As a writer at What Hi-Fi?, I am, of course, a huge admirer of many premium wireless earbuds, whether it’s the user-friendly Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the noise-cancelling Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).
But when my most recent, long-running flagship earbuds finally conked out and I faced the prospect of no headphones at all, I needed a cheap, reliable pair that could tide me over for at least a little while.
Step in the Sony WF-C510, now at a new low of £28 at Amazon.
Far from the temporary, functional replacements I had in mind, the WF-C510 soon proved to be extraordinary value for money. With a solid, musical sound and far more features than I expected for less than £30, the Sony pair are more than up to the task of being your headphones of choice.
Take a look at our Awards over the years, and you’ll see that Sony has long been the go-to brand for budget wireless headphones. The WF-C510 may be the cheapest option even in its budget range, but that doesn’t mean Sony has completely held back.
The WF-C510 offer a generous 11 hours of battery life, despite battery usually being one of the first sacrifices when a brand launches a budget pair of buds.
There’s also an ambient mode to let in more of your surroundings, which can come in useful when exercising outdoors or listening to announcements while commuting. The buds are also snug and comfortable, with an IPX4 rating to protect from rain, sweat and other splashes.
Bluetooth Multipoint is also on board, so you can pair the buds with two devices at once and switch seamlessly – instantly switching, say, from listening to music on your phone to a Zoom call on your laptop. If you’ve never used it before, this is highly convenient and a surprisingly advanced feature for a £28 pair.
And the all-important sound quality? Fun, engaging and musical, but still with Sony’s winning signature sound profile.
“We test them with a range of genres and the Sonys just go about their business,” our Sony WF-C510 review reads. “You can tell the WF-C510 are part of the Sony family, such is their musicality and rhythmic ability – even complex pieces of music don’t unravel and their sense of timing and ability to just get into the groove of a song works with any music you play through them.”
Our only slight niggle is the build, which does look and feel budget. However, it's hard to complain when they are yours for the cost of a round of drinks.
The Sony WF-C510 are comfortable and pack a huge sense of fun and musicality. Don’t just take my word for it, though – these are What Hi-Fi? Award winners, and now they can be yours for only £28 at Amazon.
If you’ve got a bit more of a budget, however, consider these alternatives:
MORE:
Read our Sony WF-C510 review
Take a look at the best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our reviewers
Check out the best cheap wireless earbuds you can buy
