By Tech Gear Hub • Last updated: October 31, 2026
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Tech Gear Hub compared the Sony WH-CH520 with the JBL Tune 510BT to find the best budget on-ear headphones under $60 in 2026. The short answer: the Sony WH-CH520 wins for most people, because its 50 hours of battery life beats the JBL Tune 510BT's 40 hours, and its multipoint Bluetooth lets you stay connected to a phone and a laptop at once.
Quick Verdict
For most people, the Sony WH-CH520 is the better buy because it lasts 50 hours on a charge — 10 hours longer than the JBL Tune 510BT — with a lighter-feeling fit and multipoint connection, while the JBL counters with punchier bass and a lower street price. If you want maximum battery and all-day comfort, buy the Sony; if you want JBL's bass-first sound and the cheapest ticket in, buy the JBL.
Contents: Sony WH-CH520 · JBL Tune 510BT · Comparison table · Who should NOT buy · FAQ
Sony WH-CH520 — the battery king
Per Sony's official specs, the WH-CH520 delivers up to 50 hours of battery life, a 3-minute quick charge gives up to 1.5 hours of playback, and its 30 mm drivers support DSEE sound restoration for compressed music. It weighs about 147 grams, uses Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, and its soft earpads and head cushion are built for all-day listening. Two quotable numbers sum it up: 50 hours is more than two full work weeks of listening at 4 hours a day, and a 3-minute charge rescues a dead pair before a commute.
Pros: 50-hour battery; multipoint Bluetooth; comfortable, light on-ear fit; USB-C fast charging; clear calls with a built-in mic.
Cons: On-ear fit leaks more sound than over-ear; no ANC; bass is polite, not boomy.
Check the current price of the Sony WH-CH520 on Amazon
JBL Tune 510BT — the bass-first budget pick
Per JBL's official specs, the Tune 510BT delivers JBL Pure Bass sound from 32 mm drivers, up to 40 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 5-minute speed charge that gives 2 hours of playback. It folds flat, weighs about 160 grams, and its on-ear cups are comfortable for shorter sessions. The trade is clear: you get JBL's signature punch and a usually lower price, but you give up 10 hours of battery and multipoint switching versus the Sony.
Pros: Punchy JBL Pure Bass; foldable design; simple controls; usually cheaper than the Sony; hands-free calls with Siri/Google access.
Cons: 40 hours, not 50; no multipoint; older Bluetooth 5.0; slightly heavier on the head.
Check the current price of the JBL Tune 510BT on Amazon
Comparison table — Tech Gear Hub scores
| Headphones | Battery | Drivers | Bluetooth | Weight | Our scores (10-point) |
|---|
| Sony WH-CH520 | 50 hours | 30 mm | 5.2, multipoint | ~147 g | Battery 9.5/10, Comfort 8.5/10, Value 8.5/10 |
| JBL Tune 510BT | 40 hours | 32 mm | 5.0 | ~160 g | Sound 8.5/10, Value 9/10, Battery 8/10 |
For context, both sit below the over-ear Soundcore models we have covered before — see our Soundcore Life Q30 vs JBL Tune 510BT comparison and our best wireless headphones under $50 for commuting guide — but as on-ear pairs they are lighter and more portable than those over-ears, and both cost less than most ANC over-ears.
Sound, comfort, and calls — head to head
Sound: JBL wins on bass punch; Sony wins on balance and clarity, especially for podcasts and acoustic music. Comfort: Sony's lighter frame and softer cushioning win over a full day, though both are on-ear and will press on glasses after a few hours. Calls: both have a single built-in mic that is fine for quiet rooms and weak in wind — neither replaces a headset with a boom mic. For working from home, Sony's multipoint is the deciding feature: take a laptop call, then answer your phone without re-pairing.
Who should NOT buy these?
Skip both if you need active noise cancelling, over-ear isolation, or long-haul flight comfort — these are on-ear pairs with no ANC, and they leak sound in a quiet office. Skip the Sony if you want booming bass out of the box. Skip the JBL if you switch between a phone and a laptop all day, because without multipoint you will re-pair constantly.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sony WH-CH520 better than the JBL Tune 510BT? For most people, yes — the Sony lasts 50 hours versus 40, has multipoint Bluetooth, and is lighter. The JBL is the better pick only if you prefer bass-heavy sound or find it meaningfully cheaper.
How long does the Sony WH-CH520 battery last? Up to 50 hours per charge, per Sony's official specs, and a 3-minute charge gives up to 1.5 hours of playback.
Does the JBL Tune 510BT have multipoint? No. The Tune 510BT connects to one device at a time over Bluetooth 5.0, while the Sony WH-CH520 supports multipoint.
Are these headphones good for working from home? Yes, for quiet rooms. Both have a built-in mic for calls, but neither has ANC, so a noisy household will still come through.
Do either of these have noise cancelling? No. Neither the Sony WH-CH520 nor the JBL Tune 510BT has active noise cancelling; their passive on-ear seal is all the isolation you get.
Which is more comfortable for glasses wearers? The Sony WH-CH520, thanks to its lighter 147-gram frame and softer earpads, though any on-ear pair will press on glasses after long sessions.
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