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Sony WF-C510 · Photo source

Sony WF-C510
Photo 1 of 36

Sony WF-C510 · Photo source

Sony · WF earbuds

WF-C510

Released September 2024

The WF-C510 are Sony's entry-level earbuds, without noise cancelling, for people who want small, light, button-operated earbuds with multipoint at a low price.

Model history · 2 models, 2021–2024
  1. 2021WF-C500Compare
  2. 2024WF-C510
Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Battery
11 h
With case
22 h
Best codec
AAC
Weight
4.6 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree these are small, comfortable, low-cost earbuds with punchy, good-quality sound and a useful transparency mode. SoundGuys and TechRadar found the case holds little extra charge, What Hi-Fi? thinks the build looks and feels cheap, and SoundGuys heard some odd treble and lighter bass.

From soundguys.com, techradar.com and whathifi.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Transparency mode
Yes
Driver size
6 mm
Bluetooth codecs
SBC and AAC
Drivers
6 mm driver
Noise cancelling detail
No active noise cancelling; Ambient Sound Mode with Voice focus
Audio features
DSEE upscaling; 360 Reality Audio; custom equaliser in the app

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 11 hours
With the case
Up to 22 hours
Wireless charging
No
Battery life detail
Up to 11 hours with Ambient Sound Mode off (AAC), 8 hours with it on; with SBC, 9 hours off or 7 hours on; 22 hours with the case with Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE and the custom equaliser off; talk time up to 5 hours
Charging case
USB-C; about 3 hours to fully charge the case and earbuds, 1.5 hours for the earbuds alone
Fast charging
5 minutes of charging gives about 1 hour of playback

Design

Weight (each earbud)
4.6 g
Water and sweat resistance
IPX4
Bluetooth
5.3
Two devices at once
Yes
Controls
A button on each earbud (by default the left turns Ambient Sound Mode on or off and presses four or more times lower the volume; the right plays and pauses, skips tracks, raises the volume and holds for the voice assistant; press twice on either to answer or end calls), reassignable in the app; Quick Access for Spotify Tap
Microphones
A microphone on each earbud for calls
Fit and ear tips
Hybrid silicone rubber earbud tips in SS, M and LL (M fitted); either earbud can be used on its own
Case weight
About 31 g
Water resistance detail
IPX4 for the earbuds, excluding the sound outlet; the charging case is not water resistant
Works with
Sony | Sound Connect app (formerly Headphones Connect) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair; Bluetooth 5.3 Class 1, about 10 m range; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP
Colours
Black, White, Blue, Yellow
In the box
Earbuds, charging case, hybrid silicone rubber earbud tips in SS, M and LL, documents (no USB cable)

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 4.6 g earbuds, which Sony says are its smallest closed-type wireless earbuds
  • Up to 11 hours per charge, and 5 minutes of charging gives about 1 hour of playback
  • Multipoint, Ambient Sound Mode and IPX4 earbuds

Cons

  • No active noise cancelling
  • SBC and AAC only, and no wireless charging
  • No USB-C cable in the box, and the charging case isn't water resistant

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
BeatsSolo Buds
In-earNo18 h–AAC5.7 gJun 2024
Anker soundcoreAeroFit 2
Open-earNo10 h42 hLDAC10 gOct 2024
BeatsBeats Flex
In-earNo12 h–AAC–Oct 2020

Previous model: WF-C500.

Sources

  1. sony.com.au/headphones/products/wf-c510/spec
  2. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001614209.html
  3. sony.com.au/headphones/products/wf-c510
  4. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001612417.html
  5. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001612419.html
  6. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001612412.html
  7. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001617340.html
  8. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001612418.html
  9. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/contents/TP1001608561.html
  10. sony.eu/presscentre/comfort-and-quality-in-your-pocket-sony-adds-wf-c510-to-its…
  11. whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wf-c500
  12. sony.jp/headphone/products/WF-C510
  13. sony.jp/headphone/special/WF-C510
  14. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/202408/24-0827
  15. sony.at/presscentre/komfort-und-qualitat-im-taschenformat-die-neuen-kopfhorer-w…
  16. sony.at/presscentre/media/album/29756
  17. sony.co.uk/presscentre/comfort-and-quality-in-your-pocket-sony-adds-wf-c510-to-…
  18. sony.co.uk/store/c510
  19. sony.co.uk/store/product/wfc510b.ce7/WF-C510-Truly-Wireless-Headphones
  20. sony.jp/headphone/products/WF-C510/feature_1.html
  21. sony.jp/headphone/products/WF-C510/feature_2.html
  22. sony.jp/headphone/products/WF-C510/feature_3.html
  23. sony.jp/headphone/products/WF-C510/feature_4.html
  24. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  25. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  26. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  27. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wf-c510/features1
  28. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wf-c510/features2
  29. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wf-c510/features4
  30. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wf-c510/features5
  31. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wf-c510
  32. sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wf-c510
  33. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/index.html
  34. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2982/v1/en/print.pdf
  35. sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/5060/ab2cbc440a91ad260a2921140b1c8582/…
  36. sony.com/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wf-c510/s…

Photo: sony.scene7.com

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