Sony has announced a new pair of true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation and sweat resistance. The snappily-named WF-SP800N are aimed at people who need headphones for an active lifestyle.
As well as the IP55 rating the buds gain arced wings to help keep them in the ear when running, for example. The buds are quite similar in design and features to the popular WF-1000MX3 ( one of our favourites) but add the waterproofing and wings to differentiate.
Sony has yet to reveal UK pricing, but will sell the WF-SP800N for $200 in the US. This is a competitive price, though it’s only $30 less than the existing WF-1000MX3.
The new pair could be more versatile though, as you can remove the arc wings if you find them uncomfortable. And while they’re available in flashy blue or red, the subtle black colour is much less noticeable than most sports headphones, which annoyingly are often bright fluorescent colours.
With a touchpad on the outside to control audio, these look like a tidy pair of earbuds stuffed with features. But not everyone will find their relatively bulky design comfortable. There are different designs available, but the problem with earbuds is you can’t really try them out before you buy.
Sony promises nine hours of playback on the buds, and the case takes that up to 18. They could be a good pick if you’re looking for true wireless earbuds for sport but don’t like the hook design of the Powerbeats Pro.
Author: Henry Burrell, Phones Editor
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.