How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want pocket-size active noise cancelling earbuds with a long single-charge runtime and a tiny, gym-friendly footprint, choose QCY MeloBuds N20; if you need over-ear comfort, spatial sound and marathon battery life for desk work and long journeys, choose Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB.
• QCY MeloBuds N20 — biggest strength: in-ear ANC rated at up to -50dB with six selectable noise-cancelling modes, plus 10 hours on a single charge and a 40-hour total with the case (ANC off). Biggest trade-off: it's a plastic in-ear bud, so fit and seal decide how much noise cancelling you actually get, and IPX4 only shrugs off sweat and light rain.
• Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB — biggest strength: over-ear hybrid ANC rated at up to -49dB with LDAC Hi-Res support, spatial sound, 88 hours of playback (49 with ANC) and a 15-minutes-for-15-hours fast charge. Biggest trade-off: it's a full-size headphone that's renewed rather than new, and it carries a 90-day limited warranty instead of a full year.
• Who each pick is for: QCY MeloBuds N20 for commuters, runners and gamers who want something tiny with low 68ms latency and multipoint; Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB for home-office, study and travel users who'd rather wear big cushioned cups and rarely think about charging.
The MeloBuds N20 is built around one idea: shrink the noise cancelling into a bud. QCY rates it at up to -50dB across 20Hz–3KHz, and instead of a single ANC setting it gives you six noise-cancelling modes so you can match the cancellation to a train carriage, a shared office or a windy street. Around that sits a 13mm dynamic driver — a genuinely large driver for an in-ear — which is the kind of hardware that usually shows up as fuller bass and more body in the low end. Six microphones with an AI noise-reduction algorithm handle calls, so your voice is meant to stay intelligible even when the background isn't.
Everyday battery behaviour is where this bud earns its keep. You get up to 10 hours per charge with ANC off, and 40 hours total once you count the case; switch ANC on and it drops to about 7.5 hours per charge and 30 hours total. The 10-minute fast charge topping you up with roughly 2 more hours is the detail I'd actually use — plug in while you lace your shoes, walk out with music. Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint means a laptop and a phone can both stay connected at once, and 68ms latency is low enough that lip-sync in games and video stops being annoying. IPX4 covers sweat, drizzle and gym sessions, and touch controls plus app support let you tweak things without pulling your phone out.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants the smallest possible noise-cancelling kit, people who run or lift, mobile gamers, and anyone juggling two devices who is tired of re-pairing. Who should skip it: if you dislike in-ear tips, want over-ear cushioning for eight-hour desk sessions, or need a hard guarantee of water protection beyond splashes — IPX4 is sweat and light rain, not swimming. And if maximum battery life between charges matters more than portability, the over-ear option below simply lasts longer.
The Edifier W820NB Plus Gen 2 is the opposite philosophy: put the battery and the drivers around your ears and don't apologise for the size. It's an over-ear design with hybrid ANC rated at up to -49dB — basically the same cancellation figure as the QCY, delivered through cups and memory-foam cushions rather than silicone tips. That matters, because over-ear isolation doesn't depend on how well you insert something. Physical buttons let you cycle ANC levels by feel, and the EDIFIER ConneX app adds sport, office and travel modes plus EQ presets, along with a Volume Guard feature that caps your preferred maximum volume — a genuinely thoughtful touch if you listen loud for hours.
The headline number is 88 hours of continuous playback, or 49 hours with ANC running. That's not a typo in the spec sheet; it's the sort of figure that turns charging into a monthly chore rather than a nightly one. Fast charging is equally aggressive: 15 minutes of charging returns about 15 hours of playback. Audio-wise it supports LDAC Hi-Res over Bluetooth 6.1, with a dynamic driver covering a claimed 20Hz–40kHz range, plus spatial sound for a wider, more enveloping presentation. AI noise cancellation on the mic side handles calls, and the whole thing folds up to slide into a bag. Multipoint keeps two devices connected.
Who should buy it: home-office and study users, long-haul travellers, people who wear glasses and find buds uncomfortable, and anyone who wants Hi-Res codec support from a full-size headphone. Who should skip it: runners and gym-goers — over-ear cups plus sweat is a bad pairing, and there's no IP rating listed. Also skip it if you want the reassurance and duration of a standard manufacturer warranty: this is a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty, versus the QCY's one-year coverage. That's the real trade-off of buying renewed, and you should weigh it honestly.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise cancelling flexibility → QCY MeloBuds N20. Six ANC modes and -50dB targeted at 20Hz–3KHz.
• Best for all-day comfort and over-ear wear → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. Memory-foam cushions, no in-ear pressure.
• Best for portability → QCY MeloBuds N20. A pocketable case of roughly 48.5 × 29 × 60mm weighing about 29.8g.
• Best for gaming and video → QCY MeloBuds N20. 68ms latency and multipoint for two devices at once.
• Best for Hi-Res audio and spatial sound → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. LDAC support, 20Hz–40kHz range and spatial sound processing.
• Best for workouts and rain → QCY MeloBuds N20. IPX4 water resistance; the Edifier lists no IP rating.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → QCY MeloBuds N20. One-year warranty versus a 90-day limited warranty on the renewed Edifier.
• Best for commuting and travel → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. Foldable, light, and 15 minutes of charging buys 15 hours.
I'd buy the QCY MeloBuds N20. In my opinion, the combination of a one-year warranty, IPX4 resistance, a genuinely pocketable case and 68ms latency makes it the safer, more versatile daily driver for most people — it goes to the gym, the train and the desk without asking anything of you. The Edifier W820NB is the better headphone for sitting still: 88 hours of battery, over-ear comfort and LDAC Hi-Res are hard arguments to beat if your listening happens at a desk or on a plane. But buying renewed with a 90-day warranty is a commitment I'd only make if I specifically wanted big cups and marathon runtime. If that's you, it's a great pick. Otherwise, the QCY is where I'd put my money.
On paper they're close: -50dB on the QCY versus -49dB on the Edifier. The practical difference is delivery — the QCY depends on a good in-ear seal and gives you six adjustable modes, while the Edifier cancels through over-ear cups and cushions, which is more consistent for people who struggle with tip fit.
The QCY MeloBuds N20 offers up to 10 hours per charge and 40 hours total with the case (ANC off), dropping to about 7.5 and 30 hours with ANC on. The Edifier W820NB is rated at 88 hours of continuous playback, or 49 hours with ANC enabled. Over-ear clearly wins on raw endurance.
It carries a 90-day limited warranty rather than a full year, which is the main thing to weigh. Renewed products are inspected and tested before resale, but you're getting a shorter coverage window than a new purchase, so factor that into your decision.
Yes — it has IPX4 water resistance and a lightweight in-ear design, which suits sweat and light rain. The Edifier W820NB has no listed IP rating and over-ear cups, so I wouldn't recommend it for workouts.
Both are sold on Amazon at different points, and prices move constantly, so I'd check the current price on Amazon before deciding rather than relying on any figure quoted elsewhere.
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: Technics Hi-Res vs Bowers & Wilkins PX7, Voopwink Kids Headphones vs Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type, Skullcandy Smokin Buds vs BSWLMDD 5.3, New Bee Headset V5.1 vs Philips Trucker: Bluetooth Headset