Over-Ear
Mpow HC5
58Average
$40
Full review dataMpow HC5 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.
Over-Ear
QCY H3S
81Outstanding
$34
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
QCY H3S leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Mpow HC5
- QCY H3S
HearWiki score
58
81
Sound
4.5
7.5
Noise cancelling
-
7.4
Battery
5.5
9.8
Calls
5.5
5.4
Value
5.8
9.5
Price (USD)
$40
$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 Mpow HC5 (2020). The QCY H3S is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.0, Top codec LDAC against SBC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- HC52020
- H3S20255 yr newer
What differsHC5H3S
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 6.0
- Top codec
- SBC
- LDAC
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing.
Specifications
HC5H3S
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $40
- $34
- HearWiki score
- 58
- 81
- Released
- 2020
- 2025
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- dynamic
- 2-driver hybrid
- Driver type
- dynamic
- hybrid
- Driver size
- -
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 126 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 6.0
- Codecs
- SBC
- AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- 15 m
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 22 h
- 102 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 58 h
- Full charge time
- 90 min
- 120 min
- Quick charge
- 15 min → 2 h
- 10 min → 7 h
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- none
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- No
- -
- Companion app
- No
- -
- Custom EQ
- No
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- Yes
- Weight
- 340 g
- 240 g
- Water resistance
- none
- none
- Foldable
- Yes
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
- Pad material
- leather
- -
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- -
- Model code
- MPBH359BB
- -
- Microphones
- 1
- 7
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- cVc 8.0
- -
What reviewers said
Mpow HC5
The Mpow HC5 is a budget-friendly over-ear headset designed for calls and everyday listening, offering both wireless Bluetooth 5.0 and wired 3.5 mm connectivity. With a long 22-hour battery life, multipoint support, and a foldable build, it serves as a practical and affordable option for office or conference use, though it lacks advanced features like noise cancellation and app support.
- Pro:Long 22-hour battery life
- Pro:Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support
- Pro:Foldable and lightweight design
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Only SBC codec support
- Con:No USB-C charging
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.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.