Sony unveils their new LinkBuds range – in-ear headphones, open earbuds and a Bluetooth speaker
Sony has announced their new LinkBuds lineup, including two pairs of earbuds and a speaker: LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, and LinkBuds Speaker.
Sony launched LinkBuds in 2022. Originally just an open pair of earbuds, the LinkBuds brand has now expanded to include three new additions. LinkBuds Open follow a similar design to that of the original LinkBuds. LinkBuds Fit are an in-ear pair of earbuds. LinkBuds Speaker is an all-new portable speaker. While the three products are fairly different, they all follow the same design language and they’re built to work well together.
All three products have a new Sony feature called Auto Switch. This automatically switches the output source between headphones and speakers, depending on what it currently being used. Put the headphones on while music is playing through the speaker and the output will automatically switch to the headphones. Turn the headphones off or place them back in their charging case and music will start playing on the speaker, for continuous playback. If you don’t want the output to switch when you turn off your headphones, just pause the playback first.
You can setup Auto Switch in the Sony | Sound Connect app. Auto Switch is available on LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, LinkBuds Speaker and some older headphones via a firmware update, including Sony’s flagship earbuds and headphones, the WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5.
Although different in their design and target audience, there are a number of features that are available on both the LinkBuds Open and Fit earbuds. Keep scrolling to see the differences between the two.
Similarities start with the Air Fitting Supporters. These little wing tips provides wearers with a stable and comfortable fit. Both pairs of buds are also IPX4 water resistant, protecting them from splashes and sweat.
Use the Sony | Sound Connect app to connect to the buds and adjust settings such as EQ, ambient sound control, battery status, listening history and more.
Both the LinksBuds Open and Fit use the same Integrated Processor V2, which is the same as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM5 earbuds. This chip enables a bunch of different smart features.
Precise Voice Pickup Technology, along with advanced audio signal processing, a noise reduction algorithm and AI machine learning, help to reduce noise for clear calls.
Spatial sound technology with head tracking, as well as support for 360 Reality Audio provides a 3D effect for AR gaming and supported music streaming apps. This is enabled by analyzing your individual ear shape, to optimize audio to you. When paired with a Sony BRAVIA TV, both pairs of earbuds support Dolby Atmos and 360 Spatial Sound.
Tap controls are the same for both pairs of earbuds too. While you can double tap or triple tap the earbuds to control music playback as usual, with Wide Area Tap you can also tap in front of either earbud to save jabbing them further into your ears. Auto Play with support for Amazon Music Play Now, Spotify Tap and Endel, means you can simply tap the buds to start playing recommended music from your preferred service. With proximity sensors, removing the earbuds or placing them back in your ear will automatically pause or play the music. Both pairs of earbuds also support head gestures, which means you can simply nod or shake your head to start Auto Play or accept/reject calls. Audio notifications can be played through the earbuds. Voice assistance can be used to listen to music, get notifications, set reminders and more, by saying “Hey, Headphones”, “Hey Google”, or “Alexa”.
Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses music when you start speaking, then automatically starts playing again when you’re done.
Background Music Effect uses Digital Signal Processing to make audio sound as though it’s playing in your space, rather than in your head.
The buds connect via Bluetooth 5.3 and are LE Audio ready. In beta currently, this provides support for ultra-low latency for gaming and Auracast, which means you can share music from one device to multiple headphones. Audio is sent to both earbuds at the same time, which ensures a stable connection, lower latency and higher quality, than the conventional method of sending audio to one earbud, then that audio being shared to the other bud. Compatible Android devices get support for Google Find My Device and Fast Pair, for one tap Bluetooth pairing. Windows 11 and Windows 10 computers get Swift Pair. Google Find My Device support is coming to older Sony headphones too via a firmware update.
Multipoint connection means you can connect to two devices at the same time. Connected to your laptop, but need to pick a call quickly? No problem, the earbuds will automatically switch over.
Both pairs of earbuds are $199.99. The LinkBuds Open and Fit come in a handful of different colors, but can be further customizes with case cover and ear supporters in many different colors for an additional $9.99. They both come with a USB-C charging case, with a USB-C to USB-A cable included in the box.
LinkBuds Open
The LinkBuds Open follow the same idea as the original LinkBuds, with a similar eight-shape design.
A physical whole is built to let noise in and help you stay aware of your surroundings. Each bud weights just 5.1g with the supporters included. The case weighs 30.6g and measures 46 x 46 x 29.4 mm.
Internally, there’s an 11mm ring-shaped driver unit, high compliance diaphragm and neodymium magnet. These internals, along with DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) technology aims to provide the wearer with the best possible sound quality.
While the LinkBuds Open obviously don’t have ANC, with the whole premise being to let noise in, they do have Adaptive Volume Control, which will automatically adjust the volume based on the ambient noise where you are, so you can always hear your music.
LinksBuds Open last for 8 hours on a single charge, with 22 hours of total listening available with the case. A quick 3 minute charge keeps the earbuds going for 60 minutes. You’ll get a notification from the app when the case drops below 30%.
LinkBuds Open are available in Black, Violet and White, for $199.99. The White option features a marbled pattern on the top of the case.
LinkBuds Fit
Unlike the LinkBuds Open, with in-ear tips and ANC, LinkBuds Fit aim to help you tune out of the world.
Each earbud weight 4.9g, while the case weighs 41g and measures 47.2 x 47.2 x 32.6 mm. The LinkBuds Fit come with four sizes of soft silicone tips in the box.
Inside each LinkBuds Fit earbud, there’s an 8.4mm driver unit and the same diaphragm structure from Sony’s leading WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Dynamic Driver X ensure enhanced audio. With LDAC, there’s also support for High-Resolution Audio Wireless, which transmits three times more data than conventional Bluetooth. DSEE Extreme uses Edge-AI to upscale compressed digital music files in realtime.
With multiple microphones on each earbud along with with dual noise sensor technology, Auto Noise Canceling Optimizer and Ambient Sound Mode both analyze and optimize sound in realtime in your surroundings, to reduce excess unwanted sound, while letting in sounds you may want to stay aware of. You can adjust the level of ambient sound or noise canceling at any time in the app. Adaptive Sound Control keeps an eye on where you are and what you’re doing to change the ambient sound settings, learning patterns and adjusting over time.
There’s 5.5 hours of battery life on a single charge and 21 hours total with the case. A 5-minute change gives 60 minutes of listening.
The LinkBuds Fits are available in Black, Green, Violet and White, for $199.99. Green and White options come with a marbled pattern on the top of the case.
LinkBuds Speaker
Sony’s all-new LinkBuds Speaker is a stylish, relatively small, portable Bluetooth speaker. It measures 84 x 110 x 90 mm and weighs 520g.
It has IPX4 splash resistance, making it suitable for light use outdoors. There’s also a detachable loop, making it easy to attach it to a bag. With an included charging cradle, this easily transforms the portable speaker into a home speaker.
Internally, the LinkBuds Speaker houses a two-way speaker system, including a dedicated 16mm tweeter, 46x56mm woofer, which Sony calls the X-Balanced Speaker unit, and a passive radiator. The Sound Diffusion Processor expands sound in your space with DSP technology.
There are four buttons on top of the LinkBuds Speaker: volume up, volume down, play/pause/calls, and Quick Access. With support for Amazon Music Play Now, Spotify Tap, and Endel, Quick Access button give you fast access to your favorite music streaming service. There’s a power button on the back, under the loop. Underneath the speaker are two buttons: Bluetooth pairing and battery status.
The LinkBuds Speaker has a top mounted microphone for calls. It has echo-cancellation, and is acoustically isolated from vibrations and other interference. Situated on top of the device, it can pick up sound from any direction.
Multipoint support means you can connect up to two Bluetooth devices to the speaker at once. This makes it easy to switch devices quickly. You can also connect two LinkBuds Speakers together for stereo sound. The speaker also support Fast Pair on Android and Swift Pair on Windows 10/11, for quick pairing.
The battery is good for 25 hours on a full charge. Quick charging can give you 70 minutes of listening from a 10 minute charge.
Use the Sony | Sound Connect app to adjust settings, EQ, timer and shortcut settings. There’s a 5-band equalizer and CLEAR BASS setting, allowing you to customize the sound. The timer allows you to set playlists to play at certain times. Shortcut settings gives you control over Auto Switch, the Quick Access button and Auto Play.
LinkBuds Speaker is available in the US only, in Black and Light Gray, for $179.99.