The Sony Linkbuds are certainly a strange pair of earbuds when compared to the rest on the market today and it was quite the topic when I had them out in public, People seen them on the table be it out for breakfast or dinner or enjoying a few pints all asked “what the heck are they” and when i said earbuds the response was “no way” so I introduced them all to the new style of earbuds that perhaps was a risky move but for me a good one because you would get bored of the same design and styles that are out there today and you have to give Sony credit for that.
So I have been using these a few weeks and there is many reviews already and we go into more detail in the video review below so be sure to check out where we look at the design and their app and more. The first thing that would spring to mind does the quality of sound get less with a smaller product and the answer for the most part is no, I did find the volume a little on the lower side than I would prefer too but that is my personal choice here.
They lack other features too which I would expect but this is a new move by Sony and a completely new design from the norm so they had to give somewhere, they look like a small polo mint but do not let that put you off on how they fit and stay in your ears because they do both well and never fell out for me but for some others that tried they did, we all have different ears after all.
There is little noise isolation here either however this is the purpose of them I think to allow you to hear your surroundings which for some is a good thing, no ANC which again might be fine for some and I get the point here as these are to allow you listen to music and what is also going on around you so not for everyone considering we have passthrough now on most earbuds today.
When it comes to sound they do a decent job to be fair but again not as loud and I found the bass a bit lacking in comparison to other earbuds from Sony so for bass lovers you might pass on these but they have their app which can allow you to tweak things a little and their app is decent to be fair. When it comes to an overall audio experience they do fine on highs lows and mids and all that good stuff and if you are watching movies or gaming the audio quality is decent yet you can still hear your surroundings at the same time.
Call quality is actually good but no multipoint connection which for some might be a problem however I do not see these as an earbud you would use in an office environment, given I test mine in both at my office and outside I see these more for those on the go or the gym for example or again those who travel on public transport but with earbuds today you can really use them anywhere you like and people will wear just about anything these days be it for show or just that I have the latest look at me kinda thing like Apple fanboys for example.
The price is where a problem may lie for some with the omitted features mentioned above but Sony has a loyal fanbase and will still buy into it and again to have something different than the rest and these certainly are that..
The Sony Linkbuds are now widely available and check the price in your region or online as they do vary quite a bit. Buy from Sony.ie
The Sony Linkbuds S are the follow up to the Linkbuds which has a mixed reaction when launched but they sound good and move away from the traditional look and thus we have the usual looking earbuds this time around and perhaps for the better for some but at least Sony tried something new in a boring world of earbuds that either come with or without stems and not much room in between for design elements.
The earbuds are smaller than most and light and this is also fine with me they have a nice texture which again is new and this also applies to the case which is pocketable too and overall a decent package which you can see here in the unboxing experience. Yes the packaging is the same as before with the Linkbuds but fine and well thought out.
The Sony Linkbuds S of course come with app access which you can set up and be sure to use all the features at hand there is plenty on offer here in the app and that includes Adaptive sound control and a suite of EQ settings to get the desired tuning that you prefer, we go through the app in the video review below to show you more of what to expect but in general all is good here as expected.
The ANC works well and I had these on a flight recently and kept most of the outside world of crying babies and engine sound away, they are not as good as their headphones however we are getting closer to a headphones experience now with earbuds in the ANC department and this is a good thing.
I was impressed with how these sound and they are decently loud too which I like and again you can change settings in the app which also allows you to change sound compression with DSEE, highs lows and mids were fine nice bass but not the deepest bass but for watching movies listening to music and so on they do a great job overall.
Powered by 5mm drivers which are small in comparison to others out there they did well with audio in general and have been great on calls, also like many earbuds now you do not have to touch your phone as often with speak to chat and also have your messages read out to you and I like this implementation here and it works well as do the controls on the earbuds which have been on point every time unlike others can be.
Battery life is on the low side here with around 5 hours or so and less with max volume and ANC which is how I usually rock my earbuds and headphones, there is a quick charge feature that allows you an extra 90 mins on a 10 minute charge and the case gives you 12 hours and a feature omitted this time around is wireless charging which is fine but an option I prefer.
Overall for the price you pay they are decent but it is getting more competitive in the earbuds market and cheaper alternatives can be found with more features like wireless charging and aptX included but at the same time they fit well look good and do a decent job they have also got an IPX4 rating so for those into sports it is ideal and in general a well balanced product.
See more in the video review below.
Features
The world’s smallest and lightest, noise cancelling, Hi-Res Truly wireless headphones
Sony have engineeredthese remarkably small and light truly wireless headphones,approximately 4.8 grams in weight, withcomfort inmind.LinkBuds Scombine a shape that perfectly matches the human ear with an ergonomic design for a more stable fit, so you can steer clear of annoying ear pain that gets in the way of you and your entertainment.
Keep all your worlds on with natural ambient sound
LinkBuds Sprovide you with the best of both worlds. These headphones combine LinkBuds innovative ambient sound concept that lets you interact with the world around you, with high-quality noise cancelling allowing you tofocus on the content you love and nothing else.You can step into a coffee shop and quickly order with ease, then just as quickly sit back and enjoy your favourite entertainment distraction-free.
Theheadphones integrate Adaptive Sound Control, a smart feature that adjusts ambient sound settings depending on where you are, creating the ideal listening experience. With this, you can seamlessly move through your surroundings all while letting your favourite artists and entertainment play on.
A new sound experience for AR gaming
Sonyis collaborating with its partner company Niantic in the area of audio AR by developing an AR game that can be enjoyed not only visually but also audibly. When you play their game “Ingress” usingLinkBuds S, the sensor and spatial sound technology will enable players to enjoy a new experience in which sound is delivered according to the direction they are facing.
The Sony Linkbuds S have arrived and at first look I am liking what I see, the case has a matt black sandy kind of finish and so do the earbuds themselves which is something different like their Linkbuds be we reviewed earlier this year. Today is a quick first look and unboxing of the latest from Sony and if you have any further questions do ask while we test them out and come back with a full hands on review without the stock images.
The world’s smallest and lightest, noise cancelling, Hi-Res Truly wireless headphones
Sony have engineeredthese remarkably small and light truly wireless headphones,approximately 4.8 grams in weight, withcomfort inmind.LinkBuds Scombine a shape that perfectly matches the human ear with an ergonomic design for a more stable fit, so you can steer clear of annoying ear pain that gets in the way of you and your entertainment.
Keep all your worlds on with natural ambient sound
LinkBuds Sprovide you with the best of both worlds. These headphones combine LinkBuds innovative ambient sound concept that lets you interact with the world around you, with high-quality noise cancelling allowing you tofocus on the content you love and nothing else.You can step into a coffee shop and quickly order with ease, then just as quickly sit back and enjoy your favourite entertainment distraction-free.
Theheadphones integrate Adaptive Sound Control, a smart feature that adjusts ambient sound settings depending on where you are, creating the ideal listening experience. With this, you can seamlessly move through your surroundings all while letting your favourite artists and entertainment play on.
A new sound experience for AR gaming
Sonyis collaborating with its partner company Niantic in the area of audio AR by developing an AR game that can be enjoyed not only visually but also audibly. When you play their game “Ingress” usingLinkBuds S, the sensor and spatial sound technology will enable players to enjoy a new experience in which sound is delivered according to the direction they are facing.
People have been asking now we can answer, the New Sony LinkBuds have landed for review and we look forward to testing the latest from Sony out over the next week or two for a full hands on review. These have been knocking around a few weeks now so we will quickly unbox today and if you have any questions feel free to ask in the interim,, Sony also recently announced the LinkBuds S so you can read some more about those HERE and if you want to read up on the LinkBuds you can here and we will speak to you soon with a real hands on review.
On first looking at the packaging you can see the theme here with where things are going and that is small, one of the smallest earbuds I have seen but not the smallest and this makes it interesting on how much tech you can pack inside and how they will sound and with Sony being at the top of the game with Headphones we look forward to seeing how these perform.
Sony has introduced a new way to enjoy your favourite music and the important moments in life, all at once, with the brand-new truly wireless LinkBuds. You can stay connected and aware at all times, with the help of an open ring design with audio transparency, ultra-small super fit and crystal-clear sound and call quality.
By leveraging LinkBuds’ unique design and its sensor and spatial sound technologies, Sony is creating new sound experiences together with their partners, such as AR gaming, new work from home experiences, sound AR navigation, and quick access to music.
All your worlds, always connected
LinkBuds have been created with a unique open ring design and allow you to tune into the outside world whenever you want, without compromising your listening experience. The newly-developed ring driver unit, has the centre of the diaphragm open for audio transparency, allowing you to clearly hear the sounds around, so you’ll always know when someone calls your name whilst on a call, or easily chat with friends while listening to your favourite songs. Their new design makes LinkBuds the perfect companion for a range of uses, including working from home, gaming, listening to music, and more.
You’ll never have to switch off, thanks to LinkBuds’ new, super small, ergonomic design. Approximately four grams in weight, these earbuds are a marvel of miniaturisation. Unlike conventional earbuds, the protective surface covering the speaker diaphragm is integrated within the housing, saving space. The overall shape has been crafted with the use of extensive ear shape data, collated since Sony introduced the world’s first in-ear headphones in 1982. You’ll barely notice you’re wearing them, making them the perfect companion all day, every day.
Crystal-clear sound
You can make calls without noise, for crystal clear conversations. LinkBuds’ include precise voice pickup technology that performs advanced voice signal processing. Sony’s noise reduction algorithm was developed using AI machine learning, using more than 500 million voice samples to supress ambient noise and extract your voice clearly. LinkBuds let you hear people, when you need to, even when you’re in noisy situations.
Linkbuds allow you to enjoy high quality sound, no matter how busy life gets. Thanks to DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) your personal soundtrack will be restored to high quality. Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 reproduces all the detail in your music with minimal distortion, for a stunningly authentic listening experience, so your favourite artists always sound great. A specially designed 12mm ring driver provides rich, well-balanced sound.
Adaptive Volume Control automatically optimises volume based on where you are, letting your music seamlessly blend into your environment. This allows you to listen to your favourite tracks at a comfortable volume and in a variety of environments, to enhance the open-air listening experience.
Making your everyday easier
Sony is making it easier than ever before to integrate your personal soundtrack into the world around you, all while staying connected with a variety of smart features.
Don’t be fooled by their size, LinkBuds are super easy to use but with advanced features. With Wide Area Tap all control is at your fingertips. By double or triple tapping in front of either of your ears, you can adjust playback to your liking – there’s no need to touch the LinkBuds themselves.
LinkBuds are there to help no matter where you are and even when your hands are full. With Speak-to-Chat you can automatically pause your music as soon as you speak to someone. Once your conversation is over, your music starts playing automatically, so there’s no need to touch any controls. LinkBuds also come with hands-free help so you can get information, connect with friends, set reminders, and more by activating your preferred voice assistant. Just say “OK Google” or “Alexa”.
Easy Bluetooth Pairing with Fast & Swift Pair
LinkBuds support Google’s helpful new Fast Pair feature, allowing you to effortlessly pair with your Android devices. You can also locate where you last left your earphones. Swift Pair makes it quick and easy to pair your LinkBuds to your Windows 11 or Windows 10 laptop, desktop PC or tablet.
For the first time ever, you can take the earbuds out of their case and a pop-up will appear automatically. So no matter where you are, you can easily get connected.
Quick access to your favourite music
With Quick access, you can configure LinkBuds to resume Spotify playback with just a couple of taps – no need to touch your smartphone.
Empowers richer experience to explore surroundings with Microsoft Soundscape
LinkBuds provide enhanced capabilities integrated with Microsoft Soundscape. Their open-ear shape enables users to hear audio beacons and callouts of buildings or intersections, with the natural sound of surroundings. Compass/gyro sensors inside the earphones can detect the direction of your head and allow you to hear the sound from a destination, without holding your smartphone.
Sustainability matters to Sony
Sony has not only designed LinkBuds to be stylish, but also with the environment in mind. These unique earbuds and their charging case are made using recycled plastic materials and plastic-free packaging.
Your everyday earbuds
LinkBuds are perfect for your everyday. Thanks to IPX4 water resistance, splashes and sweat won’t get in the way of you and your favourite tracks. You can also enjoy a full working day of charge – 5.5 hours – from the earbuds and store an additional 12 hours in the sleek and compact case. Even when life moves fast and you’re in a hurry, just a 10 minute charge gives you up to 90 minutes of play time.
Immerse yourself in sound all around
LinkBuds also come with 360 Reality Audio.With 360 Reality Audio, music can feel as real as if you were front row at a live concert or at the recording studio alongside your favourite artist.
Messages from Sony´s partners
LinkBuds, which link online and offline worlds, will continue to provide various services for better and new sound experiences. Here are some messages from some of Sony´s strategic partners.
“Microsoft Soundscape is an innovative audio-based technology that exemplifies our mission to empower every person to achieve more,” said Peter Lee, CVP of Microsoft Research & Incubations.“In our collaboration with Sony to integrate Soundscape with LinkBuds, we found that the earphones’ thoughtful design enhances the experience of Soundscape to enable people to build a richer awareness of their surroundings and become more empowered to get around, all while enjoying a true heads-up and hands-free experience. This is just the beginning and we’re excited about our ongoing relationship with Sony and how our complementary technologies add value to our personal and professional lives.”
“Our products — Ingress, Pokémon GO and Pikmin Bloom — use augmented reality and real-world gameplay to inspire fun and wonder for our community. Sound is an important part of any entertainment experience, especially ones where users are out exploring. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with Sony on the launch of LinkBuds to deliver immersive real-world audio experiences to our community” says Archit Bhargava, Director of Product Marketing, Niantic, Inc.
“At Spotify, we’re always working to create the best and most seamless listening experience for every moment”, says Sten Garmark, VP of Consumer Experience at Spotify. “Together with Sony, we’re excited by the arrival of Spotify Tap on the new LinkBuds, allowing listeners to instantly jump into the music or get served something new – all with simple taps.”
Pricing and availability
LinkBuds will be available in Grey and White from February 2022 and priced at approximately £150 / €180
