Sony WF‑C710N Review: Premium ANC and Sound at a Budget

by reviewzinsight.com · 28 July 2025

Sony has expanded its successful lineup of wireless earbuds with the WF-C710N, targeting budget-conscious consumers who still crave premium features. Priced at around ₹8,990 or $120, these earbuds deliver impressive active noise cancellation (ANC), stylish design, long battery life, and reliable audio quality. In 2025’s competitive earbud market, Sony positions the WF-C710N as a strong contender in the sub-₹10,000 range. Let’s dive into how it performs across the board.

🔋 Battery Life and Charging Performance

Sony promises up to 8.5 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, and nearly 12 hours without ANC. Including the charging case, total playback time reaches about 30 to 40 hours, depending on usage.

Independent tests clocked more than 9 hours of continuous use with ANC activated, which exceeds Sony’s own claims. With ANC off, testers achieved nearly 12.5 hours, placing the WF-C710N among the best performers in its price range.

A 5-minute quick charge adds roughly an hour of listening time, making these earbuds practical for commuters and travelers who often forget to charge in advance. However, Sony omitted wireless charging, which feels like a compromise, but understandable for the price.

🔇 Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Sony equipped the WF-C710N with dual noise sensors, a significant upgrade from the previous generation. These microphones actively detect and cancel external sounds, particularly low-frequency ambient noises like air conditioners, engines, and crowd murmurs.

In real-world use, the ANC reduces external sounds by up to 30 decibels, effectively blocking out distractions in offices, buses, or cafes. Testers praised the ANC for suppressing low-end hums and reported that the ambient sound mode worked well when walking on busy streets or in conversations.

While these earbuds don’t compete with Sony’s high-end WF-1000XM5 in ANC strength, they outperform nearly every other product in the budget ANC category. Users who work in moderately noisy environments will find the performance more than satisfactory.

🎶 Sound Quality and Audio Performance

Sony didn’t cut corners with audio quality. The WF-C710N uses custom-tuned 5 mm dynamic drivers that produce crisp mids, controlled bass, and clean highs. The earbuds maintain clarity across genres—from classical and acoustic to hip-hop and EDM.

Sony also includes DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine), which restores detail lost in compressed audio formats like MP3 and streaming files. This results in warmer, fuller music playback, especially in vocals and instrumental separation.

Listeners reported minimal distortion, even at higher volumes. The bass feels punchy without overwhelming the mids. Treble stays smooth without sounding shrill. Audiophiles may miss LDAC or aptX codec support, but casual listeners will appreciate the balance and richness.

🛠️ Design, Fit, and Comfort

Sony took a bold step with the WF-C710N’s translucent “Glass Blue” finish, giving it a retro-futuristic look. This design exposes internal circuitry through a frosted outer shell, similar to nostalgic electronics from the 1990s. The case shares the same translucent theme and feels lightweight and pocket-friendly.

The earbuds come with three sizes of hybrid silicone ear tips. They fit securely for most users and seal well enough to aid passive noise isolation. The earbuds remain comfortable for extended listening sessions—up to 3–4 hours—without causing ear fatigue.

Sony also ensured water protection with an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to sweat and light splashes. Users can safely wear them during workouts or light rain without worry.

🔌 Connectivity and Features

Sony integrates Bluetooth 5.3 with the WF-C710N, supporting multipoint connectivity. Users can pair the earbuds with two devices simultaneously—say, a smartphone and a laptop—without needing to disconnect and reconnect each time.

In practice, the earbuds switch between calls on a phone and video on a tablet seamlessly. However, some users experienced occasional latency issues while connecting with handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch 2 or the Steam Deck. Sony clearly optimized performance for smartphones and tablets.

The Sony Headphones Connect app allows users to update firmware, change the ANC and ambient settings, and customize EQ presets. Although the app lacks deep personalization tools, it handles the basics well.

📞 Call Quality and Microphone

Sony uses an AI-powered voice pickup system that combines beamforming microphones and noise suppression algorithms. Callers reported clear voice transmission even during outdoor calls with wind or background noise. The earbuds reject ambient noise effectively without muffling the user’s voice.

Office users and mobile professionals will appreciate the consistent call quality. The performance rivals more expensive earbuds, and testers confirmed good audio in both quiet and moderately noisy environments.

⚠️ Drawbacks and Limitations

While the WF-C710N delivers excellent value, it makes a few trade-offs:

No support for high-res audio codecs like LDAC or aptX. The earbuds only support SBC and AAC, which limits audio quality on high-end Android devices.
No wireless charging, which many mid-range models now offer. Users must rely on USB-C charging only.
Limited touch control customization. The earbuds support double-tap and long-press functions, but Sony didn’t include swipe gestures for volume or track navigation.
Occasional Bluetooth glitches when paired with gaming consoles or PCs. Users reported slight audio lag and reconnection delays.

Despite these drawbacks, most users agree that the overall feature set outperforms expectations for the price range.

🧪 Expert Ratings and Real-World Feedback

Multiple reviewers and publications have rated the WF-C710N as one of the best budget ANC earbuds of 2025.

Audio experts highlighted the well-balanced soundstage, detailed tuning, and consistent noise cancellation.
Tech reviewers praised the unique design, noting that the “Glass Blue” finish gives the product personality in a market filled with boring black or white designs.
Fitness enthusiasts appreciated the secure fit and sweat resistance.
Commuters loved the long battery life and fast charging capability.

Comparatively, the WF-C710N performs nearly on par with models that cost ₹3,000–₹5,000 more, such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE or Nothing Ear (a). While it doesn’t dethrone Sony’s own WF-1000XM5, it narrows the performance gap for less than half the price.

✅ Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Sony WF-C710N?

If you seek great sound, effective noise cancellation, and long battery life in a uniquely designed package—without spending over ₹10,000—then the WF-C710N deserves serious consideration.

Sony created a product that balances everyday practicality with premium features like ANC, AI-powered calling, and customizable audio. For most casual listeners, remote workers, and commuters, these earbuds hit the sweet spot between price and performance.

You should consider skipping the WF-C710N only if: