Have you ever been in a situation where your standard old-fashioned in-ear earbuds slip out of your ears during a routine morning jog or workout session? Well, I’ve been there, and ever since I got my hands on my first clip-on earbuds, I’ve been a fan of clip-on/open-ear TWS earbuds, and the QCY Croosky C30 definitely caught my eye with its similar design to the SoundPEATS Pearl Clip Pro. But will it sound or perform better than the Pearl Pro?

I’ve been excited about getting an open ear from QCY, especially since they make excellent TWS earbuds, and let’s see if the Croosky lives up to that hype.

In this review, we will take a comprehensive look at the QCY Croosky C30 to determine if it stands out in the category of clip-on or open-earbuds. Regarding its design, price, quality, pros, and cons, decide whether it’s the best budget open-ear/clip-on earbuds for you.

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What’s in the Box

The packaging of the QCY Croosky C30 feels premium, similar to the SoundPEATS Pearl Clip Pro. QCY is head-on in the game as regards its packaging.

In the box, you get:

• The Croosky earbuds and case
• A how-to-wear card
• A QCY Croosky C30 user manual
• A USB-C to Type-C charging cable.

Design

I’m particularly impressed by the design of the Crossky C30 as it shares a striking resemblance with the PearlClip Pro, which features a blend of multiple material finishes

The C30 features a multi-material finish, a unique characteristic not often found in most clip-on or open-earbuds, as many look quite similar and generic. The C30 features a minimal plastic frame, which is then finished with an aluminum base, particularly in the speaker region, and the speaker itself is also made of metal.

The frame that rests on the ears is made of skin-friendly plastic, while the clip or ring is made of durable plastic. This makes it feel durable enough to withstand loosening or weakening easily, which is a significant concern for clip-on earbuds. Earbuds like the Soundcore C40i come equipped with an additional clip-on, in case the buds become loose or if the user has smaller ear canals.

The C30 tends to exhibit an effortless yet efficient build quality, making it a robust and durable option that can withstand minor falls and bumps. I did not notice any scratches from falls or rough handling.

The case of the C30, on the other hand, feels premium and is very comfortable to hold when carried around. The case is very lightweight and exceptionally stylish, unlike most open-earbuds, which are often bulky and outdated.

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Fit and Comfort

The fit and comfort of the Croosky C30 is nothing short of superb. You get a steady yet not harsh grip from its plastic clip-on. While testing, I couldn’t help but notice how tender the skin-friendly plastic was on my ears — more like the Haylou Airfree, where you won’t feel anything at all after a long time of use.

The weight in the hand contributes to its seamless comfort. I appreciate how lightweight this clip-on is and how smoothly it slides into the earlobes, causing little to no discomfort.

The Croosky C30 also performs well in terms of long-term use. I enjoyed using my mobile device for long-term purposes, such as watching movies and listening to music. Even in situations where I had to put it to the test, such as workouts and jogs around the estate, the Croosky did not disappoint.

These earbuds were able to withstand workouts and even long runs, unlike the Soundcore C40i, which comes with additional clips that could be a great add-on in similar situations. The Croosky still performed well when it came to complex tasks like workouts and runs.

In a nutshell, the C30 is a perfect companion for heavy duties and does not cause unnecessary strain to the ears.

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Spec Sheet

• Supports fast charging: 15 minutes of charging can provide approximately 5 hours of playback listening time.
• IPX4 water and dust resistance: Provides protection against splash, sweat, rain, and is suitable for workouts.

• Over 10m operating range: These earbuds have an operating range of up to 10 meters, which we tested, and they performed remarkably.
• Sound profile: Equipped with HFP/A2DP/AVRCP sound profiles — perfect for good music quality and listening time.
• Battery capacity: 500mAh battery capacity, which translates to approximately 40 hours of standby time and 5.5 hours of music playback.

Sound Quality

At first glance, these earbuds appear to be your standard open-ear/clip-on earbuds. On the other hand, open-ear/clip-on earbuds are generally designed to prioritize comfort rather than sound quality, but the Croosky C30 became an exception after long-term use.

Supported by HFP/A2DP/AVRCP profiles, the sound profile of the C30 is quite good. There’s enough bass with very crystal-clear vocals, making it perfect for quiet and close areas, such as an indoor gym or office space. Actually, one of the best options for maintaining attention in an office space or workspace is sound, as it does not leak out of the earbuds like the Baseus Bass BC1 and other clip-ons.

In full regard, the sound quality is average. The sound produced by these earbuds is neither too loud, like the Pearl Clip Pro, nor too quiet, like the Haylou Airfree, which places it in an average zone, making it perfect for individuals who want to maintain top-notch attention while using earbuds.

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Battery

If you have a thing for good batteries, then you are in luck. The Croosky is one of the best earbuds in terms of battery life, alongside the Baseus MC1 and BC1 from all the clip-ons I’ve tested.

The Croosky C30 battery life was nothing short of exceptional. I never had instances where I had to charge the earbuds mid-use, unlike the Haylou Airfree, which had poor battery life. While testing, I noticed that these earbuds can last for extended periods, making them ideal for individuals who prioritize sports or require long hours of listening time.

Although QCY brags of 40 hours of standby time and 5.5 hours of active listening time, these earbuds are powered by a 500mAh battery, which, in my opinion, does not disappoint — one of the best I’ve used so far. While testing, I noticed that a 15-minute charge from this earbud can provide at least 5 hours of playback time.

In a nutshell, it’s perfect as regards battery life.

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Bluetooth and Range

The connectivity of the Croosky is top-notch, powered by Bluetooth 5.4, which is now the standard for most earbuds. Although newer versions of TWS earbuds come equipped with 6.0, like the Croosky C30s.

While testing, I couldn’t help but notice how seamless the connection of the Croosky C30 was. I did not experience lag while using these earbuds, and I also did not encounter any audio cracks, unlike the Pearl Clip Pro, which was a hassle due to the initial connection issues. The Croosky C30 was very easy and fast for the first connection.

And let’s not forget that the C30 supports multi-device connectivity, like most modern earbuds, which is a great addition for individuals who have multiple devices, such as two mobile devices or a laptop and tablet. This feature works quite well.

Regarding the range, the Croosky C30’s range is one of the best I’ve tested yet. You could leave these earbuds in one section of the house and walk around without losing your connection. Although QCY claims that this can reach a range of about 10 meters, I personally find it useful, as I’m not the type to carry my mobile around all the time, and I must say — the Croosky performed exceptionally.

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Calls and Media Playback Quality

Aside from the Bluetooth being perfect, the call and media playback were also superb. I did not have any instance where the individual on the other end complained that they were not hearing me or that my voice was cracking, which is actually a good thing.

Although the Croosky comes equipped with four mics with AI ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation), which helps to filter background noise, and to be fair, it was quite helpful because I had instances where I was in very noisy environments, and I could still receive calls with the individual on the other end hearing me quite clearly. But there is a downside to it.

Clip-on/open-ear earbuds are not perfect when it comes to filtering outside noise, which can be a hassle when receiving calls, as background noise may interfere with your hearing experience.

The media playback, on the other hand, was superb, as I could watch movies and scroll through social media for hours without interruption or break. Even if you are an individual who prioritizes watching movies or social media, you will experience a seamless flow. The low latency, on the other hand, proves to be a valuable addition for gamers, as it enhances sound quality during gameplay.

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Touch Controls and App Functionalities

On a general note, I’ve never been a fan of touch controls on a clip-on earbud, and QCY did not seem to change my mind. Instead, they proved my point.

The touch controls on the QCY Croosky are not impressive. They’re like your regular touch controls and not as responsive. To top it all off, the touch controls are located at the back of the earbuds, which is quite hard to reach. Even if you manage to reach them, they do not function as intended, even when set to high.

I had a particularly frustrating experience when, during a morning jog, I missed an important call because the touch controls failed to respond despite my repeated attempts. Such moments highlight the limitations of the design when it needs to work seamlessly. However, as a workaround, I recommend using the QCY app to modify controls or set preferred gestures, adding a layer of reliability to the user experience.

Default touch controls:

• Touch: No function on both left and right
• Double touch: Pause and play on both left and right
• Triple touch: Voice assist on left and Next track on right

But if you don’t mind using touch controls, then it’s a good one for you.

The app functionalities are nice. For once, I like how the QCY app looks and the fact that it packs a whole lot of functionalities, which include:

• Touch sensitivity
• Beep volume
• Timing power-off
• Disconnect and power off
• Gaming mode
• Spatial sound effects
• Sleeping mode
• Firmware update
• Find headset

The one that caught my eye the most is the “find headset” option. Although I’ve noticed this feature on most earbuds these days, it now comes standard as of today.

This feature works by displaying the location where your earbuds were last disconnected and playing a beep sound on the earbuds if they’re nearby.

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Price

The QCY Croosky C30 retails for around $26–$30 on both AliExpress and Amazon, ranking it as one of the best budget clip-on earbuds available on AliExpress today.

​Pros

• Like the Pearl Clip Pro, the packaging exudes a luxurious feel.
• Sleek and robust, crafted from metal, aluminum, and plastic—never flimsy.
• Featherlight, hypoallergenic plastic ensures exceptional comfort, even during prolonged wear.
• Stays secure during intense runs and workouts without slipping.
• Balanced audio: crisp vocals, punchy bass, and minimal sound leakage.
• Offers 5.5 hours of playback, 40 hours standby, and a rapid 15-minute recharge for extended use.
• Bluetooth 5.4 delivers an uninterrupted, lag-free connection.
• Supports simultaneous multi-device pairing for added convenience.
• 4-mic AI ENC ensures crystal-clear calls, even in noisy surroundings.
• Low latency makes it ideal for movies and gaming.
• The case is compact, stylish, and ultra-lightweight.
• The QCY app offers a range of extensive features, including sleep mode, game mode, spatial sound, firmware updates, and headset locator.
• The price is highly competitive, ranging from $26 to $30, which represents strong value.

Cons

• Slightly heavier than the slimmer Pearl Clip Pro.
• Not as loud as Pearl Clip Pro or as quiet as Haylou Airfree; overall, the sound remains average.
• ENC helps, but background noise can intrude on calls due to the open-ear design.
• Rear-positioned touch controls are difficult to access and can be occasionally unresponsive.
• Lacks alternative clip options for smaller ears, unlike the Soundcore C40i.

Should You Buy the QCY Croosky C30?

Yes, absolutely. Suppose you are in the market for budget-friendly clip-on earbuds that will last over time and still provide a good fit and comfort. In that case, the QCY is a good pick, as it offers both durability and a nice sound profile, and also comes across as one of the most comfortable clip-on earbuds on the market today. For just $29, you’ll get marathon comfort and marathon battery life.