Sony’s WF-1000XM4 headphones may be some of the best you can buy today, but they don’t come cheap. At $ 279, it can be difficult to justify this cost, regardless of the value of the ANC. If you’re looking for a similar design with a much lower price tag, Sony’s upcoming WF-C500 might be the set for you.
This leak is courtesy of The Walkman Blog, which managed to get an early listing of these headphones on the Walmart website. While you shouldn’t expect premium sound or noise reduction from the WF-C500s, they seem to be a great budget pair of buds, especially if you’re looking for something perfect for fitness. With IPX4 splash and sweat resistance, they will survive workouts in the gym or long runs in the rain.
The WF-C500 compared to the WF-1000XM4.
Design-wise, these look like a smaller, more user-friendly version of the 1000XM4, without the bronze metal bolt and offering a shallower fit in the ear. That hasn’t stopped Sony from improving battery life. With up to 10 hours on a single charge (and 20 hours in total with the case), these should have a trouble-free working day.
Walmart’s website listed the price at $ 79.99 – a far cry from the triple-digit cost of Sony’s flagship headphones. You can expect them to be black, green, white, and orange, although some of these colors may be region-locked. Hopefully, an official announcement isn’t too far away.
