The wireless earbuds market is one of the most competitive segments in consumer tech, with a plethora of options available. This complicates the buying process for anyone who isn’t an avid tech enthusiast. And having been reviewing tech for long, most people don’t care if their earphones have 2dB more noise cancellation. All they really want is a solid design, good comfort, and quality sound. If you’re one of those individuals, Sony’s new budget-friendly WF-C510 (I know the naming sucks) earphones might be just what you’re looking for.

But should you choose the Sony WF-C510 over other established players like the Realme Buds Air 6 or the OnePlus Nord Buds 3? Let’s dive into the review to find out.

Sony WF-C510 Review: Design & Comfort

When I first picked up the Sony C510 earphones, I was genuinely surprised by how light they felt. Weighing just 31 grams, the design is simple and functional, featuring a rectangular box-shaped case. And if you’ve read my previous headphone reviews, you’ll know I’m a big fan of cases that allow for one-hand opening, and this one nails that. But while the case’s design is pretty solid, the hard plastic build material might feel a bit cheap to some people.

As for durability, the C510s hold up well. In my testing, the hard plastic did a solid job protecting the buds from everyday wear and tear. I even accidentally dropped the earbuds while traveling, and they survived without any damage.

Now, let’s talk about comfort. I’ve had many issues with stem-shaped earbuds falling out of my ears, but the C510s are probably the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever used. The design is pill-shaped, and since they don’t have a stem, they sit right into the ear canal and offer a snug fit. This design also makes their passive noise cancellation among the best I’ve experienced.

The earphones come with an IPX4 rating, meaning they can withstand sweat and light rain. As someone who goes to the gym often, I had no issues with them during workouts. However, they’re not designed for swimming or heavy water exposure.

Sony WF-C510 Review: Controls & Companion app

Touch controls on earphones are also a big headache for many people, including me, considering they don’t work half the time. Sony has decided to solve this issue by removing them altogether. Instead, the C510s include physical buttons on each earbud, which work fantastically. By default, tapping the right earbud plays/pauses music while tapping the left earbud toggles Ambient Mode on or off.

However, Sony’s Sound Connect app allows you to customize the experience further. First, you can configure single-tap, double-tap, triple-tap, long-press, and even repeated presses on each earbud, giving you full control over your listening experience. There is also a toggle to turn on Ambient mode and its strength.

The app also includes a variety of equalizer presets. However, if you don’t like any of the preset options, you can fine-tune the sound using the Find Your Equalizer feature, which, after a few prompts, helps you create a personalized sound profile.

Lastly, the app features Sony’s version of spatial audio, called 360 Reality Audio. Its setup requires users to take photos of their ears and send them to Sony’s servers for analysis. While this seems like a privacy nightmare, I tried setting up 360 Reality Audio, only to discover that it only works with a limited number of apps, none of which I use. So, unless it becomes compatible with more popular platforms like Apple Music or Tidal, it’s not particularly useful.

Sony WF-C510 Review: Sound Quality & ANC

Let’s get into the most important aspect of an earphone review: sound quality. I have to be honest here—I wasn’t expecting much, but the Sony WF-C510 pleasantly surprised me. For the price, I actually really like their sound quality. The sound profile is fairly balanced, and while the bass was a bit much for my taste, I was able to manage it using the equalizer.

I tested the earbuds on songs like “Die With A Smile,” “Last Christmas,” and “Swing Lynn,” and the sound output was fantastic, with clear highs, mids, and even lows. While the treble isn’t as sharp or detailed as you’d find with more expensive models, Sony’s DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) technology helps restore the details lost during compression, making the C510 sound better than many competitors.

As for ANC—there isn’t any. The C510s don’t offer active noise cancellation, but thanks to their snug fit, the passive noise cancellation does a good job of reducing distracting sounds. For example, I could still hear background chatter on a noisy metro, but it wasn’t overwhelming. However, the earphones do include an ambient mode, which lets you listen to the background noise to help you stay aware of your surroundings. You can even configure it to focus only on voices, which is a handy feature.

Sony WF-C510 Review: Battery Life & Charging

The C510’s battery life was pretty solid in my testing. Without Ambient Mode, the earbuds played music for just over 10 hours. However, the charging case only provides one additional full charge, bringing the total battery life to about 21 hours.

The earbuds support fast charging via USB-C, providing an hour of playback with just 5 minutes of charging.

Should you buy the Sony WF-C510?

Starting at Rs. 4,990, the Sony WF-C510 earphones are a great everyday pair if you value good sound quality, excellent comfort, and solid battery life. While they may lack the bells and whistles of more premium options, they’re an excellent choice for casual listening on the go. Check out the Sony WF-C510 on Amazon and Sony’s official store.