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QCY T9S 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 T9S
  • Realme Buds Air8 Pro
HearWiki score
53
84
Sound
5.9
8.4
Noise cancelling
-
8.4
Battery
3.4
7.2
Calls
5.9
8.5
Value
-
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 T9S (2020). The Realme Buds Air8 Pro is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.1 against 5.0, Top codec LHDC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C, Wear detection, Custom EQ and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.

  • T9S2020
  • Buds Air8 Pro20266 yr newer
What differsT9SBuds Air8 Pro

Platform

Bluetooth
5.0
6.1
Top codec
AAC
LHDC
ANC type
None
Adaptive

Everyday features

USB-C
No
Yes
Wear detection
No
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes
Water resistance
IPX4
IP55

Level on: Multipoint pairing, Companion app.

Specifications

T9SBuds Air8 Pro
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$40
$74
HearWiki score
53
84
Released
2020
2026
Availability
Discontinued
Sold new
Driver
6 mm dynamic
2-driver hybrid
Driver type
dynamic
hybrid
Driver size
6 mm
11 mm
Drivers per side
1
2
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Sensitivity
104 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.0
6.1
Codecs
AAC
SBC, AAC, LHDC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Latency
-
45 ms
Wireless range
10 m
-
Battery life
5 h
12 h
Battery incl. case
20 h
50 h
Full charge time
60 min
120 min
Quick charge
-
10 min → 11 h
Wireless charging
No
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
5 g
4.8 g
Case weight
31.2 g
53 g
Water resistance
IPX4
IP55
Detachable cable
No
-
USB-C
No
Yes
Microphones
1
6
Call noise reduction
-
Yes
Call NR technology
-
AI ENC

What reviewers said

QCY T9S

The QCY T9S are true wireless earbuds designed with sport wings for a secure fit, making them suitable for both active use and daily listening. They deliver a lively, uplifting sound profile and dependable call quality, though their feature set is basic with no noise cancellation or USB-C charging. With Bluetooth 5.0, AAC support, and multipoint connectivity, they offer solid versatility for budget-conscious buyers.

  • Pro:Secure sport-wing design for active use
  • Pro:Lively, energetic sound signature
  • Pro:Reliable call quality for conversations
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:Only 5 hours of battery per charge
  • Con:No USB-C charging port

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.

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