Haylou S40 review: $51.99 headphones with long battery life and clear sound

ZDNET reviewed the Haylou S40 headphones, which are available on Amazon for $51.99, and found them a strong budget option that surprised the reviewer.

The reviewer said pairing over Bluetooth took about 15 seconds and that the out-of-box EQ was fairly flat, delivering music closer to how artists intended. Using the Haylou Sound app (which requires creating an account), the reviewer created a custom EQ via the app’s + button and said the S40s then performed at the level of many $50–$100 headphones across a range of test tracks.

Noted features include a removable, flexible microphone, hybrid ANC, a comfortable fit and an awkward button placement that can lead to accidental ANC or volume changes. ZDNET listed technical specs: dual drivers (40mm + 20mm), 650mAh battery, about 2.5 hours charging time, 90 hours playtime with ANC off and 50 hours with ANC on, about 20 days standby, Bluetooth 5.4, 20m range, 50dB hybrid ANC, LDAC/Hi-Res codec support, spatial sound, and both wireless and wired connection options.

ZDNET's buying advice said the S40s are a bargain at just over $50, with good ANC, comfort and a useful detachable mic, though the app could use refinement and the button placement is a minor drawback.

Key Topics

Tech, Haylou, Haylou Sound App, Hybrid Anc, Ldac Codec