Sony LinkBuds

Unique design

Sound quality varies with fit

Even with all of the handy tech Sony packs in, earbuds need to be comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time, and the area around the unique ring-shaped drivers is simply too hard to be accommodating. Consistent audio performance would make a...

Unique, sound-permeable design Very good "open" sound quality Excellent for voice and video calls Wide Area Tap feature Wear sensors EQ and control customization IPX4 water resistance

Poor battery life Not good for noisy environments Not very secure and may not fit some ears No wireless charging No Bluetooth Multipoint

“With the LinkBuds, tuning in your music doesn't mean tuning out everything else.”

Unique style that’s very comfortable ; Fantastic voice call performance ; Keeps you aware of your surroundings

So-so battery life ; Not practical in loud environments ; No Bluetooth multipoint

Sony’s new LinkBuds have a very unique look and an open design that lets in outside noise so you can stay aware of what’s happening while listening to your music. They’re also among the best earbuds for voice calls.

One-of-a-kind design ; Wide Area Tap is revolutionary ; IPX4 water resistance ; Decent sound quality (most of the time)

Weird fit is not for everyone ; Limited bass ; Middling battery life ; Call quality could be better

The Sony LinkBuds are an amazingly unique idea: the next logical step in audio transparency and a huge step forward for how we control earbuds. But they need more time in the oven before they can reach perfection.

EQ and presets in-app. IPX4 rating for water resistance. Small, portable design. Adequate overall mic performance. Good build quality.

Sound profile lacks bass. Designed to let you hear ambient sound. Recorded speech sounds a bit distorted. Poor passive soundstage. Mediocre stability. No multi-device pairing. Control scheme lacks call-related functions. Relatively short battery life.

The Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless are poor for neutral sound. Like most open headphones, their sound hardly has any bass, so your audio lacks thump, punch, and boom. The treble response is underemphasized, hurting the detail of instruments and vocals...

Design allows you to naturally hear your surroundings ; IPX-4 Water Resistant ; No earwax buildup and gunk ; Premium sound quality with good bass ; Lots of app features ; Custom equalizer ; Autoplay/pause

Not the most secure fit ; No wireless charging ; No magnetic lock, buds need to be snapped into the chunky case ; Touch controls aren’t very reliable, not completely customizable ; You may want another pair of headphones for loud environments

Sony LinkBuds offer a unique open-ear design that lets you stay connected to your surroundings while still delivering high-quality audio. Notable catches are that you may not always want to hear your surroundings, and the unusual fit is comfortable but...

Innovative open design lets outside sounds in ; Balanced sound, great EQ in-app ; Great for voice calls ; Enhanced area tap controls ; Tiny case

Sound is OK, but not meant for deeply immersive experiences ; No wireless charging on the case ; No Bluetooth multipoint ; Battery life is so-so

Very comfortable and secure fit ; Open ring lets you hear environmental sounds ; No buttons needed, tap your face ; Quick charge support ; Full-featured smartphone software ; Made with recycled plastic

5.5 hour battery life ; No wireless charging support ; Can only use right earbud alone