Sony INZONE Buds

Overall Score

4.0/5

Pros

Excellent battery life
Impressive audio quality
Includes active noise cancelling
2-color options
Comfortable fit

Cons

No Bluetooth connection
Earbud case not very durable
InZone Hub app only on PC
No wireless charging
Expensive

Sony INZONE Buds

“If you’re a hardcore PC or PlayStation gamer who pulls all-nighters and hates being tethered to a cable, these are easily one of the best earbuds you can buy now“

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So, these Sony INZONE Buds are actually pretty different from your typical earbuds. Instead of just being for your phone or listening to music on the go, they’re really built for PC and console gamers. The “secret sauce” is the USB dongle you plug into your PC or PlayStation 5. It sets up a wireless connection, which is way faster than standard Bluetooth—meaning you won’t deal with that annoying lag while you’re playing. Are these earbuds worth the buy? Let’s explore and see in this review, by breaking it down to see what we like about them, what we don’t like about them, and what other great earbuds are available in the market. So, without wasting any time let’s get to Sony INZONE Buds review.

Table of Contents

Overview

Basically, the Sony INZONE Buds are what happens when Sony takes the high-end tech from their best music earbuds and tweaks it specifically for people who enjoy gaming on PC or on PlayStation 5. Instead of just relying on standard Bluetooth (which usually has that annoying lag), these come with a little USB-C dongle. You plug that into your computer or console, and it creates a super-fast connection so the sound hits your ears the exact second something happens on screen.

So, why are these earbuds so impressive you may ask? Firstly, they actually use the same internal drivers as Sony’s flagship XM5 earbuds, so the audio is crisp—great for catching footsteps or just vibing to a soundtrack. Second, these things are marathon runners. You get about 12 hours of sound on a single charge, which is almost double what most “normal” earbuds give you.

Thirdly, they have solid Active Noise Cancellation, so if your fan is whirring or someone’s vacuuming nearby, you can just zone out. And lastly, it comes with spatial audio, which lets you ‘take’ photos of your ears (seriously) with an app to customize the 3D sound made specifically to your ears.

So, what’s the catch? They’re pretty much need a USB dongle to connect. While they’re limited Bluetooth connectivity, they use a newer version called LE Audio, so they won’t even connect to older iPhones or some older Android phones without that dongle plugged in.

Features – Sony INZONE Buds (WFG700NW.CE7)

True wireless in-ear gaming headset
360° spatial sound for Windows PC and PS5
Comfortable fit
Low Latency
Active noise cancelling
Supports 2.4GHz wireless connection via the USB Type-C dongle
LE audio connection

What’s To Like

1. Impressive Battery Life

So, the battery life on the INZONE Buds is actually impressive. Sony claims you’ll get around 11 hours of battery life using the USB dongle and a crazy 18 hours over Bluetooth LE. If you turn off the noise canceling feature, Sony claims you’ll get even more battery life, even reaching up to 24 hours.

But honestly? From our tests done, they actually performed even better than Sony said they would. With the noise canceling turned on, we managed to get over 12 hours on the USB connection. When we switched to Bluetooth, they lasted for more than 20 and a half hours straight—which is literally the best battery life I’ve ever seen on a pair of wireless earbuds. I can’t even imagine how long they’d last if I actually turned the noise canceling off.

The fast charge is legit, too. Sony says 5 minutes of charging gets you an hour of play, but I actually got a little over an hour using the dongle and almost an hour and a half on Bluetooth. Overall, the battery life of the INZONE earbuds goes beyond the expected making it an impressive feature for the earbuds.

2. The Anti-Lag Connection

The standout feature is the USB-C Dongle. While most earbuds use standard Bluetooth, these use a 2.4GHz wireless connection. How does that benefit? It brings latency down to under 30ms.

In plain English, that means when you play ‘Call of Duty’ and you press the R2 trigger button on the controller to ‘fire’, you hear the gun fire sound instantly. There’s no lag between the screen and your ears which is an impressive feature for gaming.

3. Impressive Audio Quality

The overall impression on the sound quality is that they are basically a gaming version of Sony’s top-tier music earbuds. They use the same drivers as the XM5s, so you’re getting a really nice, warm sound that’s great for both gaming and just listening to music. The bass is punchy without being overwhelming, though it doesn’t have that “earth-shaking” rumble some people love.

One thing to note: Keep Sony’s spatial audio software turned off when gaming on PC. Even after the whole process of taking pictures of your ears, it apparently sounds kind of muddy and makes it harder to tell where noises are coming from. You’re way better off using the game’s own 3D audio (like Dolby Atmos) while keeping the buds in standard stereo mode.

If you’re on PlayStation 5, you don’t have to worry as much because the console handles all the 3D audio processing itself, and it sounds way more natural. Here’s a heads-up: if you switch to Bluetooth, the sound quality dips just a little bit—it’s slightly duller and less detailed than when you’re using the USB dongle, but it’s still solid for casual listening.

4. Active Noise Canceling Works Well

This is one of the other best features of these earbuds that we appreciate. Because they’re Sony, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) works really well, especially when filtering out unwanted noise from cooling fans or or the click-clack from mechanical keyboards. If you’re in a noisy dorm or house, it completely puts you in the zone.

What’s Not To Like

While the Sony INZONE Buds are top-tier for gaming, they definitely have a few quirks that might be deal-breakers depending on how you plan to use them.

1. Limited Bluetooth Connection

This is by far the biggest headache. Sony decided the earbuds to on support Bluetooth LE (which means Low Energy). The problem here is that most of the devices don’t support this feature.

I remember trying to connect to my iPhone 15 smartphone with no luck, even my Nintendo Switch console didn’t connect at all. Unless your phone is brand new, you can’t just “pair” them like normal headphones. You’re forced to plug in that USB-C dongle even for simple things like listening to a podcast on your phone.

2. Poor Microphone Quality

For expensive earbuds, the mic is a bit of a letdown. While it uses AI to cancel out your background noise (like a loud keyboard), your own voice can end up sounding thin, muffled, or “distant”. It’s fine for a casual Discord chat, but if you’re a streamer or super competitive about your comms, a dedicated headset mic will blow these out of the water.

3. Earbud Case & Charging Limitations

Sony skipped some “premium” features that are standard on other buds at this price. Firstly, There’s no wireless charging. You have to plug them in via USB-C. There’s no dropping the case on a charging pad. Next is the size of the case. Because it has to hold the USB dongle inside, the case is much larger and feels awkward to carry around in your pocket compared to smaller cases like AirPods.

4. Finicky Touch Controls

It has been noted from other reviewers that they often complain about the touch-sensitive areas on the earbuds as being “moody.” It can be hard to tell exactly where to tap, leading to accidental volume changes or missed commands when you’re just trying to adjust the fit in your ear. From our experience, it’s a minor issue. Plus, you can’t fully customize these controls unless you’re on a PC using the INZONE Hub app.

Alternatives – Sony INZONE Buds Vs

1. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

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Deciding between these two really boils down to whether you want a “Swiss Army knife” or a high-end audio experience. Let’s break it down.

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the way to go if you’re a multi-platform gamer. They work with Xbox consoles. They easily connect using Bluetooth for your phone (unlike the Sony buds), and let you take calls without pausing your game. Plus, they have wireless charging and a ton of fun EQ presets.

Whereas the Sony INZONE Buds are for the PC and PlayStation 5 purists. They sound noticeably richer and the active noise cancellation is way better. They also have the edge on battery life, so they’re perfect for those marathon sessions where you just want to disappear into the game.

Bottom Line? Choose the SteelSeries GameBuds if you want one pair of buds that works with everything you own, or choose Sony INZONE Buds if you just want the best sound quality, impressive noise cancelling and long battery life.

2. ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova

★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5

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These two are basically a toss-up between “feature-packed versatility” and “pure endurance.” Here’s the quick rundown.

The ASUS ROG Cetra SpeedNova are the better “all-arounders.” Unlike the Sony buds, they have standard Bluetooth, so they actually work with your phone or laptop without a dongle. They’ve got cool RGB lighting, a bone-conduction mic for clearer calls, and the case supports wireless charging. Plus, they have multipoint connection, so you can stay connected to your phone and your game at the same time.

If we look at the Sony INZONE Buds, these are built for marathon sessions. The battery life is insane—nearly double what the ASUS offers (12 hours vs. ~7). The noise cancellation is also elite, borrowed from Sony’s high-end music headphones, so they’re much better at blocking out a loud fan or keyboard.

The Bottom Line: Go with ASUS if you want one pair of buds for your phone, PC, and daily life. Go with Sony if you just want the best battery life and silence for long, competitive gaming sessions.

3. Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro

★★★⯪☆ 3.5 out of 5

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Deciding between these two is a classic “flash vs. stamina” trade-off. Here’s how they stack up.

The Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds are for gamers that carve aesthetic and versatility. They’ve got the RGB lighting and, unlike the Sony buds, they use standard Bluetooth, so they actually play nice with iPhones and older Androids. You also get wireless charging and a “Gaming Mode” that keeps things snappy even without the dongle.

If you compare them to Sony INZONE Buds, these are the marathon runners. The battery life is the real winner here—you get over 12 hours of playtime, whereas the Razers usually tap out around 4 to 6. Sony also wins on noise cancellation and mic clarity, making them much better at blocking out a loud room so you can focus.

Go with Razer Hammerhead Pro if you want the RGB glow and need a pair that easily jumps between your phone and your console. Or you can go with Sony’s INZONE buds if you prioritize elite battery life and silence for those “all-day” gaming sessions.

4. Sony Pulse Explore

★★★☆☆ 3.0 out of 5

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With these two earbuds, it’s basically a battle between “PlayStation ecosystem perks” and “better overall specs”.

With Sony Pulse Explore earbuds, these are really exclusively for the PlayStation 5 superfans, especially if you own a PlayStation Portal. They connect to the Portal without a dongle and use “planar magnetic drivers,” which basically means the audio is incredibly crisp. You can also stay connected to your phone and the console at the same time.

Whereas with Sony INZONE Buds, for most people, these are actually the better pick. They have Active Noise Cancellation (which the Pulse Explore totally lacks) and the battery life is a beast at 12 hours compared to the Pulse’s measly 5 hours. They’re also generally considered more comfortable for long sessions than the bulkier Pulse design.

The Bottom Line: Grab the Pulse Explore if you’re a Portal user or an audiophile who needs that simultaneous Bluetooth connection. Go with the INZONE Buds if you want noise cancellation, comfort, and a battery that actually lasts all day.

Verdict

So, what’s the final verdict? Honestly, the Sony INZONE Buds are a bit of a specialist tool. If you’re a hardcore PC or PlayStation gamer who pulls all-nighters and hates being tethered to a cable, these are easily one of the best earbuds you can buy now.

The battery life is basically a cheat code—it just keeps going—and the active noise canceling is legit enough to let you actually hear what’s happening in-game without your PC fans ruining the vibe.

That being said, they aren’t exactly “all-rounders.” If you were hoping to use these as your main earbuds for your iPhone or for your workouts, the limiting Bluetooth feature and the chunky case will get annoyed fast. You’re really paying for that lag-free dongle connection and the high-end sound drivers.

Bottomline: Buy it if you want earbuds with the best battery life in the game, with top-tier noise canceling, and for mostly gaming on PlayStation 5 or modern PC. Look elsewhere if you need a pair of buds to rule them all (including your phone), or if you’re on a tight budget. They’re a solid investment for your gaming setup, but just make sure your phone is actually compatible before you pull the trigger.

So, what are your thoughts on the Sony INZONE Buds review? Are they the earbuds you’re looking for? Does it meet you expectations as a gamer? If not, what do you thing of the alternatives? Let me know what your thoughts are at the comments here below. And if you wanna find out more about these awesome earbuds, CLICK HERE 😀