How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• otinsile M97 biggest strength: an open-ear C-shaped hook design that weighs just 5g per bud and leaves your ear canal completely unblocked, so you stay aware of traffic, gym noise and conversations while you listen.
• otinsile M97 biggest trade-off: because nothing seals your ear canal, bass will feel lighter than a sealed in-ear model, and there is no active noise cancellation at all — only passive sound isolation.
• QCY MeloBuds N60 biggest strength: up to 56dB of adaptive noise cancellation, a coaxial dual-driver setup with LDAC Hi-Res support, and 6 mics for call clarity in loud places.
• QCY MeloBuds N60 biggest trade-off: it's a traditional in-ear bud, so you're sealed off from your surroundings by design, and LDAC only works on Android devices with the app's setting enabled.
• Who each pick is for: the M97 suits runners, cyclists, glasses wearers and anyone who wants music without blocking the world out; the N60 suits commuters, flyers, open-office workers and Android users who want quiet and detail.
The M97 is built around one idea: keep your ears open. Instead of pushing a tip into your canal, it hangs from a C-shaped hook that clips over the ear. That means no pressure, no plugged-up feeling, and no ear fatigue even after hours of wear. At roughly 5g per bud, it's genuinely among the lightest open-ear options out there — and if you wear glasses, the hook design sidesteps the usual conflict between frames and earbud stems.
Sound comes from 12mm dynamic drivers, which is a large driver for this category. Here's the honest part, straight from the design itself: an open ear can't create a sealed chamber, so the low end won't hit like a sealed in-ear bud. What you get instead is clear mids and highs with a natural, wide soundstage, plus directional audio technology that limits how much sound leaks out toward the people around you. That's a fair trade for awareness, and it's the trade this product is deliberately making.
Buy the M97 if you run outdoors, cycle, lift in a busy gym, or work in a space where you need to hear people calling your name. Skip it if you fly often, commute on noisy trains, or simply want deep, sealed-in bass — an open design will never give you that.
QCY MeloBuds N60: Who It's For
The MeloBuds N60 goes the opposite direction entirely. This is a sealed in-ear bud with adaptive active noise cancellation rated up to 56dB, using three smart sensors per earbud and noise reduction spanning up to 5.5kHz. In practice, that spec profile is aimed at the situations where you want the world to disappear: plane cabins, subway cars, shared offices, air conditioners humming in the background.
Audio is where QCY is making its loudest claim. The N60 uses coaxial dual drivers — a 6mm unit handling highs alongside an 11mm driver for the low end — and supports LDAC and Hi-Res Audio, with a frequency range stretching from 20Hz to 40kHz. One thing to note before you buy: LDAC is Android-only, and you have to switch it on inside the app. If you're on iPhone, you won't get that part of the experience. Call quality gets its own attention too, with six microphones and beamforming to pull your voice out of wind and background chatter.
Battery lands at 9 hours per charge and up to 45 hours with the case, with the same style of fast charging — 10 minutes for about 2 hours of playback. Bluetooth 6.0 brings multipoint, so the buds can hold two devices at once, plus Google Fast Pair on Android. Each bud weighs 4.9g and QCY includes five ear tip sizes (XS through L), which matters for both comfort and getting a proper ANC seal. The touch controls handle playback, calls, ANC switching and volume, and everything deeper — EQ, firmware updates, LDAC — runs through the QCY app.
Buy the N60 if you commute, travel, or work somewhere loud and want active silence plus detailed, Hi-Res-capable audio on an Android phone. Skip it if you need to stay aware of your surroundings, dislike the sealed feeling of in-ear tips, or want a fit that doesn't depend on getting the tip size right.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for blocking out noise → QCY MeloBuds N60. Up to 56dB of adaptive ANC versus passive isolation only.
• Best for total battery with the case → otinsile M97. Up to 50 hours total, against 45 hours on the N60.
• Best for longest single-charge listening → QCY MeloBuds N60. Around 9 hours per charge versus roughly 6 hours on the M97.
• Best for sound detail and bass depth → QCY MeloBuds N60. Coaxial dual drivers plus LDAC Hi-Res support in a sealed fit.
• Best for glasses wearers and pressure-free comfort → otinsile M97. The 5g hook design avoids ear-canal pressure entirely.
• Best for calls in windy, noisy places → QCY MeloBuds N60. Six mics with beamforming is a more call-focused setup than the M97's directional audio.
• Best for iPhone users who want the full feature set → otinsile M97. The N60's LDAC advantage is Android-only, so part of its appeal doesn't apply.
• Best for two-device multitasking → QCY MeloBuds N60. Multipoint lets it hold a laptop and a phone at the same time.
If I had to pick one for myself, I'd take the QCY MeloBuds N60. In my opinion, the combination of up to 56dB adaptive ANC, LDAC Hi-Res audio, multipoint and 9 hours per charge covers more of what most people actually deal with day to day — commutes, offices, flights and calls. I'd only steer you to the otinsile M97 instead if awareness is your priority: if you run or ride outdoors, wear glasses, or hate the plugged-up feeling of in-ear tips, its 5g open-ear hook and 50-hour total battery are the better answer, and no amount of noise cancellation replaces being able to hear a car behind you.
For outdoor running, yes — in my opinion the M97's open-ear design and IPX5 rating make more sense because you keep 360° awareness of traffic and the 5g hook fit won't loosen during movement. The N60 is also IPX5, but its sealed fit works against you outdoors.
Correct. The N60 uses adaptive ANC rated up to 56dB with three sensors per earbud, while the M97 relies on passive sound isolation only — it's designed to let sound in, not shut it out.
It depends how you count it. The N60 gives roughly 9 hours per charge but up to 45 hours total with the case; the M97 gives about 6 hours per charge but up to 50 hours total. Both offer a 10-minute quick charge for around 2 extra hours.
Yes, they pair and play fine over Bluetooth. The catch is LDAC Hi-Res audio is Android-only and must be enabled in the app, so iPhone users won't get that specific feature — worth checking the current price on Amazon before deciding if that matters to you.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: wired noise isolating headphones, Alitutumao QC35 vs Xinyuekj Tune 760nc, AIAIAI TMA-2 vs Skullcandy Crusher Evo, FIFINE AmpliTank K688TW vs TONALUXE in-Ear Monitor System