If you want longer battery life and sweat-resistant earbuds for workout, choose Sony WI-C100; if you need an extra-bass neckband with magnetic earbuds, choose Sony Wi-Xb400. For most workouts, I’d pick the WI-C100: its 25-hour battery and IPX4 splash resistance make it the more practical all-around choice, while the Wi-Xb400 has a clear appeal if its extra-bass design is your priority.
Sony WI-C100 vs Sony Wi-Xb400 at a Glance
• Sony WI-C100: Up to 25 hours of battery life, IPX4 water resistance, a flexible neckband, built-in microphone, and app-based sound adjustment. Its main trade-off is that it offers splash and sweat resistance, not an IPX7 waterproof rating.
• Choose the WI-C100 if longer listening time, sweat resistance, and the option to fine-tune sound matter most.
• Choose the Wi-Xb400 if you want a neckband with extra-bass positioning and magnetic earbuds for carrying.
• Neither model has noise control, so choose based on their stated battery, fit, sound features, and resistance details rather than expecting noise cancellation.
The WI-C100 is the more straightforward pick for someone who wants wireless earbuds that can stay in the rotation through workouts, errands, and calls. Its stated battery life is up to 25 hours, compared with 15 hours for the Wi-Xb400. That longer run time means fewer charging interruptions if you listen throughout the day or tend to forget to charge accessories between uses. If the battery is low, a 10-minute quick charge is described as providing up to 60 minutes of playback.
For workout use, IPX4 is the detail to focus on. Sony describes the WI-C100 as splash-proof and sweat-proof, which makes it a more clearly specified match for exercise than the Wi-Xb400. It is not an IPX7 waterproof option, though, so I would not treat the rating as permission to submerge the earbuds or use them in situations that require that level of water protection. A flexible neckband keeps the earbuds connected to the band, while physical buttons handle playback, track changes, volume, and calls. That can be a useful, uncomplicated control setup when you would rather press a button than navigate an app.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
The built-in microphone supports hands-free calling, and Sony’s Headphones Connect app lets you adjust the sound. DSEE is included to restore some high-frequency sound lost through compression. These features give the WI-C100 more ways to shape everyday listening than the Wi-Xb400’s listed details spell out. Fit still matters: the product notes that poorly fitting ear tips can affect sound and call performance, so getting a snug fit is part of getting the intended result.
Who should skip it: Skip the WI-C100 if you specifically want magnetic earbuds or are shopping for an IPX7 waterproof headset; its listed rating is IPX4.
Its neckband has flexible, lightweight cables, and the earbuds are magnetic for carrying. That magnetic detail gives the buds a way to stay together when they are not in use, which is useful when taking them off between a commute, a walk, or a workout. Bluetooth connectivity is listed with an effective range of about 10 meters, and the model supports hands-free calls and voice assistants. It also offers quick charging: a 10-minute charge is described as providing up to 60 minutes of playback.
The main compromise is battery life. The Wi-Xb400 is listed for up to 15 hours, ten hours less than the WI-C100’s stated maximum. Its product details also do not provide a water-resistance rating, so I would be cautious about choosing it specifically for sweaty or wet workouts. That does not establish that it cannot handle any moisture; it simply means the provided specifications do not give the same clear workout-related resistance guidance as the WI-C100’s IPX4 rating.
Who should skip it: Skip the Wi-Xb400 if long battery life or a clearly stated sweat-resistance rating is your deciding factor.
• Best for longer listening between charges → Sony WI-C100. It is listed for up to 25 hours, versus up to 15 hours for the Wi-Xb400.
• Best for a workout with sweat in the picture → Sony WI-C100. It has an IPX4 rating and is described as sweat-proof and splash-proof. Neither the rating nor the description makes it an IPX7 waterproof headset.
• Best if you want an extra-bass model → Sony Wi-Xb400. Its product description identifies it as extra bass and specifies 12 mm driver units.
• Best for adjusting sound through an app → Sony WI-C100. Its listed features include Sony’s Headphones Connect app and DSEE.
• Best for keeping the earbuds together when removed → Sony Wi-Xb400. The magnetic buds are designed to attach to one another for carrying.
• Best for physical playback and volume controls → Sony WI-C100. The listed buttons cover play, pause, track skipping, volume adjustment, and receiving calls.
• Best for voice-assistant compatibility → Sony Wi-Xb400. Voice-assistant support is specifically listed for this model.
• Best if you want a built-in mic for calls → Both. Each lists hands-free calling, though the WI-C100 also calls out its microphone and clearer-call features.
Before choosing either neckband, think about where and how you will wear it. For regular workouts, the WI-C100 has the more useful documented protection: IPX4 covers splash and sweat resistance. If your search is specifically for IPX7 waterproof headphones for workout, neither model matches that description based on the available specifications. The WI-C100 is IPX4, and no water-resistance rating is provided for the Wi-Xb400. That distinction is more useful than assuming that two wireless earbuds are equally suited to wet conditions.
Fit deserves attention, too. Both products come with ear tips, and their product notes warn that a poor fit can affect sound quality and call performance. That matters whether you are listening to music or using a with mic wireless earbuds for workout setup to take a call. A snug fit is not just a comfort detail in these descriptions; it is linked to how well the audio and microphone perform.
The neckband format is common to both, but their smaller details point to different routines. The WI-C100 emphasizes longer battery life, button controls, app-based sound adjustment, and IPX4 resistance. The Wi-Xb400 emphasizes extra bass, magnetic earbuds, and voice-assistant compatibility. Both offer a 10-minute quick charge for up to 60 minutes of playback, so that short-charge feature does not separate them as much as their full battery-life figures do.
Neither product lists noise control. If blocking outside sound is essential, these specifications do not support choosing either one for that purpose. For someone looking for the best wireless headset for workout, I would start by weighing documented sweat resistance and battery life against the Wi-Xb400’s extra-bass focus. The answer is not the same for every listener, but the difference in stated water protection is important if exercise is the main use.
For workout use, I would buy the Sony WI-C100. Its up-to-25-hour battery, IPX4 sweat and splash resistance, built-in mic, and straightforward buttons make it the more practical pick for the routine I would want from a workout neckband. The Sony Wi-Xb400 makes more sense if extra bass and magnetic earbuds matter more to you, but I would not choose it for sweat resistance on the information provided.
For workouts where sweat resistance matters, the WI-C100 has the clearer fit: it is rated IPX4 and described as sweat-proof and splash-proof. It also lists up to 25 hours of battery life, while the Wi-Xb400 lists up to 15 hours.
No IPX7 rating is listed for either model. The WI-C100 has an IPX4 rating, while the Wi-Xb400’s provided details do not state a water-resistance rating.
The Wi-Xb400 is identified as an extra-bass model and lists 12 mm driver units. Both models support hands-free calling; the WI-C100 specifically lists a built-in microphone and highlights clear hands-free calls.
Check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button, then weigh it against the features you will use. The WI-C100 offers longer stated battery life and an IPX4 rating; the Wi-Xb400 adds an extra-bass focus, magnetic earbuds, and voice-assistant compatibility.
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