Anker Soundcore Space A40 vs Sony WF-C510
Quick take: The Anker Soundcore Space A40 has active noise cancelling while the Sony WF-C510 doesn't; the Sony WF-C510 lasts longer per charge (11 hrs).
Which one to buy
At $45 each, this is the budget earbud trade-off in its purest form: noise cancelling or sound quality. The Soundcore Space A40 has adaptive ANC that owners say is at least 90% as good as Sony's own WF-C700N, plus LDAC, multipoint and a wireless-charging case. The Sony WF-C510 has no ANC at all, but owners describe it as sounding like a real Sony: cleaner and more balanced than the bass-heavy budget norm. It also uses physical buttons, which avoid the phantom taps A40 owners complain about every day.
Battery is where they differ most. The C510 runs 11 hours per charge, roughly double most budget buds, but its tiny case holds one more charge for 22 hours total. The A40 runs 8 hours per bud (about 5 with LDAC on), with 50 total and a 10-minute charge that adds 4 hours. For one long day without the case, the Sony is better. For a week of travel, the Soundcore is.
Both fit small ears well, for different reasons. The A40's flush shells work for side sleepers and under helmets, and the C510 is Sony's smallest earbud yet. Neither mic is good outdoors. A40 owners also report one bud's battery collapsing after about a year, which hasn't come up with the C510, whose owners describe it as reliable. If you ride trains or fly, the A40 is the obvious pick. If you mostly listen at a desk, on walks or at the gym, the C510 is the better earbud.
Anker Soundcore Space A40
If you need real noise cancelling for commutes, flights or sleeping, and want LDAC and wireless charging thrown in.
Sony WF-C510
For anyone who'd rather have better sound, physical buttons and 11 hours on a single charge than ANC.
| Spec | Anker Soundcore Space A40 | Sony WF-C510 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$45 | ~$45 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 8 hrs | 11 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 50 hrs | 22 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 10 min = 4 hrs | 5 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 10 mm | 6 mm |
| Weight | 4.9 g | — |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Anker Soundcore Space A40
- ✓Adaptive ANC hangs with buds twice the price
- ✓LDAC plus true multipoint at $45
- ✓50-hour total with wireless-charging case
- ✓Small enough to sleep on
- ✓10-minute charge adds four hours
- ✓Still the budget ANC benchmark two years on
- ✗LDAC cuts ANC battery from 8 hours to roughly 5
- ✗No volume touch control by default, no wear detection
- ✗Mediocre mics for outdoor calls
- ✗One-bud battery fade reported past a year
- ✗Aging Bluetooth 5.2 shows the 2022 roots
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
Anker Soundcore Space A40 vs Sony WF-C510: common questions
Is the WF-C510 worth it without ANC next to the Space A40?▾
For quiet-to-moderate places, owners say yes. The sound is noticeably more refined and the buttons are more reliable than touch controls. On planes and subways, its passive isolation can't compete, and that's the main reason owners step up to an ANC bud like the A40.
Are the A40's flush shells better for side sleeping than the tiny WF-C510?▾
Owners specifically praise the A40's small, flush shells for side sleeping and under motorcycle helmets, and its ANC helps there too. The C510 is also tiny, but its physical buttons can push the bud deeper when pressed, which some owners find uncomfortable.
Does the A40's LDAC make it sound better than the Sony?▾
Not automatically. LDAC only works on Android phones that support it, and it cuts the A40's ANC battery from about 8 hours to 5. Owners still generally describe the C510's tuning as the cleaner of the two.