Sony has announced the WF-XB700 wireless earbuds.
But the two best features make them stand out even more against Apple: the WF-XB700 has a battery that lasts four hours longer than the AirPods (without the case), and Sony's earphones are waterproof.
Of course, to put the crown on Sony's WF-XB700, you'll need to test the sound quality and fit. But here is what you get for your money.
Sony's WF-XB700 earbuds are priced at $129. That's $30 less than Apple's AirPods and cheaper than the Jabra Elite Active 65t and Samsung's Galaxy Buds Plus.
It should be available now, but Sony's site has no retailers, instead stating "No online retailers for this product have been found."
Amazon and Best Buy do not have them yet; CNET reports that they will be available for pre-order this month.Sony's WF-XB700 offers 9 hours of battery life on a single charge, and another 9 hours with a charging/carry case, for a total of 18 hours of playback.
Bud vs. Bud, the WF-XB700 lasts 4 hours longer than Apple's AirPods, which are rated at 5 hours. However, when the charging carrying case is factored in, the AirPods' 24+ hour rating is better than Sony's 18 hours.
A 10-minute quick charge provides 60 minutes of audio playback.
The XB in the Sony WF-XB700 probably stands for Sony's much-publicized "Extra Bass," which the Sony website describes as "Truly wireless style meets deep, punchy EXTRA BASS sound." "Truly wireless style meets deep punchy EXTRA BASS sound."
The IPX4 waterproof and sweatproof rating means they are safe from splashing water, making them our best Not only are they candidates for our sports headphone list, but they are also safe in case they get caught in the rain.
Each bud connects to your smartphone separately and uses Bluetooth 5.0 for a more stable connection. Playback control is available via buttons on each bud, and the WF-XB700 also supports voice assistant commands.
Sony's WF-XB700 will be available in black and blue. Sony also boasts an "ergonomic 3-hold construction" for in-ear stability.
If you want active noise cancellation (ANC) to block out noise, you will need to look elsewhere (such as the Apple AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM3).
Overall, the Sony WF-XB700 is likely to be a strong challenger to both the AirPods and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. We look forward to testing these wireless earbuds to see if they live up to Sony's claims.
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