The Sony WF-XB700 are a decently versatile pair of truly wireless in-ears without many extra features. As part of Sony's 'XB' or 'Extra Bass' series, they're designed to provide extra thump and punch in the bass range, but their sound profile is still quite neutral and should suit a range of audio content and music genres. They have a continuous battery life of roughly 10 hours and come with a charging case, but it only stores one additional charge. They're well-built and stable enough for light exercise if you can get a good seal, but their slightly bulky in-ear design may be uncomfortable for some. They don't have an active noise cancelling feature, a companion app, or any sound customization features but should still suit casual listeners who want relatively simple headphones.
Our Verdict
The Sony WF-XB700 are okay for neutral sound. They're designed to pack an extra punch in the bass range, which fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop may prefer. Their mid-range is well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments should sound present and clear. However, mid and high-treble ranges are underemphasized, so sibilants sound a bit dull and lifeless. Unfortunately, they don't have an app or any features that allow you to customize how they sound, and like most in-ear headphones, they have bad passive soundstage. That said, they have very consistent bass and treble delivery and should be suitable for a wide variety of content and genres.
- Extra punch in the bass range.
- No sound customization features.
The Sony WF-XB700 are good for commuting and traveling. They have a very portable design and a passable continuous battery life of roughly 10 hours. There's also a case that holds one extra charge, which is useful on long trips. They're decently comfortable and stable if you can get a good seal, but that can be tricky. They don't have an ANC feature, unfortunately, so they don't do a good job of blocking out low-frequency noise like bus or plane engines.
- Decent battery life.
- Portable design.
- No ANC.
The Sony WF-XB700 are good for sports and fitness. While they're a little bulky, they're still very lightweight. Once you get a good seal, these headphones can be comfortable and stable in your ear. They're also very portable, and you can easily fit them in your pocket or your bag. Unfortunately, their control scheme isn't the easiest to use during your workout.
- Portable design.
- Stable fit for most users.
- Some users may find these headphones uncomfortable.
The Sony WF-XB700 are adequate for office use. They leak very little audio, so you can listen to your music at high volumes without much risk of disturbing your coworkers. They don't have ANC but are okay at passively isolating you from common office noise like ambient conversation. Their continuous battery life of over 10 hours should get you through a workday, and they come with a case that holds one extra charge. Unfortunately, you have to push them pretty far into your ears to get a good seal, which some listeners may find isn't very comfortable.
- Don't leak a lot of noise.
- Decent battery life.
- No ANC.
- Some users may find these headphones uncomfortable.
The Sony WF-XB700 aren't recommended for wireless gaming. They aren't compatible with either Xbox or PS4. While they can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs, because of their high latency, they aren't ideal for gaming.
The Sony WF-XB700 only support Bluetooth, so they can't be used for wired gaming.
The Sony WF-XB700 aren't bad for phone calls. While their microphone makes your voice sound thin and muffled, the person on the other end of the line should still be able to understand you. They also do a good job passively isolating noise even though they don't have an ANC feature. Unfortunately, the integrated microphone has trouble separating your voice from ambient noises, even in moderately noisy environments.
- Integrated microphone.
- Sub-par noise handling performance.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 04, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Aug 24, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 18, 2020: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
These headphones come in two different color variants: 'Black' and 'Blue'. While we tested the 'Black' model, we expect the 'Blue' model to perform similarly. You can see the label for our unit here. If you come across another variant or your headphones are different, please let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WFXB700 are decently versatile truly wireless in-ears. They have a similar design to the Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless, but as part of Sony's XB or Extra Bass series, they pack an extra thump and punch in the bass range. Unlike some of the other in-ears we've tested, they don't have an ANC feature, a companion app, or sound customization options. If you're looking for more headphones, see our recommendations for the best truly wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds for running, and the best cheap wireless earbuds.
The Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless are better than the Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless for most purposes. The C500's controls are easier to use, and the headphones have an app with sound customization features. They also have a better overall mic performance. On the other hand, the XB700 have a better passive noise isolation performance.
The Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless are somewhat better overall headphones than the Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a more stable in-ear fit. The Jabra also have better noise isolation and leakage performance, as well as a better-performing integrated mic that makes them better for phone calls. They work with a companion app that gives you access to lots of customization features including a graphic EQ, so you can tweak their sound to your liking. On the other hand, the Sony are more comfortable and have longer battery life.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless are better overall headphones than the Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless. The Samsung are more comfortable and have a more stable fit, and they also have longer battery life. Out of the box, their sound profile is more neutral and better-balanced, though some listeners may prefer the bass-heavy sound of the Sony. Thanks to their companion app and EQ presets, the Samsung offer more customization options. The Sony's controls are less intuitive but include volume control, which the Samsung lack. The Sony are also better at passively isolating background noise, and leak less audio.
The Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless. The Jabra are more comfortable and more stable in the ear, and they also have a better build quality. Thanks to their companion app and graphic EQ, you can easily customize the sound to your liking, unlike the Sony. They also have an active noise cancelling feature, which helps them isolate more noise. On the other hand, the Sony last longer off of a single charge, but the Jabra's case comes with more charges built-in.
The Anker SoundBuds Curve 2019 are better wireless headphones than the Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless. Thanks to their stability fins, the Anker have a more stable and comfortable fit, making them better-suited for runs and workouts. The Anker also have more intuitive controls, a better mic performance, and a longer continuous battery life than the Sony. That said, the Sony have better noise isolation and leakage performance. Also, the Anker aren't truly wireless and have a cable connecting the two earbuds, which may bother some users looking for truly wireless headphones.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless. The WF-1000XM3 have a better build quality and come with an ANC feature, though it isn't the most robust. They also have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, although some listeners may prefer the WF-XB700's overemphasis in the low and mid-bass ranges. You can easily adjust the sound profile of the WF-1000XM3 in the companion app using the graphic EQ and presets, which the WF-XB700 lacks. On the other hand, the WF-XB700 lasts longer off of one charge, but the WF-1000XM3 have more charges built-in to their portable case.
The Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the OnePlus Buds. The Sony have a more stable fit and a better-balanced sound profile. They do a better job of isolating you from background noise, and they leak less sound. Also, their continuous battery life is longer than the OnePlus.
The Sony WF-XB700 Truly Wireless and JBL Tune 125TWS Truly Wireless are closely-matched headphones, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your preferences. The Sony headphones have onboard volume controls, a better build quality, and a longer continuous battery life. On the other hand, the JBL come with a case that can store additional three additional charges, while the Sony's case can only hold one. The JBL also have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and a better-integrated microphone.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Sony WFXB700 are in-ears with a slightly bulky, oblong design. The buds are also quite large and stick out from the ears. They come in two colors: blue and black.
The Sony WFXB700 are decently comfortable in-ears. They're lightweight and come with differently-sized earbud tips to help you find the best possible fit. However, they may not be comfortable for everyone as you have to push them deep into your ears to get a good seal. Also, you have to hold them down in order to use the controls, which some users may find uncomfortable. If you want a similarly-performing pair of truly wireless headphones that are more comfortable, check out the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless.
The Sony WF-XB700 have a mediocre set of controls. Overall, they aren't very easy to use, and their control scheme isn't intuitive. The left earbud controls the volume. Click it once to turn the volume up, or hold it to turn the volume down. Click the right earbud once to play/pause, twice to skip forward, three times to skip backward, or hold for two seconds to activate the voice assistant. Unfortunately, there's almost no audio feedback from the controls, except for when you power the headphones on/off or pair them with a device. You also can't remap the buttons or adjust the control scheme.
The Sony WFXB700, like most truly wireless in-ears, have fantastic portability. You can easily take them with you on-the-go because they're small enough to fit into pockets, purses, and bags easily. They also come with a charging case.
The Sony WFXB700 come with a good case. It's a little bit smaller than the case for the Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless, and it can easily fit into most purses, pockets, and bags. The hard case can protect the buds from damage, and it can also be used to charge them when you're on the go.
The Sony WF-XB700 have a good overall build quality. While they don't feel as premium as the Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless, they still feel well-built. They're mostly made of plastic, which feels solid and not too flimsy. Even the case feels well-made, and the hinge doesn't seem like it could break easily. These in-ears also have an IPX4 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.
The Song WF-XB700 are decently stable in-ears. They're stable if you can get a good seal, but that can be hard, especially if you have smaller ears. Once you do, they shouldn't fall out of your ears during casual use or low-intensity movement like walking. However, they don't have any features like stability fins or ear hooks that can help make headphones more stable. If you're looking for more stable Bluetooth in-ears, consider the Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless.
- Sony WFXB700 earbuds
- 4x silicone tip sizes
- Charging case
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- Manuals
The Sony WF-XB700 have a fairly neutral but somewhat warm, thumpy sound profile that should suit a variety of listeners and musical tastes. Vocals and lead instruments don't sound harsh, and as part of Sony's "XB" line-up, they have a slightly bass-rich sound with some extra rumble and punch, which fans of hip-hop and EDM may be looking for. However, they don't have an EQ, so if you don't like how they sound out-of-the-box, there's no way to adjust them.
The Sony WF-XB700 have an outstanding frequency response consistency. Once you get a good, air-tight seal, you should be able to get a consistent bass and treble delivery each time you use these headphones.
The Sony WF-XB700 have good bass accuracy. They're designed to deliver a bass-rich sound and lend some extra thump and punch to mixes. This should please fans of bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM, but some listeners could find the overemphasized rumble a bit overwhelming.
These headphones have excellent mid-range accuracy. The response is quite flat and even. There's a dip in the mid-mids that pushes vocals and lead instruments back somewhat, but overall they should sound clear and detailed.
The Sony WF-XB700 have satisfactory treble accuracy. The low-treble response is quite neutral with a small bump, so instruments and vocals sound present and detailed. However, a dip in the mid-treble range dulls sibilants like S and T sounds and instruments like cymbals.
These headphones have great peaks and dips performance. They're quite well-balanced, and most peaks and dips shouldn't be audible for most listeners. A small peak across the bass range gives a bit of extra thump and rumble, and a small peak in the low-treble range makes voices and lead instruments sound clear and detailed. However, a dip in the mid-treble makes sibilants sound dull or weak.
The Sony WF-XB700 have an outstanding imaging performance. The group delay is below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight and accurate bass and treble reproduction. The L/R drivers of our unit are also well-matched amplitude, frequency, and phase response, so the placement and localization of objects in the stereo image likely sound accurate. Note that these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.
The Sony WF-XB700 have an awful passive soundstage, like most in-ear headphones with a closed-back design. These types of headphones don't interact with your outer ear, so sound seems to come from inside your head instead of from all around you.
The Sony WF-XB700 Extra Bass True Wireless Earbuds weighted harmonic distribution performance is very good. There are a few peaks in the treble range at normal and high listening volumes, which may cause a bit of distortion. However, that shouldn't be audible to most listeners, and audio reproduction should be mostly clean and pure.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
The Sony WFXB700 block out a decent amount of noise. They don't have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature and don't block out very much low-frequency sound like the rumble from bus and plane engines. However, they should isolate you from a good amount of higher-frequency noise like humming A/C units or ambient chatter.
These headphones have an outstanding leakage performance. You should be able to crank your music up to a high volume without disturbing the people around you.
The Sony WFXB700's mic has a poor recording quality. Recorded speed is understandable but sounds thin and muffled.
The Sony WFXB700 microphone has a disappointing noise handling performance. It doesn't do a great job of separating your voice from background noise, so it may be hard to hear you if you use the microphone in a moderately noisy environment like a busy street.
The Sony WF-XB700 have a mediocre battery performance. They provide more than 10 hours of continuous playback, which is slightly longer than the advertised battery life of nine hours. They take about 1.7 hours to charge, which is also better than the advertised charging time of 2.5 hours. However, their portable case only gives you around one additional charge for when you're on the go. Casual users who want to use these headphones during their commute may not have to recharge them every day, but they may not be ideal for long flights. That said, it should be noted that battery performance can vary with real-life use, so your experience may be different.
The Song WFXB700 headphones have decent Bluetooth compatibility. They're compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and have a great line of sight range, so you can listen to audio even when your Bluetooth device isn't nearby. Unfortunately, these headphones don't support multi-device pairing or NFC pairing, which may be disappointing if you want to easily switch between devices. They also have a fair amount of audio lag on PC, iOS, and Android, so they aren't ideal for mobile gaming or watching videos. Then again, some apps seem to compensate for latency, so your real-life experience may vary.
The Sony WFXB700 are truly wireless headphones that can't be used wired. They come with a very short USB-C to USB-A charging cable.
These headphones use Bluetooth for their wireless connection, so they aren't compatible with Xbox consoles.
The Sony WFXB700 headphones have a hard charging case that stores around one additional charge. You can charge it with the included USB-C to USB-A cable, but it doesn't have any other inputs.