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 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.
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