There’s a hole in there!
Optically, the Sony LinkBuds go unfamiliar ways. There are no in-ear attachments or plugs here. In front of the ear canal is a speaker disk with a hole in the middle. The design is strikingly reminiscent of a fidget spinner – a trending ball bearing toy that was incredibly popular in 2017. For those who aren’t too keen on pop culture, Half of the LinkBuds are tiny speaker donuts.
Do you remember the popular fidget spinners from 2017? There is a great deal of similarity in the design of the LinkBuds!
And the other half? It consists of a small plastic dome that houses most of the technology. To prevent this part of the in-ear from tipping out of the ear, additional rubber wings anchor the entire construct in the auricle. The Japanese include five wing sizes (XS, S, M, L and XL) for different sized eavesdroppers.
Absolute transparency
The wearing comfort of the LinkBuds is pleasantly high, which is due to the low weight of just 4 grams per in-ear in addition to the design. Thanks to protection class IPX4, the headphones are protected against splash water, but users should not get hectic during sports. The reason: The LinkBuds slip quickly with heavy movements, depending on the type of ear, there can be a free flight. However, there is no rest during sports or other activities: the hole in the headphones ensures a very high level of transparency. Ideal for enjoying music while working in the office or on the road, because approaching colleagues or vehicles immediately get in your ears.
Due to the construction and the low weight, the Sony LinkBuds are very comfortable to wear.
This is what the LinkBuds sound like
Speaking of getting into your ears: the sound has light and shade due to the construction. Unsurprisingly, the LinkBuds sound very spacious, and the highs and voices also benefit from the extra portion of air on the ear. However: Since the technology is only on the outside, any bass fizzles out. Especially at high volume it starts to get really noisy. Users must ensure that they are correctly seated in their ears, otherwise unpleasant vibrations occur. Sony’s 3D sound “360 Reality Audio” is also part of the game, but the selection of corresponding music is still very small.
The speaker with a hole lets ambient noise through, the rest of the technology is in the in-ear bud.
Moderate battery life
A long battery life is not unimportant for headphones. The Sony LinkBuds leave springs here, because due to the very compact design there was no space for a large battery. With a full charge, the in-ears can last five hours at a time. That’s quite little, since the Sony brother WF-1000XM4 manages well over ten hours. A short pit stop of ten minutes in the case provides power for another 90 minutes. According to Sony, the small and pocket-friendly transport and charging box extends the playing time by another twelve hours. Charging takes place here again via a USB-C port on the back, wireless charging via induction is missing.
Cheek (bone) control
The in-ears are controlled via typing commands on the headphones – or, if desired, via the cheeks and cheekbones! Thanks to the “wide range tapping” feature, the LinkBuds perceive vibrations on the head and convert them into commands. For example, two taps with the fingertip on the cheek are enough to increase the volume, three taps reduce it again. Title skipping, playback and pause are also possible. Both in-ears offer different commands separately from each other. Customers use the associated app to determine what happens with the corresponding typing commands.
The “Sony Headphones Connect” app gives users access to many great LinkBuds functions.
Sony app as a secret star
Price and availability of LinkBuds
The Sony LinkBuds are commercially available. The colors are white and gray to choose from, the price is 179 euros.
Sony LinkBuds review: conclusion
The Sony LinkBuds inspire with a light and transparent wearing comfort that does not seal you off from the outside world, but welcomes you with open arms. The design is interesting, but it also has its weaknesses: there was no room for a large battery, which results in a short runtime. The pleasantly spacious sound is not entirely convincing due to the construction, and the bass in particular falls by the wayside. The “Sony Headphones Connect” app, which offers many setting options, is once again really good. test grade: 2.5.