Sony WI-C100

The WI-C100's 25-hour battery life is its only standout feature, landing at the 80th percentile. Everything else is mediocre to bad, with comfort at the 1st percentile being the real killer. At $40 USD it's a niche buy for battery-obsessed users, but the CAD 125 price is just not worth it.

Let's start with the good news. The 25-hour battery life is the headline feature here, and it's legitimately strong. At the 80th percentile, it beats most of what we've tested in this category. The 10-minute quick charge for an hour of playback is also a practical touch that makes the battery story even better. Bluetooth 5.0 keeps the connection stable, though the connectivity score at the 55th percentile is just average. Nothing to write home about, but nothing that'll make you throw them across the room either.

The sound is where things get rough. At the 29th percentile, the audio quality is below average. Sony's marketing mentions rich bass and crisp treble, but our data suggests you're getting a pretty flat, unremarkable listening experience. The mic is even worse at the 40th percentile, so hands-free calling is functional but not something you'll brag about. And the ANC score at the 31st percentile means there's essentially no meaningful noise cancellation here. These are passive earbuds doing passive earbud things, just not particularly well.

Stacked against the competition, the WI-C100 struggles. The Soundcore P31i and SoundPEATS H3 both offer better overall packages in this price range, with sound quality that doesn't make you wince. The Anker Space A40 brings actual ANC to the table, which the Sony can't touch at the 31st percentile. The Nothing Buds 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are in a different league entirely, though they cost more. The Sony's only real advantage is that 25-hour battery, which beats most of these competitors. But battery life doesn't matter much when the earbuds are uncomfortable enough to make you want to take them out after 20 minutes.

At $40 USD, the WI-C100 is cheap, and that's the main thing it has going for it. The battery life alone might justify the price for someone who needs a pair of earbuds that can survive a full day without a charge. But the comfort issue is a huge caveat. A pair of earbuds you don't want to wear isn't a bargain at any price. The CAD 125 listing is a different story entirely. That's a significant jump, and at that price point you're competing with much better options. If you're in Canada, this is a hard pass. If you're in the US, it's a maybe, but only if battery life is your absolute top priority and you have ears that apparently don't mind whatever Sony did here.

The Sony WI-C100 is a neckband-style pair of wireless earbuds that gets one thing very right: battery life. At the 80th percentile in our database, the 25-hour runtime is genuinely impressive for the price, and the quick charge feature (10 minutes for 60 minutes of playback) is a nice bonus for forgetful chargers. But the comfort score is a problem. It sits at the 1st percentile, which is about as bad as it gets, and that's going to be a dealbreaker for a lot of people before they even get to the sound quality.

Speaking of sound, it lands at the 29th percentile. That's not great. The build quality is actually decent at the 79th percentile, and the IPX4 rating means sweat and light rain won't kill them. But when the thing you wear in your ears is uncomfortable and the audio is below average, you have to ask who this is really for. The answer, mostly, is people who prioritize battery life and brand name over everything else.

If you care about sound quality, skip these. The 29th percentile audio score means you're getting a below-average listening experience, and there are better-sounding options at this price. If comfort matters to you at all, definitely skip these. The 1st percentile comfort rating is the worst we've seen in this category, and no amount of battery life makes up for earbuds that hurt to wear. And if you're in Canada looking at that CAD 125 price, just walk away. You can get far better earbuds for that money.

The Sony WI-C100 is a one-trick pony, and that trick is battery life. If you need earbuds that last 25 hours and you're willing to put up with below-average sound, a mediocre mic, and comfort that ranks dead last in our database, then $40 USD isn't a terrible deal. But for most people, there are better options at this price. The comfort score alone is enough to steer us away. Sony makes great audio gear, but this isn't it.