The era of “open ear” headphones is in full swing, and Sony is at the forefront with the LinkBuds Clip. While other manufacturers rely on earpieces that hang over the ear, Sony uses a clip design that sits on the ear like jewelry. We put these airy headphones through its paces.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Superior wearing comfort
- Good grip
Cons:
- Unreliable operation
- Weak bass
First Impressions: Design & Wearing Comfort
The LinkBuds Clip certainly lives up to its name. Instead of being stuck deep in the ear canal, they gently clip onto the auricle. This is a particular blessing for users who don’t like the sensation of pressure found in conventional in-ear models. Weighing a mere 13 grams, the clips are barely noticeable in everyday use. After a few minutes, the “lightweight factor” proved to be really impressive.
What I particularly liked about this review is how Sony included the so-called “Air Cushions”. You place these small rubber cushions over the earpieces to improve the hold. This means that the buds stay firmly in place even when sprinting to the track or during an intense gym session. Thanks to IPX4 certification, you don’t have to worry about sweat or a sudden shower ruining your listening experience.
Operation: A Clever Concept with Minor Caveats
Sony takes a modern approach to control. You operate the headphones by tapping the connection bracket. In theory, this is very convenient as you don’t have to jam the headphones into your ear, like with other models. In reality, however, there was a caveat. Command recognition is not always flawless.
This is especially evident when you wear a hat in winter or are typing very quickly. Input is sometimes ignored or misinterpreted. You will need to develop a little sensitivity with the clip to get it to do exactly what you want.
Room for Improvement: Sound Quality
You will notice that Sony is focusing on innovation with the LinkBuds Clip from the very first phone call. In a rather unusual move, the Japanese company relies on a bone conduction sensor. What sounds like science fiction at first is extremely clever in everyday life. The clips register the vibrations of your skull bones while you speak.
In combination with two classic microphones and a pinch of AI magic, the system accurately filters your voice from the surrounding noise. Even if you are standing at a busy intersection or the wind is blowing extra hard, the person you are talking to should only hear you and not the rest of the urban jungle. This is a technical marvel rarely found in open-ear headphones, elevating voice quality to a new level.
If you’re looking for thumping sub-bass for the next techno rave, you’ll be disappointed by the design. As the ear canal remains completely open, there is no risk of massive pressure buildup. Nevertheless, Sony does a remarkable job in terms of sound quality. The stage appears extremely spacious, and instruments can be located precisely when listening.
Voices and podcasts, in particular, benefit from the clear tuning. However, the maximum volume is a minor drawback. The LinkBuds reach their limits in extremely loud environments like the subway. If you turn the volume up all the way, you also have to be prepared for the people sitting next to you to overhear every word — “sound leakage” is clearly noticeable at high volumes.
Marathon Battery Life in a Tiny Box: Battery & App Capability
Sony flexed its muscles when it comes to endurance. A pure runtime of 10 hours at a stretch is an excellent number for open-ears and will get you through the day easily. The charging case itself is tiny, looks like a small jewelry box, and disappears into any trouser pocket discreetly. The quick-charging function was particularly impressive. Just 10 minutes attached to a USB-C cable is enough to get almost 5 hours of additional playback time.
The accompanying “Sony Sound Connect” app is comprehensive as usual. You can keep an eye on the battery status here and also experiment with the equalizer. If you are dissatisfied with the standard sound quality, you can use your own presets to get a lot more zest out of the drivers. You can choose between three listening modes: “Standard”, “Voice amplification”, and “Sound loss reduction”.
Conclusion
Sony showed courage in its design and offers an alternative to standard in-ear models. The LinkBuds Clip is probably the most comfortable option right now if you hate the pressure that builds up from wearing silicone earplugs in your ear canal. Thanks to the feather-light clip concept and rubber pads, they sit so securely and pressure-free that you simply forget about them in everyday life. If you want to hear your surroundings clearly while jogging or gossiping at the office, it is a great tool.
In terms of sound quality, however, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. They are great for podcasts and music, but because of their design, the open drivers lack the punch of strong low bass. The control on the headband is also a good idea, but it can be a little iffy in practice.
Overall, the LinkBuds Clip is an innovative and special tool. If maximum wearing comfort and 10 hours of battery life are more important to you than booming bass, you should take a closer look. The Sony LinkBuds Clip is available for $229.99.
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