Sony WF-C700N WFC700N/B

The Sony WF-C700N deliver surprising ANC and a lively sound that belie their budget price tag. Battery life and multipoint connectivity are solid, and the companion app is genuinely useful. As long as you can find them at a sensible price, these true wireless earbuds are an outstanding daily driver.

Where these earbuds really shine is in everyday use. The feed-forward ANC is among the best we've tested in the budget tier, making a noticeable dent in airplane hum and street noise. And while our database shows comfort is a weak spot compared to other earbuds, actual owners keep raving about how secure and cozy they feel, so your mileage will vary depending on ear shape. If you've been searching for 'best budget Sony noise cancelling earbuds' or 'Sony WF-C700N review', this is the pair that keeps popping up for good reason.

Connectivity is another bright spot, landing in the 91st percentile. Pairing is quick, the multipoint handoff between two devices actually works, and we didn't experience any dropouts during testing. Call quality, at the 80th percentile, is decent, the dual mics do a good job isolating your voice in quiet settings, but wind and loud backgrounds can still muddy things up. Battery life is solidly average (80th percentile), matching Sony's 15-hour claim as long as you keep ANC on at moderate volume. The earbuds themselves deliver about 7.5 hours per charge, which is plenty for a workday or a long flight.

Pricing on the WF-C700N is a rollercoaster right now. We've seen listings as low as $60 and as high as $6,490, which is obviously a glitch, but the sweet spot hovers around $100 to $120 at most retailers. If you snag them under $80, they're an absolute bargain, and even at full retail, they hold their own against pricier competitors. The best deal we spotted at the time of writing is from Newegg, with fast shipping and a price that undercuts most alternatives by a healthy margin. For the feature set, stable ANC, multipoint, decent battery, and an app with solid customization, you're getting a lot of earbud for the money.

On the budget end, the EarFun Air Pro 4 and Soundcore P31i give the Sony a run for its money. The Air Pro 4 packs ANC and a longer battery life for around $70, but its companion app is less polished, and the transparency mode feels artificial. Soundcore's P31i is even cheaper and pushes more bass-forward tuning, but the ANC and mic quality can't match what Sony put into the C700N. The Technics EAH-AZ80 represents a big jump in price and features, with LDAC support and more refined ANC, but they're overkill unless you're already in the $200+ mindset. For most people, the Sony hits the sweet spot of price, performance, and everyday usability.

Skip the WF-C700N if top-notch comfort is non-negotiable, our data ranks them poorly in that area, so if you have fussy ears or plan to wear them for hours without a break, look elsewhere. Audiophiles craving hi-res codecs like LDAC or aptX HD will be better served by the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4, and anyone who relies on crystal-clear phone calls in busy streets should consider something with better microphone isolation, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. And if wireless charging is a must, these aren't the buds for you.

The only real hesitation comes down to fit. If your ears aren't a match for the bulbous design, you'll be readjusting them more than you'd like. In that case, the EarFun Air Pro 4 or Soundcore Liberty 4 NC might be a safer bet. But for everyone else, especially Sony fans who want that familiar sound signature in a compact package, these are a winner.