After launching its flagship WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones earlier this year, Sony is turning its attention to an entry-level audio product: the WF-C500, a wireless earphone that rivals Apple's AirPods.

Sony's WF-C500 retails for $99, $60 less than Apple's alternative and offers 360 Reality Audio for an immersive listening experience. If it delivers the sound quality expected from Sony's audio products, it could be a strong contender for the Best Wireless Earphones page.

The WF-C500 will replace the WF-XB700 as Sony's least expensive true wireless earphone. It will also retail for $30 less than the WF-XB700. Sony's aggressive pricing of the WF-C500 is believed to be an attempt to regain market share from the dominant AirPods.

The wireless earbuds definitely make a compelling case against Apple's best-selling earbuds; the WF-C500 draws design inspiration from the more premium Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds, which are smaller in size than their predecessors and fits more securely.

But don't be fooled by the smaller size: these buds still pack an audible punch; the WF-C500 features Sony's Digital Sound Enhancement Technology, which restores details lost when playing music over Bluetooth. In addition, the earbuds are IPX4-rated sweatproof.

Sony claims that the earbuds are capable of 10 hours of playback on a single charge (with DSEE turned off). This is double the 5-hour charge time offered by the AirPods v2, but Apple's charging case can boost this to 24 hours of additional power.

Sony's WF-C500 wireless earbuds can be ordered from several retailers, including Sony, Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. All retailers sell them in black, but some have exclusive colors: Amazon has white, Best Buy has green, and Target has orange.

Also, if you are looking for over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones, Sony headphones are a good choice. And if you're into wireless earbuds, we recommend the inexpensive wireless earbuds, which are expected to see big discounts during this year's Black Friday sales season.