There’s no shortage of wireless earbuds in 2025, but every now and then, something low-key and weirdly brilliant pops up. Sony’s new WF-C710N buds are exactly that. Priced at ₹8,990, Sony claims they bring flagship performance to the mid-range. But on paper, that doesn’t quite add up. No LDAC. No multi-driver setup. Not even top-tier ANC numbers.
And yet, once you pop them in, they do something a lot of earbuds forget to do — they just sound right.
Sony WF-C710N: Sound Quality
Right out of the box, the Sony WF-C710N nails audio performance. The tuning is balanced, the soundstage is wide, and the overall clarity feels surprisingly refined. Tracks like Baba O’Riley by The Who and Africa by Toto sound open and detailed, with distinct instrument separation and crisp highs. Even on bass-heavy songs like Do I Wanna Know or Arabella by Arctic Monkeys, the low end stays punchy without overwhelming the vocals or treble.
Sony is working with a single 5mm driver and support for just SBC and AAC, which might sound limiting. But its DSEE, or Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, handles audio processing beautifully. It upscales compressed audio and makes everything sound more natural and fuller. There’s no harshness, no over-engineered edge, just a clean and lifelike presentation.
Volume levels are decent, though not the loudest around. Still, the tuning is so clean and controlled that you rarely feel the need to push them to the max.
The Sony Headphones Connect app adds a lot of flexibility. You get a full EQ, a bunch of presets (the "Bright" one quickly became my go-to), and a “Find Your Equaliser” feature that builds a sound profile based on your preferences. It’s one of the better implementations I’ve seen on any audio app.
There’s no low-latency gaming mode here, so if you’re someone who games a lot on your phone, that’s something to keep in mind. These earbuds are clearly tuned for music and calls, not competitive gaming.
Sony WF-C710N: ANC & Call Quality
On the noise cancellation front, the design of the WF-C710N offers surprisingly good passive isolation even before you turn anything on. Once you do, Sony’s Digital Noise Cancellation kicks in. It prioritizes comfort and does particularly well with higher-frequency sounds like chatter or AC hum. It won’t completely silence a noisy subway, but it gets you close without the ear pressure some ANC buds cause. For day-to-day use, it’s solid.
Adaptive Sound Control is a standout. It learns where and how you use your earbuds and automatically switches between noise cancelling and ambient modes based on your routine. There’s also Quick Attention mode — just tap and hold the bud to temporarily lower the volume for quick conversations. It works instantly and feels seamless.
Transparency mode is also well done. It sounds natural and doesn’t have that fake, overly bright hiss that some earbuds produce. You just hear the world around you, the way you’re supposed to.
Call quality holds up well. Even in noisy spaces, your voice comes through clearly and background noise stays in check. You can take calls confidently without worrying about sounding like you're underwater.
Sony WF-C710N: Design & Comfort
The Sony WF-C710N comes in a pill-shaped, semi-transparent case that stands out from the usual. It has a bit of a Cyberpunk-meets-industrial aesthetic that feels fresh, especially in the Blue variant. You can actually see some of the internals through the shell, which gives it a gadgety, engineered vibe that I really like. That said, they could’ve hidden the red and yellow wires a bit better; they’re clearly visible through the transparent shell and kind of break the otherwise clean look.
The case is compact enough to slip into most coin pockets, but it does bulge out a bit more than others. The hinge, though, is a weak spot. It creaks slightly when you open or close it, and the plastic exterior feels like it could scratch pretty easily with regular use.
The buds themselves carry that same translucent, techy design . Sure, Nothing did it first with their earbuds, but I like Sony’s approach too. They also skipped the stem in favour of a rounded, capsule-style shape that blends into your ear. Personally, I found the stemless design less secure, especially during runs or workouts
They’re also a little top-heavy, which makes them more prone to slipping out if you’re moving around a lot. However, the in-ear fit is snug and you do get extra tips in the box to help you get it just right. The buds are rated IPX4, so they're fine for light rain and sweaty gym sessions, but don’t expect them to survive more rugged conditions.
Sony WF-C710N: Connectivity, Controls & Battery Life
The Sony WF-C710N supports Bluetooth 5.3, which may not be the latest, but still delivers a reliable connection in most scenarios. I tested it primarily with an iPhone and occasionally with Android devices, and pairing was smooth across both. You also get Google Fast Pair, which makes the initial setup on Android pretty seamless.
There’s also Dual Device Connection, which lets you stay connected to two devices at once. Switching between them is mostly smooth, though I did run into an occasional hiccup where audio would stutter for a moment before settling in.
Range is rated at 10 meters, and that holds up well in open spaces. Indoors, with walls or interference, the connection occasionally dropped for a second but quickly recovered. It’s not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if you plan to walk around your house with them on.
Controls are tap-based and fully customisable through the Headphones Connect app. You can assign functions like play/pause, track skip, ANC toggle, or voice assistant. The only thing missing here is swipe controls for volume adjustment. You have to tap repeatedly, which works fine, but doesn’t feel as intuitive or quick. Swipe gestures would have made daily use a lot smoother.
Battery life on the Sony WF-C710N is impressive. I got around 7 hours of playback with ANC on, and over 27 hours with the case. That’s more than enough to get through a full work week without stress. It also charges pretty quickly—just under 90 minutes for a full top-up. I barely had to think about the battery the entire week.
Sony WF-C710N Review: Verdict
If sound quality is your top priority, the Sony WF-C710N gets the job done without relying on flashy specs. What you get is smart engineering wrapped in a design that feels like it was lifted straight out of Blade Runner — industrial, minimal, and refreshingly non-gimmicky compared to Nothing’s more attention-hungry earbuds.
They’re not perfect. The fit can be finicky, and the case doesn’t exactly scream durability. But for everyday listening, commuting, or just zoning out to a beautifully mixed track, Sony nails the essentials.
