Sony WF-C710N review

Every few months, a new pair of wireless earbuds show up claiming to “change the game”. They flaunt acronyms, drop buzzwords, and come in cases designed more for boardrooms than back pockets. The Sony WF-C710N don’t really bother with that routine.

Instead, they arrive with a soft, stemless silhouette with a translucent blue shell pulled straight from early-2000s nostalgia, and a feature set that feels intentionally pared down. Just a clear focus on sound, silence, and comfort, the things that actually matter when you’re dodging traffic, drowning out chatter, or queuing for cold brew.

Following up on the WF-C700N, Sony makes some meaningful tweaks here. These get an improved fit, refined tuning, and stronger ANC. But do those changes push the WF-C710N into must-buy territory, or are they just a smarter version of the same old mid-range playbook? Let’s delve into our full review of the Sony WF-C710N and find out where these buds truly land.

Sony WF-C710N review: Build and design

The WF-C710N aren’t built to turn heads… unless you pick the Glass Blue variant (which we got for review). This fully transparent finish is a rare moment of playfulness from Sony, nodding subtly to the retro charm of early 2000s tech without feeling like a novelty.

The buds reveal their inner components through a soft, tinted shell that feels more nostalgic than showy. For those who prefer a more traditional look, the White and Black options keep things understated.

Physically, the buds are compact, smooth, and stemless. They weigh just 5.2 grams each and feel almost weightless when worn for long periods. The ergonomic shape allows them to sit snugly in the ear canal without digging in.

This makes them suitable for extended listening sessions, whether you’re on a long flight or grinding through a workday filled with work calls and Spotify breaks.

The case, while compact and pocket-friendly, is one of the few reminders of this product’s price tier. It’s lightweight and functional, but the plastic finish feels basic and lacks the tactile satisfaction of higher end charging cases. Still, it serves its purpose well and tucks away easily.

The IPX4 rating, while not groundbreaking, offers protection from sweat and light splashes, making these a reasonable pick for daily commutes, office use, or casual workouts.

Sony WF-C710N review: Features

Sony has wisely opted to bring some of its flagship features down to the mid-range with the WF-C710N. The earbuds work best when paired with the Sony Sound Connect app, which has become a familiar companion for anyone in the Sony audio ecosystem.

The app gives users access to a range of controls, including ANC toggles, ambient sound modes, a custom five-band equaliser, firmware updates, and touch control customisation.

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The inclusion of Adaptive Sound Control is particularly useful. This feature uses location awareness and movement detection to automatically adjust ANC and ambient settings, creating a more seamless listening experience throughout the day. Whether you’re stationary at a café or walking through a noisy street, the earbuds can adapt without manual intervention, which is pretty neat.

Multipoint connectivity is also onboard, allowing users to stay connected to two devices simultaneously. This means you can jump from a phone call on your laptop to a video on your phone without going through pairing rituals. Wear detection, which pauses playback when you remove a bud, is present and reliable.

Now, touch controls are a bit of a mixed bag. They respond quickly and are useful for media playback, volume, and ANC switching. However, they are sensitive to pressure and may accidentally trigger actions if you sleep on your side or adjust them too frequently. Also, some remapping of these controls is possible via the app, but the level of customisation still feels limited compared to competitors.

Sony WF-C710N review: Sound quality, mic, and ANC

Despite the lack of hi-res codec support like LDAC or aptX, the WF-C710N offer a pleasantly refined sonic experience. Out of the box, the tuning is balanced, leaning slightly warm. The bass response is present and rounded, enough to give music a sense of weight without crossing into bloated territory. Tracks like Another One Bites the Dust by Queen deliver low-end pulse with restraint, allowing the mids to breathe.

The midrange performance is perhaps the standout here. Vocals are rendered with surprising clarity and warmth, making acoustic, indie, and pop genres particularly enjoyable. In vocal-centric tracks like Vicious by Bohnes, the earbuds preserve the intricacies of vocals, and when listening to rock music, details like finger slides and fretboard texture are preserved, giving the track a sense of intimacy that’s rare at this price.

Treble is smooth, if slightly muted. It may disappoint listeners seeking sparkle and airiness, but the upside is a fatigue-free listening experience. Even poorly mastered tracks avoid harshness and sibilance, making these buds a safe bet for long playlists or podcast marathons.

The soundstage is better than expected for a pair of true wireless earbuds. Imaging is clean, and stereo separation is wide enough to handle panning effects.

Once again, codec support is limited to SBC and AAC. The absence of LDAC or aptX is a clear omission, particularly for Android users, but given the overall performance, most mainstream listeners streaming Spotify or YouTube Music won’t feel shortchanged, especially at this price.

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On the ANC front, Sony has done impressive work. The WF-C710N use a dual-microphone feedforward and feedback system, similar to the one in the WF-1000XM5, albeit scaled down. The earbuds block out a surprising amount of low-frequency noise, including fan hums, traffic, and the ambient din of public spaces. Passive isolation is also excellent, thanks to the snug fit. For everyday use, the combination works remarkably well.

Sony WF-C710N review: Battery Life

Sony rates the WF-C710N for 8.5 hours of continuous playback with ANC enabled, and real-world use, surprisingly, puts them slightly above that, at around nine hours per charge! The case adds two to three full recharges, bringing the total battery life to just over 30 hours.

Charging is handled via USB-C. Quick charging is available and helpful for those last-minute top-ups before heading out. But, there is no support for wireless charging.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Sony WF-C710N?

The Sony WF-C710N are not trying to compete with the industry’s flashiest earbuds. They’re not obsessed with headline features or pushing limits for the sake of it. Instead, they’re focused on something far more useful; delivering an effortlessly good experience for people who want their audio gear to work well, feel comfortable, and sound great day after day.

They get the fundamentals right – strong ANC, detailed mids, solid battery life, and a design that feels distinct without being overdesigned. Yes, there are compromises. The absence of high-resolution codecs, no wireless charging, and the slightly basic case remind you that this is still a mid-range product. But at Rs 8,990 those trade-offs feel entirely fair.

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If you’re looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds that can handle the everyday – from playlists and podcasts to crowded metros and work calls – the WF-C710N are more than up to the task. They won’t shout for your attention, but by the end of the day, you’ll realise you haven’t taken them off. And that, really, is the mark of a job well done.

For these reasons, we rate the Sony WF-C710N a 4/5. What are your thoughts, and would you want us to compare these with any other pair of TWS? Drop a comment, and stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for your daily dose of tech.