without spending a lot of money.
Conclusion
The Haylou S40 is one of the best budget Headsets you can pick today. If you are on a budget, then this is the best pick for you. You can purchase this on Amazon, AliExpress, or wherever you buy your gadgets, for around $50-60. On my end, this one is still a steal.