Sony’s first attempt at truly wireless earbuds last year was a disappointment: the $200 noise-canceling WF-1000X buds had subpar battery life, severe audio sync issues when watching video, and intermittent connection dropouts. Now, Sony is back with another try and a more specific focus: sports. The $180 WF-SP700N are clearly designed for runners and gymgoers. They’re water / sweat resistant, and they fit securely in your ears without budging even the slightest bit, no matter how vigorous the exercise. They’ve got a rumbling, bass-heavy sound and digital noise cancellation.
But they also come with some of the same problems as Sony’s all-purpose truly wireless earbuds: battery life remains disappointing, the video sync issue is still present, and the audio occasionally cuts out.