I'd take the cheap Qian25 buds over Rock Zircon and similar on sound quality. It's not like they're a huge step up since these are still lower-end items we're talking about, but it's easily noticeably better sound quality imo. And the bit bigger soundstage is certainly welcome, which Zircon is already better than average at.
Earbuds don't fit in the ear as easily though. The most important thing among this range is still probably what kind of frequency map you prefer, though my previous sentences are based on just sound quality, not preference.
The popular low-end earbuds may not sound better than Rock Zircon and various KZs to some people, but they certainly don't sound much worse if at all. And why would they, since they are basically a more open-back IEM with a bigger "ear pad" opening. My KZ ED8 puts up a good fight against Qian25, but I'd probably go with the Qian most of the time, except on comfort. You know something needs some help in the comfort department when you prefer to stick the ED8 Frankenstein bolts in your ears.
Anyone who says any of the above sound as good or better than HD650 or similar though, I think they should listen again, and stop using their HD650 without an amp.