Overall they are soft but when washed there was a lot of lint in the dryer and several threads came loose requiring them to be tied and cut.  I do not like when the band on a towel shrinks like these did but I've found this to be the case on all towels, unless you purchase bamboo towels.  I can't speak to absorbency or dry time since they are for a guest bath.  I am concerned when guests use them, they will come away with lint on them.  Good enough for a guest bath for the price.