Table of Contents
Unboxing: What Comes with the QCY MeloBuds N50? Design Review: Build Quality and Case Durability of the Melobuds N50 Sound Quality Test: Bass, Vocals & Overall Audio Performance Fit & Comfort: Are the QCY MeloBuds N50 Good for Long Wear? ANC Performance: Noise Cancelling & Transparency Mode Explained Battery Life Review: Real-World Usage vs Advertised Claims Bluetooth 5.4 & Range Test: Connectivity, Latency & Multipoint Support Call Quality & Media Playback: Microphone and Daily Use Performance Touch Controls & QCY App Features: Customization and Sensitivity QCY Melobuds N50 Price: Is It Worth the Money? Final Verdict: Should You Buy the QCY Melobuds N50 in 2025?
I have used the QCY brand, primarily its open-ear lineup, before encountering its in-ear editions. The QCY Melobuds N50 is marketed as offering a notable experience for an affordable earbud. This review examines whether its audio quality, sound profile, and noise cancellation align with expectations for budget ANC earbuds under $20.
With the basics introduced, let’s see what you get when you unbox the QCY Melobuds N50.
In the box, you get:
- The QCY Melobuds with its charging case
- A USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- An owner’s manual
- And a set of additional ear tips.
Design Review: Build Quality and Case Durability of the Melobuds N50
The design of the QCY MeloBuds N50 is simple yet effective. I have used clip-ons and open-ear designs for a while, which has led me to prefer them over in-ear types for comfort. However, the Melobuds N50 changed my mind about in-ear comfort.
The earbuds are made of very durable plastic. The eartips use a skin-friendly material. The design is simple, but the earbuds still resist minor scratches. I like this simplicity; there are no complicated features, and it serves its purpose well.
The case’s design is more complicated. I like how it looks, but it’s not as durable as the SoundPEATS Air 4 Pro or Air 5 Pro. My clumsiness played a part. Once, the case broke after a fall, but I managed to put it back together after a struggle. Keep this in mind.
The QCY Melobuds N50 has a simple design: glossy base, comfortable clip, and durable earbuds. They withstand mild falls and scratches. The design is simple and practical.
Sound Quality Test: Bass, Vocals & Overall Audio Performance
QCY has provided high-quality sound in its budget earbuds series. The sound profile on the QCY Melobuds N50 is remarkable. I have used these for a while and have not wanted to stop.
The earbuds deliver clear bass and solid treble, which is notable for the price point. While it doesn’t match the output of higher-priced models like the SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro, the Melobuds N50 offers a competitive value-to-cost ratio.
This one comes with QCY 12 mm dynamic drivers. These are designed for crystal-clear output with no bluffing. The instruments sound great. The drivers offer a noticeable difference, even for casual listeners. They provide deeper sub-bass, letting you feel more musical depth.
This is paired with a wide soundstage, creating an immersive experience. It makes the music feel like it surrounds you. The vocals, both female and male, are clear with strong midtones. Volume peaks are loud but controlled, so there is no distortion. Audio from social media is also very accurate.
The sound profile aligns with its price range. Compared to the SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro, it represents a more basic version that maintains an adequate sound profile.
Fit & Comfort: Are the QCY MeloBuds N50 Good for Long Wear?
As open-ear earbuds rise in popularity, comfort is the priority. QCY offers the Crossky C30 and C30S, designed for more comfort than traditional in-ear options. The Melobuds N50 share this focus, ensuring reliable all-day wear.
Having used open-ear designs for some time, I was impressed by the instant comfort of the Melobuds N50. Their skin-friendly plastic ear tips provide a soft, secure fit for long wear, regardless of ear size. Unlike other earbuds that press on your earlobes, you can forget you’re even wearing these by day’s end.
Use them for workouts, running, or jogging. HIIT enthusiasts and yoga lovers will value the lightweight, secure fit. They outperform heavier options like the SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro, making the QCY Melobuds N50 my preferred choice for the gym.
You can quickly place these in your ears and enjoy music or a series without discomfort. I watched three 45-minute episodes without fatigue. Even during workouts, sweat won’t cause slip-offs.
In summary, the Melobuds N50 offer some of the best comfort and fit among budget in-ear earbuds. As we turn to performance, let’s look at how these earbuds handle noise cancellation and transparency features.
ANC Performance: Noise Cancelling & Transparency Mode Explained
The QCY Melobuds N50 handles noise cancellation well. While not as strong as the Air 5 Pro, it effectively filters background noise from your audio.
Transparency mode stands out. Like the Air 5 Pro, the Melobuds N50 lets you converse without removing them—simply activate transparency mode for clear interaction.
Order coffee at your café or interact easily—just switch to transparency mode.
Now the noise cancelling on the Melobuds N50 comes in three different modes:
- Noise cancelling
- Transparency
- Normal mode
Within noise cancelling, five additional modes tailor your audio:
- Adaptive — to blend with any situation you find yourself in
- Noisy — suited for noisy environments, like a crowded place
- Commuting — designed for individuals on the road or in transit
- Indoor — for individuals who stay indoors
- Anti-wind noise — for windy conditions
All options are available in the QCY app and enhance your experience.
Battery Life Review: Real-World Usage vs Advertised Claims
The battery life on the QCY MeloBuds N50 is good. While testing, I couldn’t help but notice that I could get up to 6 hours of listening time on a full charge, which is quite similar to what you get with the SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro.
During daily commutes and workouts, the earbuds performed reliably, supporting the brand’s claims and proving their endurance in real use.
Although QCY advertises a 6-hour span for music use—without ANC—context matters: as my daily driver, I haven’t needed to charge it more than once per day, even with ANC on. The Melobuds N50 maintain strong battery life in all modes.
Expect about 50 hours of standby time. Fast charging gives you a day’s worth of use from 15 minutes, unless you listen for 6 hours straight.
Bluetooth 5.4 & Range Test: Connectivity, Latency & Multipoint Support
The Bluetooth and range are impressive. Note that this one comes equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, which is standard on most devices. How does it perform?
The Melobuds N50’s Bluetooth connection is seamless, unlike the SoundPEATS Pearlclip Pro. Low latency benefits gaming.
With up to 10m range, move freely at home without drops or interference.
Multipoint connectivity lets you connect to multiple devices at once—great for tablet users who want hassle-free use. The QCY MeloBuds N50 boosts multitasking with seamless connectivity for better daily audio.
Call Quality & Media Playback: Microphone and Daily Use Performance
The QCY Melobuds N50’s microphone delivers impressive call clarity for budget ANC earbuds, ensuring the person on the other end can hear me clearly.
Equipped with a 6-ai mic system that filters background noise by up to 25 dB, these earbuds performed remarkably well in noisy environments. My voice remained clear and isolated from ambient noise, providing excellent call quality in public.
Switching from calls to entertainment was seamless, with smooth, uninterrupted media playback on the Melobuds. Long streaming sessions on Netflix or music continued effortlessly without breaks.
Touch Controls & QCY App Features: Customization and Sensitivity
The touch controls on the Melobuds are more advanced than QCY’s clip-ons and are highly responsive—just a few customizable taps change tracks without hassle during a run.
This responsiveness, unlike a competitor’s model, which causes frustration when taps are missed, makes transitions seamless and ensures a frustration-free experience.
You get very responsive, customizable touch controls, which are standard on most earbuds. The app, however, is more advanced than SoundPEATS’s and others’.
The ability to customize the touch sensitivity in the app is particularly useful for fitness enthusiasts who want to avoid accidental skips during workouts. Additionally, you can fine-tune other features to suit your specific lifestyle needs, ensuring a seamless, personalized audio experience.
On the app, you get:
- Customizable EQ function
- An earbuds status page that displays its battery percentage
- A discover page for QCY’s latest releases
- Noise-cancelling page for earbuds with noise cancellation
- And the settings page
Default touch controls for the QCY Melobuds N50:
- Single touch: No function
- Double touch: Play and pause
- Triple touch on the left: Voice assist
- Triple touch on the right: Next track
Pros and cons
Pros
- Durable earbuds with a scratch-resistant build
- Skin-friendly, comfortable eartips
- Simple, effective design with a secure clip
- Earbuds can survive mild falls.
- Crisp bass with clear vocals and good treble
- 12mm dynamic drivers deliver clean instrument separation
- Accurate audio for music, movies, and social media
- Extremely comfortable for long hours
- Great for running, jogging, gym, and workouts
- No slip-offs, even when sweating
- Excellent comfort even for users used to open-ear designs
- Strong ANC for the price
- High-quality transparency mode
- 5 advanced ANC presets (Adaptive, Noisy, Commuting, Indoor, Anti-wind)
- 6 hours battery per charge + 50 hours standby
- Fast charging: 15 minutes gives hours of listening
- Bluetooth 5.4 with a stable connection
- Very low latency for gaming
- 10m strong indoor range
- Multipoint connectivity supported
- Excellent call quality with a 6-mic AI system
- Smooth media playback with no breaks
- Responsive, customizable touch controls
- QCY app includes EQ, ANC, battery stats, and sensitivity settings
- Very affordable at around $20
Cons
- The charging case is not durable enough.
- The case broke after a minor fall.
- The case’s build quality is weaker than that of the SoundPEATS Air 4 Pro/Air 5 Pro.
- Sound is not as premium as SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro, but for its budget, it’s perfect.
- ANC is good, but not as strong as the Air 5 Pro
QCY Melobuds N50 Price: Is It Worth the Money?
The QCY Melobuds N50 is available for around $20 on major online retailers, with pricing varying by vendor.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the QCY Melobuds N50 in 2025?
The QCY Melobuds N50 stands out as one of today’s best noise-canceling earbuds for its price. Exceptional value meets everyday performance—clear calls, strong ANC, and impressive comfort, all under $20. If you’re seeking budget-friendly in-ear earbuds that rival premium brands in core areas like design, sound, and fit, the Melobuds N50 is a clear winner and a smart buy for 2025.