Details
Brand
Sony
Model
WI-C300
Battery Life
8 hrs
Latest Version
No
Key Features
• Bluetooth 4.2 enabled• NFC compatible• Weighs 0.53 ounces• 8 hour listening time• In-line remote• Call compatible• Voice assistant compatible• 9mm drivers• Comes with extra earbud tip sizes• 30-foot range
Comfort
The simple little earbuds fit well in the ears and feature a wire connection which is useful when you need to pause and take out your headphones for a minute. The WICs weigh a little over half an ounce and come with extra earbuds (small, medium, and large), to help users find the right fit. They’re not designed for working out, so don’t expect these to stay in if you’re jumping around at your nearest CrossFit box. There’s no annoying ear hook to contend with, and the construction of the Sonys doesn’t cause allergic reactions or irritation. The headphones also feel quite lightweight, according to reviewers.
Style
The headphones come in red, teal, white, and black. The design is simple and understated. They look like your average pair of wireless headphones. For those who can’t get past the goofy look of Apple’s Air Pods, the Sony headphones offer an alternative. The short wire that connects the earbuds makes it apparent that you’ve got something in your ears and you’re not just humming to yourself or talking to an imaginary person. They essentially look like a less sleek version of Apple’s traditional wired headphones. The advantage? They’re cheaper and are likely to last longer than the bulk of budget headphones out there.
Activities
These headphones are designed for everyday listening. Whether you need headphones for listening to podcasts on your commute or you want a way to listen to music while you do yard work, the WIC300 is an affordable option. They’re not sweat or water resistant, so they’re not suitable for active pursuits, however. There are plenty of running-ready headphone options available, though. Sony even makes sport-specific headphone designs.;The basic design of these headphones is what explains the budget price tag. They don’t need to fit perfectly in the ear canal to prevent them from popping out during a run. If you’re not pumping iron or getting in a cardio workout, it’s unlikely that you’ll be exposing your headphones to sweat. Without these features, Sony is able to offer these headphones at an attractive price point.
Basic Features
These headphones are designed for everyday listening. Whether you need headphones for listening to podcasts on your commute or you want a way to listen to music while you do yard work, the WIC300 is an affordable option. They’re not sweat or water resistant, so they’re not suitable for active pursuits, however. There are plenty of running-ready headphone options available, though. Sony even makes sport-specific headphone designs.;The basic design of these headphones is what explains the budget price tag. They don’t need to fit perfectly in the ear canal to prevent them from popping out during a run. If you’re not pumping iron or getting in a cardio workout, it’s unlikely that you’ll be exposing your headphones to sweat. Without these features, Sony is able to offer these headphones at an attractive price point.
Advanced Features
These are your basic run of the mill headphones so don’t expect a host of fancy features to be included. The headphones have 9mm drivers for sound, and they’re Bluetooth enabled (version 4.2). The most advanced feature of the WIC headphones is that they are NFC enabled. NFC stands for ‘Near Field Communication,’ so you don’t have to bother with a tedious pairing, you just put the headphones closer to a smartphone or other device and pairing happens instantly.;The headphones also work with Siri and other voice assistants so you can access your smartphone calendar and reminders via the built-in microphone. The microphone also makes it possible to make and take calls.
Connectivity
The wireless headphones are Bluetooth 4.2 enabled and work with Google Assistant or Siri. They offer an average range of about 30 feet. There were no reports of connection or dropout issues. Pairing is easy, too, thanks to NFC compatibility. It’s a convenient feature most people won’t be able to live without in the near future. Holding your headphones near your device instantly pairs them. It takes the waiting out of the equation and makes it easy to switch from one device to another. Have you ever used a pair of headphones that require you to pair each time you wanted to use them? How about headphones that don’t allow pairing with more than one device at a time. Annoying right? NFC technology bypasses that so you don’t have to fiddle with your phone’s settings.
Ease of Use
The headphones feature an in-line remote which doesn’t work as well as reviewers would have liked. The remote is the weak spot of the device. The controls are not at all intuitive. It’s almost like Sony decided to design an upside down Apple remote. Reviewers complained that the odd remote configuration was frustrating and difficult to get used to. Even after some time, users still pressed the wrong buttons when trying to control their music. It’s the most annoying feature of the WICs. With in-line remotes, gone are the days where you’d need to pull out your phone to make volume adjustments and skip ahead when your least favorite song pops up. A poorly conceived remote, however, ruins the ultimate convenience of easy access controls.
Power Source
The headphones charge via Micro USB. You’ll need to plug them in for 2 hours to get a full charge. 8 hours of playback is what to expect from a fully charged set of Sony WIC300 headphones. The battery life is comparable to Sony’s wireless sports headphones. In fact, the WICs last on average about an hour longer than the XBs, which is mighty impressive for headphones that sit in a budget price range. On standby, the headphones will wait up to a whopping 200 hours until you want to use them again. Wow!;Battery life is important for several reasons. In the past, non-wired headphones didn’t need to be charged. You’d just leave them lying around and pop them in when you felt like listening to music. Wireless options require a little more attention. You need to make sure they’re charged for your next listening session, but humans are forgetful creatures. A longer battery life not only ensures you can listen uninterrupted for long periods of time, but it means you can afford to be forgetful and still expect some juice left for the next time you want to use your headphones.
Sound Quality
The sound is pretty great considering the budget cost of these wireless headphones. The bass is strong, and overall, reviewers said that the WICs delivered impressive sound for the price.;The headphones are not noise-isolating so on a particularly noisy commute you might find outside noises leak in more than you’d like. Avoid cranking the volume to drown out the sound, though. You’ll only hurt your precious ears.
Durability
The Sony headphones are sturdy and tough without added bulk, a marked difference from their XB80SB cousins. The biggest drawback? There’s no moisture protection at all. They’re not meant to handle repeated exposure to sweat and don’t mix well with rainy weather. Keep them away from moisture, and you’ll likely have a pair of headphones on your hands (or rather, in your ears) for a while. Reviewers had no issues with the cord breaking or cracking, and the earbuds themselves seemed to stand the test of time, as well.
Price
Far cheaper than Sony’s workout-focused headphones, the WIC300s lack some critical features, especially water resistance. That said, for a basic pair of music headphones, the Sonys offer good sound quality, good battery life, and a sturdy design. There are no reported connection issues, and the headphones perform as expected. You’d be hard-pressed to find a similar pair of headphones for the same price. If you don’t want to use your workout headphones for other listening sessions, consider investing in a second pair for non-running music enjoyment.
Bottom Line
These are not for the audiophile, but they’re still a quality budget set of wireless headphones. For those who don’t have the money to spend on higher-end models, the WIC300s are a good alternative. You won’t be wearing these to workout with. They’re simply not designed for rigorous activities, but for at-home listening or to keep you awake on your morning commute. The Sony headphones are a good choice. The wireless design is comfortable, the Bluetooth connection is reliable, you can use the headphones to answer calls, and you can choose from different earbud sizes to help ensure a proper fit inside your ear canal.;We don’t recommend buying these if you want a dedicated pair of headphones for working out. For most other listening scenarios, though, they’re an excellent option. If you can get past the weird controls and aren’t making a habit of singing out loud in the rain while you listen, the Sony WIC300s are an affordable option.
