Not every QCY product worth writing about is a shiny new ANC earbud. The QCY QY31 is one of the brand’s older sports-focused Bluetooth headsets, and it still shows up in searches and secondhand marketplaces often enough that I figured a straight, honest look at what it actually offers was overdue. This is a neckband-style wireless headset rather than a true wireless earbud, so if you came here expecting a modern charging-case pair, the QY31 is a different category of product.
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 with aptX support |
| Chipset | CSR8645 |
| Battery | 110mAh, about 5.5 hours talk time / 6 hours music |
| Standby Time | Around 190 hours |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 (sweat resistant, not submersible) |
| Call Noise Reduction | CVC 6.0 |
| Form Factor | Neckband with magnetic earbud tips |
What the QCY QY31 actually is
The QY31 is a Bluetooth 4.1 sports headset with a neckband design, IPX4 sweat resistance, and support for the aptX codec through a CSR8645 chipset. It was built with runners and gym-goers in mind, with an in-line remote for volume and calls, and magnetic earbud tips that clip together around your neck when not in use. It is a budget product by any modern measure, and its Bluetooth 4.1 connection is noticeably older technology compared to today’s Bluetooth 5.x and 6.x earbuds.
- Bluetooth version: 4.1 with aptX support
- Battery: 110mAh, roughly 5.5 hours of talk time or 6 hours of music playback
- Standby time: around 190 hours
- Water resistance: IPX4, suitable for sweat but not submersion
- Noise reduction: CVC 6.0 for calls
What it is like to actually use
The magnetic earbuds are a nice practical touch: when you pull them apart the headset powers on and starts trying to pair, and snapping them back together turns it off, which is a simple gesture that a lot of newer neckband headsets have kept around because it just works. Sound quality is exactly what you would expect from a budget sports headset from this era — serviceable for podcasts and workout playlists, but not something you would want to critically listen to. The lack of active noise cancellation means outdoor runs near traffic can get a bit noisy in your ears.
Battery and charging in daily use
The QY31’s 110mAh battery sounds tiny by today’s true wireless standards, but because it is a neckband design rather than a fully self-contained earbud, that capacity comfortably covers around 5.5 hours of continuous talk time, which is more than enough for a single workout or a long commute without needing a mid-day top-up from a charging case, since there is no case at all — you charge the neckband unit directly via its own port. Standby time of roughly 190 hours means it can sit unused in a gym bag for over a week and still have some charge left when you grab it again.
Should you still consider buying one
Honestly, if you are shopping fresh in the current market, QCY’s newer true wireless earbuds like the T13 or MeloBuds lines offer better sound, real ANC, and modern Bluetooth versions for a similar or only slightly higher price. The QY31 mainly makes sense if you specifically want a secure neckband design for intense workouts and do not mind giving up ANC and the latest codecs, or if you already own one and are trying to figure out its specs or troubleshoot a pairing issue.
Comparing it honestly against modern budget earbuds
It is easy to be unfair to older hardware, so I want to be precise about what the QY31 actually gives up compared to something like the current QCY T13 or MeloBuds N-series. You lose active noise cancellation entirely, you lose any high-resolution codec support since aptX classic on Bluetooth 4.1 is nowhere near LDAC or LHDC, and you lose the true wireless form factor that most people now expect by default. What you gain is a genuinely secure neckband fit for high-motion activities and a battery that, while small in absolute terms, easily covers a single workout session without needing a mid-run top-up.
I tested the QY31 across a short run, a stationary bike session, and a walk through a moderately busy street to see how the magnetic on/off gesture and controls held up under movement. The in-line remote buttons are large enough to find by feel, which is more than I can say for some tiny touch-sensitive true wireless earbuds that mis-register taps during a workout. That tactile reliability is honestly the strongest remaining argument for a product like this in the current market.
Pairing and troubleshooting basics
- Make sure the headset is charged; a full charge from empty typically takes one to two hours.
- Separate the magnetic earbuds to power the unit on; it should enter pairing mode automatically the first time or after a factory reset.
- Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings and select the QY31 from the list of available devices.
- If it does not appear, snap the earbuds back together to power off, wait a few seconds, then pull them apart again to retry pairing mode.
Beyond initial pairing, a few other problems come up often enough with this specific model to cover directly:
- Headset won’t enter pairing mode: Hold the in-line remote’s power/call button for several seconds after separating the earbuds; on some units the magnetic on-trigger alone isn’t enough after a low battery shutdown.
- Connects but audio cuts out intermittently: This is typically Bluetooth 4.1’s shorter effective range showing itself; keep your phone within about 10 meters with a clear line of sight and away from other 2.4GHz interference sources like Wi-Fi routers.
- Left and right audio balance feels off: Check that the magnetic tips are fully seated when worn, since a loose in-ear fit on one side is a more common cause than an actual hardware fault.
- Device won’t hold a charge like it used to: A 110mAh cell naturally degrades with age and repeated full-discharge cycles; if runtime has dropped well below the rated 5.5 hours, this is expected battery wear on an older unit rather than something fixable in software.
- Phone keeps reconnecting to a different Bluetooth device instead: Forget the QY31 in your phone’s Bluetooth settings and re-pair from scratch, especially if you regularly switch between several Bluetooth devices on the same phone.
Finding one today
The QY31 is largely a legacy product at this point, so new stock mostly shows up through overseas marketplaces and smaller electronics retailers rather than QCY’s current official storefront. If you do track one down, confirm the seller is shipping genuine QCY stock rather than an unbranded clone using similar styling, since neckband headsets in this price range are frequently copied without the same build quality or chipset inside.
Frequently asked questions
Is the QCY QY31 true wireless?
No, it is a neckband-style headset with earbuds connected by a cable, not a true wireless in-ear design.
Does the QY31 have noise cancellation?
No, it relies on CVC 6.0 noise reduction for calls only, not active noise cancellation for music playback.
Is the QY31 still worth buying today?
For most buyers, no. QCY’s newer true wireless lines offer better sound and features for similar money, though the QY31 can still work fine as a basic budget workout headset.
Conclusion
The QCY QY31 is a product from an earlier era of budget Bluetooth audio, and it shows in its connection standard and lack of ANC. It still functions as a basic, sweat-resistant sports headset, but shoppers looking for a new purchase today are better served by QCY’s current true wireless lineup unless you specifically want the secure neckband fit.
I keep a small archive of older budget audio gear specifically to answer reader questions like this one, cross-referencing manuals and chipset details rather than guessing at specs from memory.