Sony WF-C710N earbuds review: Familiar warmth and detailing in a bulkier splash-resistant upgrade

Sony recently unveiled its new WF-C710N in the Indian market as a successor to the WF-C700N, which was introduced some time ago. Priced at ₹8,990 (currently available at ₹7,990), the wireless earbuds aim to offer good sound quality with active noise cancellation. 

 

First things first, the Glass Blue colour option for the buds is by far the best of the lot, featuring a translucent blue plastic body that allows you to view some of the inner components of the buds (as well as the charging case). 

 

The other colours include Pink, Black and White. The hybrid silicone buds are also similar but slightly lighter in colour. The buds feature Sony branding and microphones on the outside, while the inside contains left and right indicators, pogo pins for charging, and sensors. 

 

The case isn’t IPX4 splash resistant like the buds are, but it has a nice heft to it. With a familiar oval, curved shape, the case is just about compact enough to be kept in the pocket. The back of the charging case houses the USB Type-C port as well as the physical button for pairing; the front has a single LED.

 

Although a little bulkier than its predecessor, I found the WF-710N comfortable to wear and didn’t notice any discomfort after wearing it for an hour or so. Due to their splash-resistance and fit, these may be ideal for your workout needs, especially if you tend to sweat a lot.

 

The buds feature Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC and SBC audio codecs. It features Google Fast Pair and supports multi-device connection, allowing you to connect your phone and laptop to switch between play and work without needing an additional pair. You can use the Sony Connect app to update the buds’ firmware, adjust the EQ, and change ambient noise cancellation settings, among other features. 

 

Coming to the audio quality, the WF-710N generally offer a clear and somewhat detailed sound output that is quite good for the price tag. It isn’t the bass-heavy Sony TWS out there, but it gives clean and sufficiently deep bass. It handles most genres with some very Sony-like warmth and detailing. 

 

When it comes to noise cancellation, the buds do a nice job of keeping low- to mid-frequency noises away with relative consistency. Fan, low wind, ACs, and so on are comfortably handled without much toll taken on the sound quality. It would have been nice to have Sony’s own LDAC codec or aptX support here, but it’s probably not a big deal breaker for many people at this price range.

 

For battery life, the WF-C710N can last over 10 days with daily sessions of around 2 to 2.5 hours for both music and calls. You can expect close to what Sony promises from the buds with the included charging case. Of course, the more ANC is in use, the shorter the battery life will be. Its microphone quality was okay, but nothing remarkable, making it suitable for indoor usage, although not as effective in outdoor, windy conditions.

 

All in all, Sony’s new WF-C710N offer a nice design with a comfortable fit alongside sufficient bass and detailing on the audio front. It comes across as a considerable option if that’s all you prioritise with a budget of around ₹8k these days.

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