Is Sony WF-C500 Still the King of Budget Earbuds?

What to know

Even after the launch of its successors, Sony WF-C500 offer some of the best features for its price.
The small and lightweight but solidly built earbuds have exceptional sound quality, improved further with presets and custom EQ.
The physical buttons are tactile and the controls intuitive, but the absence of ANC/Ambient Mode may push users to the latest WF-C510s.

Budget earbuds is a dense populated segment. You’ll find here all sorts of companies offering earbuds that have passed down as a copy of a copy of a copy. But except a few new comers (Nothing, for example), there are very few players that have had, and continue to have, a big influence on the market like Sony.

The company has produced some gems over the years like the WF-XB700, the WF-C700N and the latest WF-C510. But if your budget is even tighter, you don’t have to wade into unknown territory just yet, for there’s always the Sony WF-C500. To my ears, they’re the best deal in town, especially for those who have a smaller budget but don’t want to sacrifice on audio quality, app connectivity, or long-term reliability.

I’ve had the Sony WF-C500 these for over two years now. And I couldn’t be happier with them. Although there are a few earbuds that do give it a run for its money, they’re still my budget pick for the following reasons.

Here’s why the Sony WF-C500 are still as relevant today as when they launched in 2021.

Sony WF-C500 – Budget earbuds that cannot stop rocking

There are several things I look for in a pair of budget earbuds. These include things like the audio quality, of course, but also build quality, listening time, EQ, weight, controls, etc. There are also things that I don’t expect from budget earbuds, such as active noise cancellation and ambient mode – which are not features that budget earbuds excel at anyway – so I don’t consider them in the first place.

Being a clumsy customer, I’m also a sucker for physical buttons, and give the WF-C500 two thumbs up for it. My experience with Sony’s WF-C500 has been largely positive, especially considering I bought them on sale two years ago and haven’t had much to complain about since.

TL;DR: Have been using Sony’s WF-C500 for the past 2 years; no complaints.

Sony WF-C500 – Everything you need in budget earbuds

Sony WF-C500 are one of the first few TWS earbuds from Sony that cater chiefly to those hunting in the budget category. Here are the areas where it excelled, and continues to excel.

Audio quality

By the time one drops below $100, expectations for audio quality drop as well. But even at such a low price, the WF-C500 do not disappoint. They’re not bass heavy or deliver overly refined sound. The sounds are crystal clear even without the EQ though I would recommend you use the Sony Headphones Connect app to customize your sound profile. The earbuds have a wide range of presets that you can choose from as well, and the overall sound profile itself has a wide spectrum to work within. So even though you don’t have to get the app, we do recommend it if you want to unlock these capabilities.

In the case of budget earbuds, once you dip below a certain price, you’re bound to compromise on the sound. Fortunately, the WF-C500s hover just above that line.

TL;DR: Great sound profile, custom EQs, Sony’s Headphones Connect app download recommended.

Simple Intuitive Controls

Touch controls are my biggest pet peeves. Unless I spend hours adjusting to them, I just can’t seem to figure them out. This is one of the biggest reasons why I love the WF-C500. Its tactile buttons let you control everything intuitively. They’re placed perfectly too, that is, smack in the middle of the earbuds so you can never miss them. I even use my shoulders sometimes to press the buttons when my hands are busy. And if I lie down with them on my bed, for which they’re comfortable enough, I usually don’t end up accidentally pressing them either, unless I’m completely buried on one side.

If you’re wondering, here are the controls for the Sony WF-C500:

Button/Controls	Single press	Double Press	Triple Press	Long press
Left	Increase volume Receive call End call			Decrease volume Reject call
Right	Play/Pause Receive call End call	Next track	Previous track	Reject call (if ringing) Voice Assistant

You can also pick which Digital Assistant you want to invoke from the Sony Headphones app.

TL;DR: Physical buttons (FTW), right earbud controls playback, left earbud controls volume, either can be used to receive/end call.

Not a spec monster, but does enough

Sony’s WF-C500 are not laden with specs. But you’ll find just enough features to keep you satisfied. Some things that make my WF-C500 my go-to include their small and lightweight design, the snug fit they provide, various EQ options, and a magnet case that can fit comfortably in your pocket.

Here are the main specifications for the Sony WF-C500:

Weight: 5.4g x 2
Drive: 5.9mm
DSEE: Yes
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20,000Hz (44.1 kHz sampling)
Battery
Supported Audio Format: SBS, AAC
Bluetooth: Version 5.0
IP Rating: IPX4 water resistance
Range: 10m
Battery Life: Approximately 8 hours (maximum 10 hours advertised)
Battery charge time: 2.5 hours
Case charge time: 3 hours
Colors: Orange, Green, White, and Black

Unfortunately, there is no ANC or ambient sound feature. In a way, I’m glad Sony didn’t bother with it because those features at this price point usually don’t work as well, and unnecessarily jack up the price (looking at you, WF-C700N).

How the Sony WF-C500 compares to other budget earbuds

Being a densely populated segment, you’ll find scores of earbuds around the same price point, or even cheaper, that threaten to dethrone the Sony WF-C500. Since its release, we’ve seen Nothing – including its sub-brand CMF – release some bangers at dirt cheap prices. Where the CMF Buds and Buds Pro have bolstered the sub $50 section (though they compromise on key elements), and Nothing’s offerings have consistently redefined what all can be packed into a $100 pair of earbuds, Sony’s old-school WF-C500 toe the line between price, all round quality, and reliability. Much of it is thanks to the physical button controls, the elegant design, and the durability of the earbuds.

*The magnetic earbuds can also snap together*

There is a known issue with the WF-C500 where one of the buds (usually the left) doesn’t charge and blinks orange continuously. Fortunately, I haven’t had to face that issue, so I can’t speak on it. Some users even recommend banging and throwing the malfunctioning earbud around to get them to work again (and it works). Call me a silver liner, but that’s testament to the beatings these earbuds can endure.

TL;DR: There are cheaper TWS earbuds, and earbuds with more features. But WF-C500 strikes the ideal balance between price and features.

Verdict

Take it from an audiophile – Sony’s WF-C500 are an exceptional pair of earbuds for their price.

Although Sony’s store has replaced the WF-C500 with the latest WF-C510s, you can still get the former at e-commerce websites for around $50 if you’re lucky. But if you want to get the latest, the WF-C510s (released last month) come with important upgrades – multipoint pairing and Ambient Sound mode – and for not much more. You can find the WF-C510s at $60 on Sony’s website.