Sony LinkBuds Open review

18 November 2024
These are fairly unique, open-ear style earbuds which take the open-ear concept to a new level.

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  • a
  • ashm
  • S4R
  • 30 Jan 2025

The review is correct. I have slightly smaller ears, but a typical shape, and these earbuds just fall off my ears. If I try to force them into the ear canal, it just hurts. The wing tip is also useless. The sound quality is worse than most cheap semi open earbuds that has been here for decades. The only good thing about them is the style.

I think Sony made a big mistake by releasing these earbuds. There must be so many returns...

    • s
    • stfu
    • S0w
    • 10 Jan 2025

    No sure what exactly about them makes them so much more expensive than gen1, longer battery life certainly isn't, and decreasing adjustability with only one size available now. Fun fact, I am on a FOURTH pair of the first gen, all replaced on warranty, in less than a year. First one of them started playing bad. Second pair - batteries started downhil ride after just 2 months. Third pair - accu in the case was completely dead (linkbuds would charge when on cable). Let's see how this pair goes (but they were all completely empty upon receive, which is bad for these akkus, but at the same time box says they were made more than 2 years ago. Well, warranty restarts with every replace, and I like them, so...

      • S
      • Skinnyflip
      • qFt
      • 19 Nov 2024

      I had their original linkbuds. Had to RMA one because of some weird audio issue, then the RMA one only lasted less than a year because of battery issues. Sony had the same battery issues no their higher end earbuds as well, just search for them on reddit.

        • R
        • Rt
        • nmb
        • 19 Nov 2024

        FarFan, 18 Nov 2024Sorry, but the review is just bad. Reviewer, who doesn&#... more2000 words , complaining about the review .
        Abd at the end airpod is better abd the first gen you bought died after one year.
        What ?!

          • O
          • Ok
          • nmb
          • 19 Nov 2024

          Zaki, 18 Nov 2024Well said. I bought the first edition for outdoor activitie... moreReview is bad?
          Did you read another reviews that praise it ?

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 0p}
            • 18 Nov 2024

            Nick Tegrataker, 18 Nov 2024What a hilarious thing to say when these Sony buds sound li... moreBest part of linkbuds is the fact it is not in-ear.
            Another I would buy is that one from samsung that has shape of bean.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • mtj
              • 18 Nov 2024

              Get the Bose or other earphones that have a logical mechanism for attaching to the ear.

                • Z
                • Zaki
                • I2Y
                • 18 Nov 2024

                FarFan, 18 Nov 2024Sorry, but the review is just bad. Reviewer, who doesn&#... moreWell said. I bought the first edition for outdoor activities i.e jogging and cycling. and I also use it while working and listening to podcast cause I still able to hear when my boss/ colleagues calling my name.

                Not everything need to be bass-heavy. This product is clearly for listening to light music, podcast while able to also hear the surrounding.

                I found this review is really bad

                  Sorry, but the review is just bad.

                  Reviewer, who doesn't understand the reason for such a design, tries to complain that it doesn't fit his expectations. These earbuds are for outdoors. I had the first generation, and they are great for a bicycle ride: they didn't fall off and gave all the noise of the street not to be hit by a car or another bicycle. "transparency mode" boosts the wind in your ears to the level you can't hear music!

                  Battery life analysis: "Here is what Sony claims, and usually they perform better than that" is not journalism!!! My first gen had flat dead batteries on both earbuds in a year, everyone complained about that.

                  There is no comparison with the first ones head to head.

                  This reads like - "this didn't fit my ears, so I don't know why anyone would like to buy them."

                  I think the design is excellent for its purpose, but the price is too high to risk after previous ones. Especially without the wireless charging for the price, even Airpods have it at this level.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 0x$
                    • 18 Nov 2024

                    this example of a "brilliant" idea, like all similar sony products, doesn't even have a power off function... The menu item "power off" doesn't count because it doesn't do anything...

                      Anonymous, 17 Nov 2024$200 on this is far better deal than $30 on buds from xiaom... moreWhat a hilarious thing to say when these Sony buds sound like $15 earbuds you can buy in a warehouse lol.

                      Hell, in case you really like Sony as a brand and need a pair of cheap, decent-sounding earphones, WF-C500 is a significantly better choice if you *remotely* care about audio quality. Need a transparency mode? Just get Oppo Enco Buds2 Pro or Redmi Buds 5 at a half or less than 1/3rd of the price of LinkBuds Open, respectively.

                      I'm sorry, but at $180, this product seems like a silly joke.

                        Well, LC3 implementation are the same that on Pixels Buds Pro 2; you need to enable them in the pixel app and then switch in bluetooth settings.
                        On my S23U there wasn't any sound, perhaps incompatible?

                          • S
                          • SCE2045
                          • IbG
                          • 18 Nov 2024

                          Damn, this is sad considering the Gen 1s were so good but they're kind of outdated now. Will wait for Gen 3 I guess

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • sXb
                            • 18 Nov 2024

                            "They fall out as soon as I let go"

                            - use tape

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • 7ki
                              • 18 Nov 2024

                              Anonymous, 17 Nov 2024$200 on this is far better deal than $30 on buds from xiaom... moreWell it's $170 more, it better be lmao

                                Buds for Audiophiles?
                                ANC Buds for Audiopholes
                                No 𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅 creatures exist..

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Ib5
                                  • 17 Nov 2024

                                  Anonymous, 17 Nov 2024$200 on this is far better deal than $30 on buds from xiaom... moreNone of them. Buy soundcore instead.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 0p}
                                    • 17 Nov 2024

                                    $200 on this is far better deal than $30 on buds from xiaomi or realme.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • LfV
                                      • 17 Nov 2024

                                      So they finally mention lc3 support