Sony WH-CH520 vs Sony WF-C510
Quick take: The Sony WH-CH520 costs $7 less; the Sony WH-CH520 lasts longer per charge (50 hrs).
Which one to buy
Sony's two budget picks for people who don't need ANC have a lot in common: a Sony app with EQ (Headphones Connect for the CH520, Sound Connect for the C510), the same SBC/AAC, both with multipoint, and both have a reputation for sounding balanced instead of drowning everything in bass. They're shaped completely differently, though, and that decides the choice. The WH-CH520 is a 147g on-ear headphone with a 50-hour battery. The WF-C510 is a set of Sony's smallest earbuds, with 11 hours per charge but only 22 hours total including the case.
Comfort works in opposite ways. CH520 owners commonly report pressure soreness around the two-hour mark, because the on-ear openings are small. C510 owners with small ears single it out as one of the few buds that never aches, though its large physical buttons push the bud deeper when pressed. Isolation favors the earbuds too. The CH520 lets nearly all ambient noise in, while the C510 seals passively and adds an Ambient Sound mode for when you want to hear around you. For workouts, the C510 is IPX4 and owners say it handles rain on runs. The CH520 has no rating and a creaky plastic frame.
The CH520 is the better choice if you hate charging, or you want something that's hard to lose and sits on a desk. Its battery outlasts the C510 and its case more than twice over, and a 3-minute charge adds 1.5 hours. Neither has a wired option, and both mics only work well indoors.
Sony WH-CH520
If you'd rather charge as rarely as possible, mostly listen in quiet rooms or work from home, and want to spend $38.
Sony WF-C510
Worth it if you'll listen on the move, at the gym or for longer sessions, especially with small ears. Expect to charge the case far more often.
| Spec | Sony WH-CH520 | Sony WF-C510 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$38 | ~$45 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | On-Ear Headphones | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 50 hrs | 11 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | 22 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 3 min = 1.5 hrs | 5 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 30 mm | 6 mm |
| Weight | 147 g | — |
| Water Resistance | — | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | No |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Sony WH-CH520
- ✓50-hour battery at a near-permanent $38 price
- ✓Full Sony Headphones Connect app with custom EQ
- ✓Real multipoint rarely found this cheap
- ✓Just 147 grams for all-day wear
- ✓Surprisingly even stock tuning for the money
- ✓3-minute charge buys 1.5 hours
- ✗No 3.5mm jack — dead battery means a paperweight
- ✗Thin on-ear pads fatigue past a couple hours
- ✗Zero noise isolation and no ANC
- ✗All-plastic build feels light, never premium
- ✗Mic only serviceable in quiet rooms
Sony WF-C510
- ✓Cleanest, most detailed sound in the budget tier — proper Sony tuning
- ✓11 hours per charge with a 5-minute quick charge for 1 more hour
- ✓Multipoint pairing for phone and laptop
- ✓Tiny, light buds that stay put through workouts
- ✓Physical buttons beat touch controls for reliability
- ✓Ambient Sound mode with Voice Focus for conversations
- ✓EQ and DSEE upscaling in the Sound Connect app
- ✗No ANC of any kind
- ✗Case holds just one extra charge — 22 hours total is class-worst
- ✗No wireless charging
- ✗SBC/AAC only, no LDAC
- ✗IPX4 is splash-proof, not pool-proof
Sony WH-CH520 vs Sony WF-C510: common questions
Is the WF-C510 more comfortable than the WH-CH520 for a full workday?▾
For most owners, the WF-C510. CH520 owners often report on-ear soreness around two hours, while small-eared C510 owners say the buds stay comfortable for hours. The one complaint about the buds is that pressing their buttons pushes them deeper into the ear.
Does the WF-C510 block more bus noise than the WH-CH520?▾
The WF-C510, through its passive in-ear seal. Neither has ANC, but the CH520's on-ear pads let ambient noise straight through, which is the most common disappointment among commuting owners.