HAYLOU S30 Review – $30 Budget Headphones for Gaming and Music

The HAYLOU S30 is a budget wireless full-size noise-canceling headphone, for $30. It’s a logical continuation after the HAYLOU S35 ANC – which I reviewed and liked.

But this time HAYLOU has made headphones primarily for gaming, and then for music. In this review of the HAYLOU S30, I’ll talk about the main strengths of the model, and why the S30 is worth paying $30 for. I’ll compare the HAYLOU S30 to the previous model, the HAYLOU S35, which now costs $43. And I’ll briefly compare the HAYLOU S30 to the competition for the same price.

SOUND – HAYLOU S30

The sound of the HAYLOU S30 with a significantly dominant bass, sagging mids and not a bright top. The 40mm dynamic drivers are responsible for the sound. The HAYLOU S30 is definitely a basshead, with a small stage, low detail and average timbre reproduction of vocals and instruments. But considering the model costs $30, I can’t name a competitor that sounds better.

😱😱😱😱 Sound over wire:

The sound when connected by wire is 2x better than wireless. On wireless, the headphones sound on their $30-$40 range. But on the wire, in the wireless segment, this is the level of models for 60-70$. Bass has taken its place, not so bloated and deaf. The balance of frequencies became correct. Detail became better, you can hear background synths, other parts and guitars. It’s funny that in the previous model HAYLOU S35, the sound on the wire was worse, it’s nice to think that they guys from HAYLOU listened to my opinion from the previous review.

❗️ After switching from cable to Bluetooth, you need to turn the headphones on.

Sound in games and lag:

Sound conclusion. The potential of drivers in HAYLOU S30 is not fully realized. The sound over the wire is much better than when connected via Bluetooth. At around $30, it’s a good sound, albeit bass-dominated. But if you connect via cable, it’s a completely different picture, better by a head. If there was a codec LDAC probably the picture would be different, perhaps the drivers do not have enough power to open, perhaps not good enough transceiver and amplifier. In general, the picture is like this.For games and movies, this is just an ideal budget model. For music – if you like bass sound.

For better sound:

Microphone:

The microphone quality is a 7.5 out of 10. The detachable microphone is good. Built-in mids, especially in noisy conditions. In quiet conditions:

In quiet conditions – via the included microphone:

In noisy conditions:

For comparison:

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Comparison with Competitors

HAYLOU S30 I would like to compare with Anker Soundcore Life Q30 for 54$, which unfortunately I haven’t tested yet. But I have tested the UGREEN HiTune Max5, which now costs 38$. And that’s more likely to be the direct competitor of the HAYLOU S30.

Comparison of HAYLOU S30 and UGREEN HiTune Max5

• HAYLOU S30 – for bass sound lovers, for those who like to play games and for those who need a good microphone.
• HAYLOU S35 – for those who like bassy sound, purely for listening to music. If you like bright yet soft sound, colorful and bass sound.
• UGREEN HiTune Max5 is for lovers of balanced sound for music listening. The sound of UGREEN HiTune Max5 is more detailed, more natural, after all, LDAC decides here.

In everything else the models are almost identical, design, comfort, control, noise reduction. The only thing is that HAYLOU finally finished the HAYLOU Sound app(iOS). Which was not even half a year ago. Otherwise, everything is either equal or differs by half a point. So focus on the sound, application options, and features I described in the review.

HAYLOU S30 and HAYLOU S35 comparison:

Half a year ago I did a review on the HAYLOU S35 – for its $50 price point it’s a great model just for music, check out the review.

Which is better to get the HAYLOU S35 or the HAYLOU S30?

The HAYLOU S30 has about the same bass sound, but it’s more bloated and smeared – more suited for gaming. The S30 has the same noise-modifier, same comfort. It’s pretty much the same model with a few minor changes:

• A more modern version of Bluetooth 5.4.
• Longer battery life of 80 h (20 h more) without noise modulation and 50 h (10 h more) with noise reduction enabled.
• There’s surround audio mode for gaming and movies.
• There is an option to connect the included microphone.

Conclusion: for gaming S30, for music S35.

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Features

Noise reduction at an average level of 5 out of 10. Noise reduction blocks about 50% of noise. Transparency mode is also average, a lot of background noise, you can use, but you want to remove the headphones to talk.

Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and stability 10 out of 10. The version of bluetooth 5.4, the newest for 2024, does not affect anything. On the connection everything is stable, there were no discontinuities within a radius of 10 meters.

Autonomy in HAYLOU S30 – improved 10 out of 10. Up to 50 hours with active noise canceling and up to 80 hours without noise canceling – this is enough to charge the headphones once a week. There is fast charging, 10 minutes of charging gives you 5 hours of music listening.

The controls are a handy 9 out of 10, a mix of button and touch. – 1 point for the fact that the touch does not always work the first time and 2 out of 10 false touches. And in principle, you could do without touch control, it has 3 secondary functions.

The control scheme is simple, got used to it quickly:

Music control:

• Play/pause – 1 press on MFK / MFB (multifunction key)
• Track forward – 2 presses MFB
• Track back – 3 MFB presses
• Volume up – single press on “+.-“.
• Volume lower – pressing “+.-” for 1 sec.
• Turn noise reduction on and off – ANC button

Call control:

• Answer a call – 1 press on the IFC
• Reject a call – pressing the IFC for 1 sec.

Touchpad on the right bowl:

• Quick talk mode – pinch with finger, transparency mode is invoked
• Game mode – triple press
• Bass mode – double tap

Controls are not accompanied by sound notifications. Power on and off, sharp sound modes, noise reduction and transparency – accompanied.

Other by function:

There’s multipoint There’s auto-off No auto-pause when earbuds are removed No wireless charging.

App is a 7.5 out of 10

The HAYLOU Sound(iOS) app requires mandatory registration – it’s mind blowing right off the bat, registration is by Email only. HAYLOU Sound has been finalized and it’s available for Android and iPhone. When I reviewed the HAYLOU S35 I couldn’t connect the app and headphones. Well done HAYLOU, they’ve done it. But hopefully they will add useful functionality in updates.

In the app you can:

• View headphone charge
• Control noise reduction and transparency
• Switch to game mode
• Choose 1 of 6 equalizer presets
• Find the headphones, they make sounds
• Update firmware
• Factory reset

You can’t do this in the app:

• Adjust the equalizer manually
• Customize the controls
• Set the timer for auto shutdown
• Disable or enable “fast talk mode”
• Disable or enable “bass mode”, triple tap only
• Disable or enable multipoint.

Design and comfort

The exterior of the HAYLOU S30 is a 9 out of 10. Minimalistic, nothing superfluous except for the letters on the bowls. Very reminiscent of the design of the Sony WH-1000XM4. The headphones are fully matte, available in black and white.

The comfort of the design is excellent, at 9 out of 10. -1 point for my ears touching slightly on the inside of the cups, and I have medium sized ears. The headphones fold up comfortably. And overall comfortable. 2-3 hours spent in them without any problems. The quality of materials and durability of headphones at a good level 9 out of 10. The headband has a metal insert. The ear cushions and headband are made of leatherette, which may fall off after a while. Otherwise it is a matte plastic that does not collect scratches and fingerprints.

Features

What’s in the box?

There are 3 versions of HAYLOU S30. I got the standard version, there is also Pro, there is a storage case. And there is a simpler basic version, without a microphone included. The price difference is $29.99, $30.99, $31.99.

Bottom line

HAYLOU S30 is a great headphone with bass sound, for music and especially for gaming. The headphones have the option to connect a detachable microphone, another argument in favor of the gaming model. With the HAYLOU S30 headphones you get 2x better sound than over Bluetooth, which is good for wired listening and bad for Bluetooth listening.

I recommend HAYLOU S30 to anyone who is looking for a budget model, first of all for gaming and movies, and then for music. There is noise canceling, transparency mode, there is an app, convenient control. The headphones themselves are comfortable, sturdy and beautiful. Their 50$ headphones justify. And given the discounts, the fact that the model can be snatched for $30, it is from the category of “give 2.”