Are cheap Amazon brush sets like BS-MALL and BEAKEY actually any good?

Reviewers are split. Verified-purchase reviewers and several high-trust r/MakeupAddiction threads say they're genuinely soft, blend well, and are great for beginners. The honest caveats from the same communities: quality control is inconsistent set-to-set, some brushes absorb too much product, and longevity is shorter than mid-priced brands. Treat them as solid starter or backup brushes, not heirlooms.