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Baseus Bowie H1i vs QCY H3S: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the QCY H3S comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: QCY H3S - Outstanding overall at around $34.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

QCY H3S leads on 5 of 7 measures.

  • Baseus Bowie H1i
  • QCY H3S
HearWiki score
67
81
Sound
6.1
7.5
Noise cancelling
6.0
7.4
Battery
9.8
9.8
Calls
6.4
5.4
Value
8.5
9.5
Price (USD)
$60
$34

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

QCY H3S (2025) against Baseus Bowie H1i (2024). The QCY H3S is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.3 and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid.

  • Bowie H1i2024
  • H3S20251 yr newer
What differsBowie H1iH3S

Platform

Bluetooth
5.3
6.0
ANC type
Hybrid
Adaptive

Level on: Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C.

Specifications

Bowie H1iH3S
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$60
$34
HearWiki score
67
81
Released
2024
2025
Availability
Still sold new
Sold new
Driver
40 mm dynamic
2-driver hybrid
Driver type
dynamic
hybrid
Driver size
40 mm
40 mm
Drivers per side
1
2
Frequency response
20 Hz - 40 kHz
20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
32 Ω
32 Ω
Bluetooth
5.3
6.0
Codecs
SBC, AAC, LHDC, LDAC
AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Wireless range
10 m
10 m
Battery life
100 h
102 h
Battery life (ANC on)
70 h
58 h
Full charge time
120 min
120 min
Quick charge
10 min → 2 h
10 min → 7 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
hybrid
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
Yes
-
Custom EQ
Yes
-
Wear detection
No
-
Controls
buttons
buttons
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
227 g
240 g
Water resistance
none
none
Foldable
-
Yes
Detachable cable
Yes
-
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
-
7

What reviewers said

Baseus Bowie H1i

The Baseus Bowie H1i is an affordable over-ear wireless headphone with hybrid active noise cancellation and a transparency mode. The design is comfortable for extended wear, and the built-in app allows for custom EQ adjustments.

  • Pro:Supports high-quality codecs including LDAC and LHDC
  • Pro:Hybrid ANC and transparency mode for versatile listening
  • Pro:Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless device switching
  • Con:No water resistance rating
  • Con:Controls are limited to physical buttons
  • Con:Weight of 227g may feel slightly heavy for some

QCY H3S

The QCY H3S is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that packs adaptive active noise cancellation, a hybrid dual-driver setup, and support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0. Its foldable design and lightweight build add to its portability and convenience.

  • Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
  • Pro:LDAC and AAC codec support for high-quality audio
  • Pro:Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0
  • Con:No water resistance rating
  • Con:No wireless charging support
  • Con:Controls are button-based, not touch

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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