Sony has been making headphones for decades and is consistently a go-to choice for people seeking a quality pair of headphones. Now that wireless earbuds are all the rage, Sony has firmly established itself as a fantastic source for incredible earbuds. Whether people want earbuds to work out, game, or just for everyday use, most Sony earbuds are excellent choices. With a fairly robust lineup of earbuds, Game ZXC has gone through and narrowed it down to the best of the best Sony has to offer for 2024.

  • Sony WI-C100 Wireless earbuds
    Sony WI-C100 Wireless in-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
    Best Battery Life Sony Earbuds
    $35 at Best Buy

Key Factors For Choosing The Best Sony Earbuds

  • Sound Quality: Sound quality is one of the main factors in finding the best pair of earbuds, regardless of whether they come from Sony or not. Luckily, most Sony earbuds sound excellent and are a reliable source for earbuds that sound amazing regardless of the price point. One of the easiest ways to tell if a pair of earbuds sounds good without actually being able to listen to them is by looking at a frequency response graph. This gives an overview of what frequencies are emphasized or not.
  • Battery Life: No one likes earbuds that live on the charger, so having a decent battery life is crucial to having an excellent earbud experience. This can vary from person to person, but at the very least, most earbuds should have a five-hour battery life on a single charge.
  • Price To Performance: The highest-priced earbuds are going to be the best of the best, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily the best for everyone. Finding a pair of earbuds that strikes a good balance between performance and price will make earbuds feel more worth it, rather than just going with the most expensive option.
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Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Sony Earbuds In 2024

The Sony WF-C700N flies under the radar for most people, but with excellent sound quality, fantastic battery life, and a price that is incredibly reasonable for the performance they deliver, these earbuds are easily one of the best Sony has to offer. Plus, they come in various colors for people who are over just having black or white earbuds to choose from.

The WF-C700N sounds impressive, regardless of the content being played through them. When listening to complex music, these earbuds do an excellent job with separation; users can easily hear the difference between instruments. However, people looking for a heavy bass experience might be slightly disappointed with these earbuds. Below 100Hz, where a lot of bass lives, is pretty under-emphasized, but it still sounds good.

While these earbuds do have ANC, it is certainly not the best that Sony offers; that title would go to the WF-1000XM5 and LinkBud S. Luckily, the passive isolation is pretty decent. These earbuds won't block out the world, but they make tuning it out easier.

Using the rounder design typical on pretty much all other Sony earbuds, these do take some getting used to if users are coming from lollipop-style earbuds like AirPods. However, thanks to the lightweight and variety of ear tip sizes, these earbuds are reasonably comfortable. After users find their size, these earbuds are pretty secure when working or walking. However, they might get a little loose when running or working out.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are the earbuds that everyone thinks about when they think about Sony earbuds. Since Sony started this line of earbuds, they have been the go-to choice for many people, and the WF-1000XM5 takes that reputation and makes them even better. The price tag of these earbuds is not for everyone, but for those looking for the best of the best with minimal downside, the WF-1000XM5 is the way to go.

All earbuds have pros and cons when it comes to sound quality, but most users will be hard-pressed to complain about the WF-1000XM5's sound quality. These earbuds produce a very natural sound profile that rivals full-sized headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5. The lower end is boomy and powerful, but it doesn't overwhelm the top end or make vocals muddy. Thanks to some Sony magic, these earbuds also do a great job of rendering stereo sounds that maintain a convincing illusion of 3D space.

These earbuds deliver similar performance in terms of ANC to the previous generation WF-1000XM4. This is not bad; the last generation already had exceptional ANC performance. However, the WF-1000XM5 takes it a step further with better passive isolation. The new foam ear tips do a much better job forming the user's ear canal, which blocks out a decent amount of sound even with ANC turned off.

These new foam tips, along with their lighter weight, make these earbuds very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They are locked in and will not pop out even when working out. However, switching to a glossy plastic instead of the previous generation's matte makes them a fair bit slippery, so be careful when handling them.

While the WF-1000XM5 offers best-in-class ANC, the Sony LinkBuds S offers comparable ANC performance for about $100 less. The LinkBuds S are perfect for people looking for earbuds to help tune out the world and block those annoying sounds.

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Nothing will beat over-ear headphones when it comes to ANC, but the LinkBuds S comes pretty close. They make outside noise sound about an eighth as loud, especially when it comes to lower-frequency sounds. This means sounds like engine rumble, lawnmowers, and plane noise will be significantly quieter and nearly inaudible when listening to music. For sounds on the high-end, like dishes clanking, these earbuds rely on the passive isolation created by the ear tips. Just make sure to find the ear tips that create the most complete seal for the best results.

These earbuds sound fantastic for most content; the lows are nice and powerful, and the mids deliver clear vocals. However, there is a pretty severe drop-off on the high-end. This won't affect people's ability to enjoy their music, but some songs might lose some sparkle from higher-pitched sounds.

Gamers who want earbuds that pair perfectly with their PS5 should check out the Sony INZONE buds. These earbuds are made for PlayStation gamers through and through. They deliver punchy audio quality and ANC similar to the WH1000XM5. They are not quite at the same level of audio quality as the headset version of the InZone, but for PlayStation gamers who want a fantastic earbud, the InZone Buds are easily one of the best options.

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Whether listening to music or gaming, these earbuds deliver sound quality that is incredibly detailed and powerful. Even if games have bass-heavy action scenes or use bass as much as they typically do in FPS shooters, it is still easy to pick out layered sound effects and voice chat.

The battery life on these earbuds is impressive, whether connected via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz. Using the USB-C 2.4GHz connection, gamers can expect the earbuds to last up to 12 hours and a whole 24 hours while using Bluetooth. Compared to InZone's top competitors, like the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds, this is almost double the battery life.

The Sony LinkBuds are a fairly weird product compared to the rest of the wireless earbuds lineup, but for people who like to listen to music and stay aware of their surroundings, these earbuds are the way to go. The LinkBuds allow users to get the small and compact form factor of earbuds, but the open-back design is typically only seen on large over-ear headphones.

Because of the open-back design, these earbuds do not feature ANC and have no passive isolation, but that is a plus instead of a flaw. The open-back design delivers decent sound quality that allows users to enjoy their music while on a run and leave their ears open to hear traffic. Even if people aren't concerned about traffic, it is nice to have these earbuds for walks or runs to hear birds singing and enjoy the sounds of the outdoors while also listening to music.

That said, these earbuds have pretty lackluster sound quality, especially compared to the LinkBuds S WF-1000XM5. Even though they sit in the user's ear canal like typical earbuds, their sound quality is more akin to bone-conduction headphones. Mids and highs come through accurately and with a good amount of power, but the bass is pretty much nonexistent.

Since true wireless earbuds have become more common, these half-wired earbuds have kind of gone out of fashion. However, the WI-C100 is an excellent choice for anyone who needs incredible battery life from their earbuds. On a single charge, these earbuds can last up to 25 hours. People can truly use these earbuds all day while continuously listening to music.

Most wireless earbuds under $50 are typically not worth picking up if people actually want a pair of good-sounding earbuds. However, the WI-C100 delivers sound quality that punches way above its weight class, with powerful low-end mids that are clear and highs that offer a bit of that magical sparkle. That's not to say that these earbuds rival the sound quality of something like the WF-1000XM5, but for just $35, the WI-C100 will surprise many people with how good they sound.

With all the wireless connectivity tech and battery in the neckband instead of the earbuds, the WI-C100 is very comfortable for long-wearing sessions. They kind of feel like old-school earbuds with more modern materials. That said, they are prone to pop out of most users' ears, but thankfully, the neckband will keep them close by.

But the incredible battery life and low price do have its faults. These earbuds have no ANC, and the passive isolation is pretty limited. However, if users are okay with giving up those extra features, the WI-C100 is quite a steal.

FAQ

Q: Is the Sony WF-1000XM5 worth it?

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is one of the best earbuds currently available and worth picking up for users willing to pay the premium price. However, lower-priced Sony earbuds like the LinkBuds S offer comparable performance for users looking for a more affordable option.

Q: Is Sony better or JBL headphones?

Sony offers better earbuds and headphones overall. Sony's ANC performance and sound quality are hard to beat. However, JBL headphones are a bit more affordable and provide decent sound quality.