- Sony launches new IER-EX15C wired buds for $29.99 (about £22 / AU$45)
- USB-C connection with in-line remote and mic
- Four colors and three ear-tip sizes
If you're looking for a simple and straightforward set of very affordable earbuds, Sony may have just the thing. The new IER-EX15C earbuds are wired USB buds with an in-line remote, a built-in mic for calls and a tangle-resistant cable.
There are four colors to choose from, and in keeping with the theme they have no-nonsense names instead of fancy marketing creations: the color choices are black, white, blue and pink.
Best of all, they're really cheap: just $29.99. That's about £22 / AU$45 before tax. That's a little more than the likes of Apple's EarPods, but I prefer the Sony's shape and fit.
No battery means no battery anxiety
Sometimes simple is better: if you're scatterbrained like I am and keep forgetting to charge your wireless buds, the presence of a good old-fashioned cable means the difference between tunes and no tunes. And the USB-C cable should work with pretty much any audio source.
The buds are small and lightweight, with three ear tip sizes for a secure fit and the in-line remote handles volume, play/pause and mic muting.
The drivers here are 5mm. Sony says they deliver rich bass and clear vocals, and I've listened to enough music on enough sets of budget Sonys over the years to expect these to sound perfectly fine for the money you're spending. Of course there are better wired earbuds out there, but even our current affordable pick of the best wired earbuds cost three times more than these Sonys.
The IER-EX15C earbuds are cheap, cheerful and colorful, and sometimes that's all you need. They're available from Sony and the usual retail outlets.
English (US) ·