Tech Next |Sony WF-C510: Premium sound meets stylish design in budget-friendly TWS earbuds

CHENNAI: Sony’s audio products have largely played in the premium zone. The brand’s all-new Bluetooth TWS earbuds - the Sony WF-C510 aim to change that script and reset the sub-Rs 5K segment. It’s an interesting play, these ultra-compact earbuds don’t just look good but also deliver on the one feature that matters to most users - the soundstage. But like most other purchase decisions, this one’s not without its compromises. It might just be down to what really matters to you.

Sony breaks the clutter in this segment with a charging case that’s both compact and elegantly designed. We’d recommend snagging the blue (that we checked out) or the other pastel shade (yellow) that both look refreshingly different in the budget segment. The buds are comfortable to wear for hours together. They weigh just 4.5 gm each and don’t fall off easily even during those intense gym workouts. The pill-shaped case is also compact and can slip into your tightest jeans.

The big win for these buds is sound. Sony’s new and improved Sound Connect App allows you to customise your signature sound. We like that these buds don’t overdo the bass thump but also offer something for treble lovers and those seeking a clean, balanced audio experience. You get a total of 22 hours of battery life (with the case). This includes an impressive 11 hours for the buds without having to return to the case for charging. But there’s a catch. These buds don’t offer ANC (Active noise cancellation) that is a standard in this segment. But as we discovered, it’s not so much of a deal breaker given the audio seal and passive noise cancellation these buds deliver even in noisy environments. These buds also miss out on other features like low-latency mode but none of these probably matter as much as the audio performance.

The WF-C510 don’t just deliver on design and sound but also offer some thoughtful features including Spotify Tap. This is a feature that Spotify users will find handy. All you have to do (after an initial set-up) is to double tap the left button to resume Spotify playback. Sony’s budget earbuds may not offer the best battery life in the segment but it’s easily one of the best options for music aficionados who often compromise at this price point (Rs 4,990)