We had reviewed the Sony WF-XB700 — the more affordable option from Sony — and were pleased as a punch with the overall performance of the earbuds. They lived up to the expectations and performance keeping in tune with their price point.

The Sony WF-SP800N are legit wireless sports earbuds with strong aesthetics, battery life, and sound, but are missing some features. The Sony WF-SP800N is a solid addition to Sony’s popular wireless earbuds lineup with dynamic audio, strong battery life, and water-resistant protection.

Deep, customizable sound, Superb battery life (on a single charge), IP55 water-resistant, Tons of features via Sony Headphones app, Modest active noise cancellation

Very buggy, Missing QN1e processor and other signature Sony features, Bulky, protruding design

With so many other great options available in this price point, the Sony WF-SP800N buds are too finicky for me to recommend to anyone Sure, Sony 360 Reality Audio is super cool, but these aren't the only headphones that are fully compatible.

Compatible with Sony 360 Reality Audio; Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration; IP55 sweat protection; 9-hour battery life; Good sound quality with EQ options; USB-C charging; Solid charging case quality

Touch-sensitive controls are hit or miss; Connection skips and stutters; Poor noise cancellation and isolation; Only feature AAC and not Sony LDAC; Price

In my continued quest for the perfect pair of wireless earbuds, I purchased the Sony WF-SP800N from Amazon a week ago for $198. These headphones promise nine hour battery life, active noise canceling, and IP55 dust/water resistance.

Excellent audio performance with strong bass; Very long battery life; High level of water resistance; Easy; reliable touch controls; Silicon fin and eartip for good fit

Fall out easily; Large size; Huge charging case; 360 Reality Audio limited to few subscription services

Sony’s noise-canceling WF-1000XM3 earbuds have been considered some of the best-sounding true wireless earbuds on the market since their release. But the 1000XM3s lack any kind of official sweat or water resistance, which means they’re not really cut out for running or other fitness use.

Secure; comfortable fit; Adequate noise cancellation; Bass has plenty of oomph for workout playlists

Overall sound quality isn’t as detailed or pleasing as 1000XM3s; Case lacks wireless charging and only has enough battery for one recharge; No multipoint Bluetooth pairing

The WF-SP800N is basically a sports variant of the WF-1000XM3 with a few features removed and with a slightly lower price point. It’s somewhat a mixed bag and will probably appeal to consumers who needs ANC and Ambient Sound feature during their workout routine, with good mic for calls.

Equalizer setting is saved to earbuds; Supports most of the premium features available in WF-1000XM3; Good mic pick-up and works with either earbuds

Overall chunky design; Large case but can only enough to charge the earbuds once; Average ANC quality

Sony shook things up last year when it launched its first set of true wireless active noise-cancelling earbuds, and now the new WF-SP800N are here to pick up that torch. With waterproofing and a lower price tag, they don’t replace the WF-1000XM3 but slot in underneath them.

Sound great and Extra Bass lives up to its name; Active noise cancellation is almost up to WF-1000XM3's; IP55 water/dustproofing is great for fitness use; Battery life is epic; Comfortable; secure fit

Charging case is bulky and lacks Qi; Doesn't quite match ANC/sound of WF-1000XM3's; Earbuds are a little heavy and protrude from your ears

Solid noise cancellation, powerful audio performance, and a water-resistant build make the Sony WF-SP800N a strong contender in this price range

Powerful audio performance with deep bass and sculpted highs; Excellent battery life; Water-resistant build; App has ANC and EQ controls; Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support

Limited controls; Large charging case offers less extra battery life than usual

These sporty in-ears offer a lot of Sony's smart ambient sound control and the noise-cancellation tech is the real star. Battery life is only average though, which is surprising given the size of the case. Overall these 'buds sound great and offer plenty of customisation.

Good noise-cancellation tech; Great ambient sound system; App offers lots of customisation; Great bass and sound quality; IP55 dust/water resistant

Case is really chunky; Headphones seem larger than they need to be; Controls won't cover all your needs

If you’ve spent any time looking at our roundup of the best true wireless earbuds over the last year, you know we think the world of Sony’s WF-1000XM3. They excel in so many areas, like noise cancellation, sound quality, and call quality, that you have to dig pretty deep to find any flaws. However, we were much less impressed with Sony’s last attempt at making a set of true wireless earbuds for the athletic crowd, the WF-SP700N. Lousy battery life was our chief criticism, and the active noise cancellation didn’t wow us. Sony’s follow-up, the $200 WF-SP800N, are a different story entirely. They’re now a bit pricier, but Sony appears to have applied all of the lessons it learned from the WF-1000XM3 to bring the SP800N up to par. Was Sony successful? Let’s take a closer look. The WF-SP800N follow the same general design that Sony has used for all of its earbuds — they have a slightly elongated body that protrudes from the ear. Gone is the odd lima bean shape of the WF-SP700N, but these ar...

Great sound; Class-leading battery life; Very good water and dust protection; Good active noise cancellation; Excellent call quality;

Bulky charging case; No wireless charging;