The design of Sony LinkBuds is the most attractive.
Highlights
Features also include Voice Assistant, Google Fast Fare, Spotify Tap
For connectivity, it has Bluetooth 5.2.
These earphones struggle a bit outdoors.
True wireless earphones broadly fall into two categories: in-canal styles that offer better noise isolation and active noise cancellation, and outer-ear fit, popularized by the Apple AirPods. These offer a more comfortable fit and allow you to hear ambient sound. Sony's LinkBuds (WF-L900) true wireless earphones in India don't fit into either of the above categories. They feature a radial and unconventional design that sets them apart from their competitors. Priced at ₹19,990 in India,
the Sony LinkBuds promise a comfortable all-day fit. They also offer ambient sound and boast superior call and audio performance. As true wireless earphones that can be worn all day and used in a variety of ways, the Sony LinkBuds are quite different from the more common premium TWS headsets. Does it deliver on all it promises? Let's find out in this review.
This means that even with them on (without audio playing), I can hear my surroundings. If hearing the sounds around you is equally important to you, you won't find a better design than this. This unique design also provides a comfortable fit, with Sony providing arc support. Five pairs of tips are included in the sales package for a customizable fit. For my ear shape, I found the smallest size tips the most comfortable. However, this compromised security. I was worried about the earpieces coming off with even a slight movement of my head, so you'll need to try them out and choose the most comfortable and secure pair.
The Sony LinkBuds earpieces weigh 4.1 grams and are rated IPX4 for water resistance. The outer sides have an interesting texture and are touch-sensitive for controls. Interestingly, you don't need to tap the earpieces; they have a feature called Wide Area Tap.
When enabled through the app, you can tap your cheek against your ear to control the earbuds. This worked well for me, making on-device control much easier.
The charging case is significantly smaller than most wireless headsets in this price range, taking up even less space in your pocket. The front features a lid release button and indicator light. The back features a pairing button and Type-C port. Charging requires fitting the earpieces into place, but it happens automatically with the lid closed, so you quickly get used to it. Wireless charging isn't available at this price point, which is disappointing.
Other features include support for voice assistant, Google Fast Fire, Spotify Tap, and 360 Reality Auto. There's no active noise cancellation, but the headset's positioning and design make it less noticeable.
Sony LinkBuds app and specifications
Sony LinkBuds, like the company's other headsets, work through the Sony Headphones Connect app, which is available for both iOS and Android. The app offers a long list of features, including Speak To Chat, equalizer, 360 Reality Audio configuration, tap control customization, adaptive volume control, auto play and pause, and firmware updates.
Some of these features are also present in older Sony headsets. Sony LinkBuds also feature adaptive volume control, which adjusts the volume according to ambient noise or sounds. Wide-area tap toggles allow you to use on-device controls without touching the earpieces.
For connectivity, they feature Bluetooth 5.2, with support for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. Advanced Bluetooth codecs aren't supported, which is disappointing at this price point. The earphones have a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz. In addition to five pairs of arc support fittings, you also get a USB Type-C cable in the box.
Sony LinkBuds performance and battery life
Sony's LinkBuds are designed in a way that's unmatched by any other product in this price segment. There's neither passive nor active noise cancellation. Nevertheless, the company offers a comfortable fit, ambient awareness, and a wide range of functions and usability.
While they were a bit difficult to get used to at first, they offer an overall good experience, as I'm used to in other earphones. Their all-day comfort, multipurpose nature, and ambient awareness make them my favorite earphones. While
listening to audio without passive noise cancellation was challenging, they offered a good experience in terms of volume and audio quality. The sonic signature felt a bit odd, with sub-bass frequencies being very weak and mid-bass being quite dull.
Croatia Squad and Frey's White Horse sounded fine at high volumes at home. However, the aggressive house track lacked thump and attack, and its deep, rhythmic beats sounded a bit hollow.
Nevertheless, the sound felt well-balanced, with good mid-range detail. This could be due to the form factor, and the ambient sound that comes with audio playback could also affect it. It's also clear that they don't fit many genres of music.
Outdoors, these earphones struggle a bit. I could hear the audio playing comfortably at 80 percent volume, but even at this point, I couldn't distinguish ambient sound. It wasn't much of a problem in quiet areas, but the sounds from busy Mumbai roads were quite obstructive.
Due to the tuning of these earbuds, they work well for voice-based content such as audiobooks, movies and TV shows, and YouTube videos. Voices are quite clear. Voice call quality is also quite good. At slightly higher volume levels, they offer a good calling experience. In fact, the ear openings to outside noise make calls more natural.
Battery life is average. They don't offer battery-guzzling active noise cancellation or advanced Bluetooth codec support, yet the average battery life is disappointing. At moderate volume, they lasted 4 hours and 35 minutes.
Our decision
Sony makes top-notch wireless headphones and earphones. It has a wide range of products to choose from, depending on your needs. The Sony LinkBuds are among the company's unique products. They defy conventional design and are designed to provide a unique user experience.
The Sony LinkBuds offer a comfortable fit, an ambient sound experience, and sound quality. However, your music experience may be slightly affected in noisy environments. Furthermore, weak bass levels can make some genres sound odd. I thoroughly enjoyed using these earphones for calls, outdoor walks, and everyday tasks at my work desk.
The Sony LinkBuds are expensive at ₹19,990, and even with the unique design, they're still expensive at the pre-order price of ₹14,990. These are good for users who want a good experience with voice-based sound and are looking for earphones with good ambient awareness. However, if you're more inclined towards music, I'd recommend the Sony WF-1000XM4, which are available in the same price range.
Sony LinkBuds design and features
The Sony LinkBuds' design is particularly striking. Many people, if they're not already familiar, won't even notice they're earphones. They feature an outer-ear fit and don't insert into the ear canal. They also don't have a stem. A donut-shaped hole is provided in the earpiece's driver chamber, allowing for clear ambient sound even when the earphones are on.
