Sony has just unveiled its latest innovation in the earbud market: the WF-C510, which they proudly tout as their “smallest ever earbuds.” This new release marks a departure from their previous trend of uninspired product names, as seen with the ULT Series. Despite this, the WF-C510 earbuds aim to impress with their compact design, comfortable fit, and stable wearing experience—all for a price of $60.
While the announcement is exciting for Sony, the WF-C510 earbuds, at just 4.6 grams, are not a game-changer in the lightweight earbud arena. The market for budget-friendly earbuds is already filled with various lightweight options. For instance, the OnePlus Nord Buds Pro 3 weigh slightly less at 4.4 grams, yet they offer a snug and comfortable fit even for prolonged use, thanks to their well-designed in-ear structure. Similarly, the OnePlus Buds 3, which weigh 4.8 grams, provide a low-profile appearance. Although I was disappointed with the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2, which weighed 4.9 grams, they still managed to offer a decent fit.
Sony’s claim of the WF-C510’s compactness is primarily in comparison to their more premium models, such as the WF-1000XM5, which weigh 5.9 grams. However, this reduction in weight is due more to the bulkiness of the previous models rather than a revolutionary advancement in the C510’s design.
The weight of earbuds is closely tied to the size of the drivers they contain. Most earbuds feature drivers in the 10 to 12mm range—12.4mm in the Nord Buds and 11mm in the CMF models. In contrast, the WF-C510s come with much smaller 6mm drivers. This reduction in driver size contributes to the lighter weight, but it raises questions about how this smaller driver size will impact audio performance, particularly in terms of bass and high-end frequencies.
Beyond driver size, the material and build quality of the earbuds play a crucial role in their overall feel and durability. Even the lightest earbuds can fall short if they feel flimsy or poorly constructed. I’ll reserve judgment on the WF-C510s until I can evaluate how they balance lightweight design with build quality and comfort.
In terms of features, the WF-C510s include standard elements common to in-ear earbuds. These features consist of shape optimization based on ear data, an 11-hour battery life, IPX4 water resistance, multi-point connectivity for two devices, an ambient mode, fast pairing, and mono listening. One standout feature is Voice Focus, which enhances human voices and suppresses background noise during ambient mode, potentially adding a layer of convenience and clarity.
Overall, while Sony’s WF-C510 earbuds offer an intriguing new option at a competitive price, their smaller size and lighter weight do not necessarily translate to a groundbreaking advancement. As with any new technology, their true value will become apparent only through hands-on experience and real-world testing.
