If you have been hunting for a pair of budget-friendly earbuds with serious noise cancelling, the Sony WF-C710N ANC deserve a listen. Sony’s new TWS lands in that spicy under Rs 15,000 bracket where everyone promises everything and only a few deliver where it counts. We have been using them for weeks across commutes, flights, and heads-down writing sessions. These buds sound good, cancel noise better than expected for the price, and look delightfully different in the Glass Blue translucent finish. They are not flawless, and fit will be subjective, but the overall experience is easy to recommend for listeners who value ANC and a clean, pop-friendly tuning.

Specs at a glance

• Drivers: 5 mm dynamic units

• Noise control: Digital Noise Cancellation, Ambient Sound, Adaptive Sound Control

• Battery: up to 40 hours including case, approximately 12 hours per charge with ANC off, about 8 hours with ANC on, quick charge supported

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 with Multipoint Connection

• Codecs: AAC, SBC

• Water resistance: IPX4

• Weight: around 5.2 g per earbud

• App: Sony Headphones Connect with EQ presets and custom EQ

• Voice and calls: AI-powered voice pickup, configurable touch controls

• Price: MRP Rs 12,990, often discounted to about Rs 8,990 online

• These can be bought from Amazon here. 

Sony WF-C710N Review: Design

Let us start with the part that makes people ask questions on the street and the metro. The Glass Blue variant is transparent enough to show hints of the inner circuitry, with a clear lid and a translucent base on the case. It is playful without feeling cheap, nostalgic without feeling gimmicky. Think Y2K-era see-through gadgets, but tidied up for 2025. The result is a case that doubles as a conversation starter on desks, flights, or coffee-shop counters.

The case size sits in the Goldilocks zone. It slides into narrow pockets easily and feels secure, thanks to strong magnets that snap the earbuds into place. Transparent finishes can be fingerprint magnets, but after weeks of use, the case resisted obvious smudges and casual scuffs better than expected. You still should not toss it into a bag with keys every day, yet it is tougher than it looks. On the back sits the USB-C port and a pairing button. Up front, a discreet LED gives you power and pairing cues. No Qi wireless charging here, which would have been the cherry on top, but at this price, the omission is understandable.

Read Also: Apple Store India: Apple to open its next store in Bengaluru

The earbuds themselves skip the stem for a rounded, slightly chunky shape. That geometry will suit some ears and annoy others. Even after cycling through the included ear tip sizes, I found the fit a touch large. During brisk walks and metro runs, the buds occasionally needed a nudge back into place. Weight per bud is low enough to avoid fatigue during long sessions, but if you prefer feather-light, ultra-low-profile earbuds, audition these before buying.

Controls are straightforward. By default, the left earbud toggles between Noise Cancelling and Ambient Sound, with a press-and-hold for Quick Attention that pipes the world back in while you talk to a barista or listen for an announcement. The right earbud handles playback and track navigation. You can remap controls in the app, which is handy if you prefer volume on-ear.

Your interface is the translucent showpiece itself, the status LED, and Sony’s companion app. The aesthetic message is loud and clear. These look different, in a good way. If you are bored with anonymous black buds, the Glass Blue finish brings the fun.

Sony WF-C710N Review: Performance

T Performance on earbuds splits into three pillars for most users: sound quality, noise cancellation, and call clarity. The WF-C710N scores well on two of the three and is competent on the third.

Sony has a knack for tuning mass-market earbuds to please pop, R&B, and Bollywood-heavy playlists without smearing the midrange. The WF-C710N follows that playbook. Bass is present and punchy, not boomy. Kick drums have definition. Synth basslines hum along confidently without swallowing vocals. The midrange stays clean and natural, which is why podcasts and acoustic tracks are so enjoyable on these. Treble is smooth with enough sparkle to keep cymbals and strings lively, and sibilance is kept in check unless you push the EQ aggressively.

Stereo separation is better than you would expect from an affordable in-ear. Imaging on current chart toppers is engaging, with vocals anchored centre and percussion dancing out wide. The 5 mm drivers will not blow your mind with resolution, and if you crave audiophile-level microdetail, you are shopping in the wrong aisle, but the musicality here is undeniable.

Codec support is basic. You get AAC and SBC, not LDAC. In practice, with a sensible tuning and a stable Bluetooth 5.3 connection, many listeners will never miss the higher bitrate option. Still, it is worth flagging if you already own a library of hi-res streaming tracks or insist on Sony’s top-tier wireless chain.

The Sony Headphones Connect app adds flexibility. Seven EQ presets cover common tastes, from Vocal to Bass Boost, and a custom EQ lets you file off edges or add a tasteful low-end lift. A small nudge at the low mids can warm older recordings, while a modest treble bump can restore air to darker masters. The app is clean and functional, if a little utilitarian. It gets the job done without burying controls under clever animations.

Read Also: Lava Play Ultra 5G powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC launched in India

This is the headline act. The WF-C710N’s Digital Noise Cancellation is a genuine value play in this segment. On office floors, fan hum and low conversation fade into a soft hush. On flights, the engine drone drops enough to keep volumes sane and ears relaxed. On metros and buses, the constant rumble recedes so the music’s dynamics take centre stage. It does not match premium flagships like the WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro in absolute silencing, but it lands comfortably in the above-average bracket for under Rs 10,000 street pricing.

Adaptive Sound Control adds brains. It can shift between Noise Cancelling and Ambient Sound automatically based on movement and location patterns. Walking into a busy street, the earbuds can raise environmental awareness. Sit at a desk and they clamp down the noise floor. If you dislike automation surprises, you can lock your preferred mode and keep life predictable.

Ambient Sound is useful for quick interactions and urban awareness, though, like most budget-friendly transparency modes, it sounds a bit processed. Voices cut through, which is what matters. For extended use, you may prefer pulling one bud out for the most natural conversation.

Call quality indoors is solid. Voices come through with good presence, and the AI-powered voice pickup keeps your speech intelligible. Outdoors, wind and traffic can chip away at clarity. Colleagues could hear me fine on quieter streets, but busy intersections made background suppression work harder than it should. If you take frequent outdoor calls while walking near traffic, you may want to cup a hand near the mic in gusty conditions or step aside to quieter spots. For desk calls, these are dependable.

Bluetooth 5.3 remains rock-steady. Multipoint pairing lets you connect to a laptop and phone simultaneously, then hop calls without menu gymnastics. Media latency is well controlled for streaming video on phones and tablets. Competitive gamers will still want dedicated low-latency solutions, but for movies, shows, YouTube, and social video edits, lip-sync looks natural.

Sony claims up to 40 hours, including the case, with a single charge netting around 12 hours with ANC off and about 8 hours with ANC on. Real-world numbers landed close. With ANC on for three to four hours a day, I topped up the case every two or three days. Quick charging is available for those “out the door in five minutes” moments. No wireless charging, which would have been convenient on crowded desks, but USB-C keeps it universal.

Verdict

The Sony WF-C710N are not trying to be a flagship killer. They are trying to be dependable daily drivers with style, and they succeed more often than not. If you wanted the shortest possible recommendation, here it is. If your priorities are noise cancellation, enjoyable tuning, and a look that stands out, go for it, especially near the Rs 8,990 street price. If you want the smallest shells, LDAC, or top-tier outdoor calling, keep looking.

Sony WF-C710N Pros

• Effective ANC that outperforms price expectations

• Clean, pop-friendly tuning with solid bass and clear mids

• Distinctive Glass Blue transparent design

• Multipoint pairing and stable Bluetooth 5.3

• IPX4 splash resistance and practical battery life

• Flexible EQ with presets and custom control

Sony WF-C710N Cons

• Fit can feel bulky for smaller ears

• No wireless charging for the case

Buy Sony WF-C710N from here.