Skip to content
HearWiki

QCY G1 vs Realme Buds Air8 Pro: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Realme Buds Air8 Pro comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Realme Buds Air8 Pro - Outstanding overall at around $74.

Score breakdown

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

Realme Buds Air8 Pro leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • QCY G1
  • Realme Buds Air8 Pro
HearWiki score
60
84
Sound
6.6
8.4
Noise cancelling
-
8.4
Battery
6.8
7.2
Calls
6.3
8.5
Value
5.8
9.2
Price (USD)
$40
$74

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

Realme Buds Air8 Pro (2026) against QCY G1 (2021). The Realme Buds Air8 Pro is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.1 against 5.2, Top codec LHDC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None.

  • G12021
  • Buds Air8 Pro20265 yr newer
What differsG1Buds Air8 Pro

Platform

Bluetooth
5.2
6.1
Top codec
AAC
LHDC
ANC type
None
Adaptive

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Wireless charging
Yes
No
Wear detection
No
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes

Level on: USB-C, Companion app.

Specifications

G1Buds Air8 Pro
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$40
$74
HearWiki score
60
84
Released
2021
2026
Availability
Discontinued
Sold new
Driver
10 mm dynamic
2-driver hybrid
Driver type
dynamic
hybrid
Driver size
10 mm
11 mm
Drivers per side
1
2
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
16 Ω
-
Sensitivity
105 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.2
6.1
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC, LHDC
Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Latency
40 ms
45 ms
Wireless range
10 m
-
Battery life
8 h
12 h
Battery incl. case
32 h
50 h
Full charge time
90 min
120 min
Quick charge
-
10 min → 11 h
Wireless charging
Yes
No
Active noise cancelling
No
Yes
ANC type
none
adaptive
Transparency mode
No
-
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes
Wear detection
No
Yes
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
Yes
-
Weight
4.3 g
4.8 g
Case weight
50.7 g
53 g
Water resistance
-
IP55
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
6
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
ENC
AI ENC

What reviewers said

QCY G1

The QCY G1 are budget-friendly true wireless earbuds that aim to serve both gamers and everyday listeners. They deliver a balanced sound profile, low-latency performance for gaming and video, and a comfortable fit, all wrapped in a sturdy build. With wireless charging and solid battery life, they offer strong value for around $40.

  • Pro:Balanced sound suitable for music and gaming
  • Pro:Low latency for gaming and video
  • Pro:Comfortable and secure fit
  • Con:EQ presets are not very effective
  • Con:Soundstage feels narrow
  • Con:No active noise cancellation

Realme Buds Air8 Pro

The Realme Buds Air8 Pro are feature-rich wireless earbuds that deliver strong adaptive noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a versatile hybrid driver setup for under $100. They offer a long 12-hour battery per charge, Bluetooth 6.1 with triple-device multipoint, and IP55 water resistance, making them a solid everyday choice. Sound tuning requires some adjustment to get the best performance, but the overall package is impressive for the price.

  • Pro:Strong adaptive ANC and usable transparency mode
  • Pro:Long 12-hour battery life with 50 hours total via case
  • Pro:Triple-device multipoint connectivity
  • Con:Sound tuning needs effort to optimize
  • Con:No wireless charging support
  • Con:Battery life per charge may vary depending on usage

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.

New comparisonQCY G1Realme Buds Air8 Pro