Following the success of their wildly popular WF-1000XM4s, Sony has announced a new wireless earbud, but this one features an open-ear design and is named the Sony LinkBuds. The Sony LinkBuds are focused on allowing ambient noise in and essentially “linking” the online world and the offline world.
The unique design of the LinkBuds is intended to allow more ambient noise in so users can feel connected to their natural environment, while continuing to listen to their music, games, shows, etc., and as a result there is no active noise cancellation with these earbuds. At only 4 grams per earbud the LinkBuds are light and comfortable, and the IPX4 rating allows you to wear the buds all day long, no matter the activity. For the internals, the LinkBuds feature a 12mm ring driver powered by Sony’s own V1 processor, the same one found inside the WF-1000XM4s.
The LinkBuds are quite a compelling package given their wide set of features. Sony has packed a lot of technology into these compact earbuds. A significant strength of the LinkBuds is their Precise Voice Pickup technology that uses multiple microphones and voice signal processing to cut out background noise during calls so your voice is crisp and clear. Other key features of the LinkBuds include Adaptive Volume Control, which intelligently adjusts the volume based on your environment, and Wide Area Tap which allows you to control playback, volume, and more by simply tapping the skin in front of your ears. Sony’s convenient Speak-to-Chat feature is also present on the LinkBuds, which automatically pauses your music when you start speaking.
Furthermore, the LinkBuds are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and support Fast Pair for Android and Swift Pair for Windows. Connecting the LinkBuds to Sony’s Headphone Connect App allows you to customize controls, adjust EQ, and really take advantage of the LinkBuds and its extensive set of features.
In terms of battery life, the Sony LinkBuds can last up to 5.5 hours on a single charge, with the carrying case holding up to another 12 hours of charge. The case charges via USB-C which is nice, and has fast charge capabilities with 10 minutes of charging bringing an additional 90 minutes of playback time. One thing to note is that the LinkBuds do not have wireless charging.
The Sony LinkBuds are available now in either Dark Gray or White for a price of $179.99. Watch the video below for an in-depth review of the Sony LinkBuds.