Today Sony is unveiling its next-generation open buds known as the LinkBuds Clip Truly Wireless Open Earbuds. Sony was among the pioneers in the open earbud space and after getting a chance to test these buds out for myself over the last few days, it looks like it’s delivering some of the better options on the market with its latest LinkBuds.
All-new Sony LinkBuds Clip Truly Wireless Open Earbuds
Like any good open buds, Sony has designed the new LinkBuds Open to securely clip around the outside of the ear, leaving users aware of their surrounding while immersed in music, audiobooks, and when taking calls.
This time around it is implementing a sort of C-shaped design alongside a pair of optional fitting cushions. They are much more secure and comfortable for me than the fin-like attachment design of the previous models too: so far so good in my testing – they fit really nice and stay in place without pinching the ear too much at all.
The new LinkBuds Open feature three listening modes you can switch between by tapping the outside of the buds. Standard mode is very much what it sounds like – the sort of default listening mode – while Voice Mode enhances the sound of the human voice, be it in music or when taking a call, for when you are in noisy environments. The third is Sound Leakage Reduction Mode, something Sony tells us it spent a lot of time dialing in for the Open LinkBuds:
In quieter spaces where you may be concerned people will hear what you are listening to, you can switch to Sound Leakage Reduction mode and enjoy your content without worrying about disturbing anyone.
Alongside the tap controls, the new buds feature battery life up to 37 hours with quick charge tech that allows for and additional hour of listening after just 3 minutes of charging. You’ll also find IPX4 water resistance, multi-point connection to easily swap between source devices, and special bone conducting technology to improve call quality:
LinkBuds Clip are equipped with advanced voice signal processing and high-precision voice pickup technology and deliver excellent call quality. Using a bone conduction sensor to precisely capture the user’s voice and an AI-based noise reduction system to eliminate background noise, LinkBuds Clip keeps the voice clear and natural, even in noisy environments.
The new Sony LinkBuds Clip Truly Wireless Open Earbuds come in four colorways – Black, Griege, Beige, and Lavender – carrying a list price at $229.99 shipped. They will be available today directly from Sony and over at Amazon.
I have only had a chance to test out the new buds for a few days so far, but I am very much liking what I’m seeing here. The call quality is far better than expected both in terms of making your voice audible and reducing chatter in the background for the person on the other end. And another highlight is the Sound Leakage Reduction Mode – while I don’t find myself using earbuds in extremely quiet environments all too often (at least not those where it matters if anyone can hear what I’m listening to), this tech is quite successful – I tested this with a friend and they had to get within a 5 inches or so of my ear to actually hear what was going on.
I also really like the look of these things. The case features a sort of dual-texture approach with a polished top and a more matte finish along the bottom – this makes the package look perhaps even more premium than the price would suggest. Another thing worth pointing out is that the more bulky piece of each earbud is actually hidden away behind the ear, making for a more elegant and clean look for the wearer.
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