Sony TWS for less than Rs 5,000? They exist, and they are pretty good too!

In terms of design, they are pretty basic and predictable. The buds are themselves are like dots with no stems and their case is capsule shaped. What makes them stand out is their weight - the case is barely 30 grams and each bud is less than 5 grams. And while the design is predictable, the blue and yellow shades of the buds do make them stand out, although those preferring more routine shades can go for black and white. They are pretty comfortable to wear, although like all (yes, ALL) TWS, they will fall out. They come with IPX4 water resistance, so can be used in a gym, but do not drop them into the water.

For their price, the WF-C510 deliver a very good performance. Their audio is balanced and not bass-heavy, as is seen in other Sony headphones and buds, The accompanying app (works with iOS and Android) gets you an equaliser, but the different settings do not make a huge difference. They do not have ANC, but have a very good transparency mode, and honestly, if you fit them well in your ears, most external sound will be blocked out anyways.

The control system on the buds can be a little difficult to get used to as you have to press the buds (no touch, folks, not at this price) and the controls are different for each bud. On the flip side, once you get used to it, you can pretty much control the buds without touching your phone - even volume can be controlled, and there are buttons for Spotify and a virtual assistant. Yep, these are pretty smart.

Call quality is also very good for the price point, and well, when you add about 8-10 hours of battery life, the Sony WF-C510 are a very handy option for those who want a TWS from a big brand. The TWS are not the most flashy around and the audio signature is kind of slightly bland, but will work well in most scenarios, as the clarity levels are impressive. Yes, there is no ANC, but ANC on most Rs 5,000 and below TWS is more present on spec sheets than in real world performance.

All said and done, at Rs 4,990, the WF-C510 are very good value for money if what you want are light, smart and steady pair of TWS from a well-known brand. We would have liked sound with a little more personality, but hey, for the price, these are rock solid in terms of consistency and reliability. There are TWS from the likes of OnePlus, Realme and Oppo with ANC and other features at lower prices, but hey, this is a Sony. That might be a deciding factor for many!