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JLab JBuds Studio ANC 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.

  • JLab JBuds Studio ANC
  • QCY H3S
HearWiki score
62
81
Sound
5.7
7.5
Noise cancelling
6.3
7.4
Battery
7.7
9.8
Calls
6.5
5.4
Value
8.5
9.5
Price (USD)
$28
$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 JLab JBuds Studio ANC (2020). The QCY H3S is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.0, Top codec LDAC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. It also adds Multipoint pairing and USB-C.

  • JBuds Studio ANC2020
  • H3S20255 yr newer
What differsJBuds Studio ANCH3S

Platform

Bluetooth
5.0
6.0
Top codec
AAC
LDAC
ANC type
Hybrid
Adaptive

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
USB-C
No
Yes

Specifications

JBuds Studio ANCH3S
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$28
$34
HearWiki score
62
81
Released
2020
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 - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
32 Ω
32 Ω
Sensitivity
110 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.0
6.0
Codecs
SBC, AAC
AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Latency
200 ms
-
Wireless range
9 m
10 m
Battery life
34 h
102 h
Battery life (ANC on)
28 h
58 h
Full charge time
180 min
120 min
Quick charge
10 min → 6 h
10 min → 7 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
hybrid
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
No
-
Custom EQ
Yes
-
Wear detection
No
-
Controls
buttons
buttons
Voice assistant
Yes
Yes
Weight
141 g
240 g
Water resistance
none
none
Foldable
-
Yes
USB-C
No
Yes
Microphones
5
7
Call noise reduction
Yes
-
Call NR technology
2-mic ENC
-

What reviewers said

JLab JBuds Studio ANC

The JLab JBuds Studio ANC is a budget-friendly over-ear headphone that focuses on delivering solid active noise cancellation and very long battery life for the price. It offers a comfortable fit, adjustable EQ, and transparency mode, making it a practical choice for everyday listening and travel despite its basic build and feature set.

  • Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
  • Pro:Excellent battery life, up to 28 hours with ANC on
  • Pro:Lightweight design at 141 grams
  • Con:Only supports SBC and AAC codecs
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:Uses micro-USB instead of USB-C

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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