We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a lightweight on-ear pair that folds flat, charges over USB-C and keeps going for the better part of a work week, choose SONY Headphones WH-CH510; if you need maximum battery life, newer Bluetooth and app-based sound tuning for long sessions — including bluetooth headphones for running — choose JBL Tune 520BT.
• SONY WH-CH510 — biggest strength: up to 35 hours of playback, a swivel-flat design, a 30 mm dynamic driver and voice-assistant control in a simple, no-app-needed package.
• SONY WH-CH510 — biggest trade-off: older Bluetooth 5.0, a 4.5-hour charge time, and no companion EQ app, so you take the tuning as it comes.
• JBL Tune 520BT — biggest strength: up to 57 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.3, a 2-hour charge with a 5-minute top-up for 3 extra hours, and a free EQ app.
• JBL Tune 520BT — biggest trade-off: no noise cancellation at all, and the fit can run tight out of the box, which matters if you plan to wear them while moving.
• Who the SONY fits: someone who wants a dependable, familiar-feeling on-ear headset for calls, commuting and desk work without fiddling with settings.
• Who the JBL fits: someone who hates charging, wants to shape their own sound, and needs the longest possible runtime between plug-ins.
The WH-CH510 is the simpler of these two headphones, and that is not a knock. Sony built it around a 30 mm dynamic driver with a 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range and a 42-ohm impedance, paired with Bluetooth 5.0 and a line-of-sight range of roughly 10 meters. Supported codecs are SBC and AAC, which covers the basics for Android and Apple phones alike. There is no headphone jack, so this is a Bluetooth-only headset — worth knowing before you buy.
Battery is the headline number here: up to 35 hours of playback. That is a full working week of listening for most people, and Sony charges it over USB-C (full charge takes about 4.5 hours). The earcups swivel flat, so it slides into a bag or a suitcase pocket without a fight, and the on-ear plastic build keeps the weight down at 11.2 ounces for the whole package.
Where it earns its place is hands-free use. There is a built-in microphone for calls and voice-assistant commands, and the control method is voice-based, so you can talk to your phone without pulling it out. If you take a lot of calls at a desk, walk to work with a podcast on, or want a pair you can hand to a teenager without explaining an app, this is a sensible pick. I would skip it if you want to tune the sound yourself, want active noise cancellation, or need the absolute longest runtime on the market — the spec sheet simply does not promise those things.
The Tune 520BT leans hard into endurance. JBL rates it at up to 57 hours of playback on a single charge, and the charge itself is fast: roughly 2 hours for a full top-up, or a 5-minute quick charge for about 3 extra hours of music. That combination is genuinely useful if you are the type who forgets to plug things in until the battery icon turns red. Bluetooth 5.3 is the newer wireless standard of the two, and the range is also about 10 meters.
Sound is positioned around JBL Pure Bass, delivered through a dynamic driver covering 20 Hz – 20 kHz, with 30-ohm impedance and 102 dB sensitivity — relatively easy to drive from a phone. The bigger differentiator is software: the free JBL Headphones App adds an EQ so you can shape the tuning to your taste, and voice prompts in your chosen language walk you through the features. Controls live on the ear cup, and Voice Aware lets you hear your own voice during calls instead of shouting into the mic.
Two honest caveats. First, noise control is listed as none — there is no ANC and no active noise cancellation of any kind, so this is a passive-isolation headphone. Second, JBL's own guidance notes the headset can feel too tight at first and suggests stretching it over a ball for a day or adjusting the earpiece length until both sides fit. That is a normal on-ear break-in ritual, but it does mean the fit is not guaranteed perfect on day one. The flat-folding design and 5.5-ounce weight help it travel well.
• Best for battery life → JBL Tune 520BT. Up to 57 hours versus up to 35 hours is a big gap, and the 5-minute/3-hour speed charge is the real winner for forgetful chargers.
• Best for charging convenience → JBL Tune 520BT. A 2-hour full charge beats the SONY's roughly 4.5 hours, though both use USB-C.
• Best for newer wireless tech → JBL Tune 520BT. Bluetooth 5.3 is a generation ahead of the SONY's Bluetooth 5.0.
• Best for sound customization → JBL Tune 520BT. The JBL Headphones App EQ is something the WH-CH510 simply does not offer.
• Best for simplicity and voice control → SONY WH-CH510. Voice-assistant commands and voice-based control mean no app, no EQ screen, no setup beyond pairing.
• Best for lighter travel weight → JBL Tune 520BT. At 5.5 ounces against 11.2 ounces for the SONY package, the JBL is the easier one to forget you are carrying.
• Best for hands-free calling on both → either. Both have built-in mics; the JBL adds Voice Aware, the SONY adds voice-assistant access.
• Best for noise reduction → neither, strictly speaking. The SONY lists active noise cancellation and the JBL lists none, so if silence is the priority, look beyond both of these.
If I were buying one of these today, I would take the JBL Tune 520BT. The 57-hour battery, the fast top-up charging, Bluetooth 5.3 and the EQ app give me more headroom for the way I actually listen — long stretches without a charger, and a sound I can adjust instead of accepting. For running, a light 5.5-ounce on-ear that folds flat is also easier to live with than a heavier set, though neither is a sweat-proof sport model and true bone conduction headphones for running would be the better category if that is your main goal.
That said, I would not argue with anyone who picks the SONY WH-CH510. It is the more straightforward headphone: pair it, talk to your assistant, take calls, and forget about apps entirely. If you want zero setup friction and a swivel-flat design, it is the calmer choice. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit — the numbers move, and the right call depends on what you are paying today.
FAQ
Be careful here. The SONY WH-CH510 data sheet lists active noise cancellation as a noise-control feature, while the JBL Tune 520BT lists noise control as none. Neither is a flagship ANC headphone, and the JBL relies purely on the physical seal of its on-ear cups. If blocking out an airplane cabin is your priority, this pair is not the category to shop in.
Both are on-ear Bluetooth headphones with no headphone jack and no water-resistance rating listed, so I would not call either a dedicated running headphone. The JBL's lighter 5.5-ounce build and flat-folding shape make it the more portable of the two for walks and light activity. For real workouts, especially if you want to hear traffic, bone conduction headphones for running are the more appropriate design.
Both list an adult age range, so they are not marketed as kids headphones. That said, they are simple on-ear Bluetooth designs with no cables to snag, which is why some parents consider them for older children. For kids headphones for running or sport, look for a model with a stated fit and durability rating for that use instead.
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