
Continuing to quench people’s demand for an open-ear TWS, Sony has introduced the successor to last year’s LinkBuds. This time, the company has attached the word ‘Open’ in the name itself, making it easier for people to understand the ideology behind the buds — which is the same, let the ambient sounds in while the music plays. This is topped with the added upgrades and the same price tag of Rs 19,990. So, are the new Sony LinkBuds Open worth it? Have these seen any improvements over their predecessor? Let’s find out in this review.
Design and Build
The LinkBuds Open retains the 2022 model’s little doughnut-shaped open-ear design, which enables you to stay connected with the world. But, it is 10 grams heavier. Of course, this doesn’t translate into an uncomfortable situation, and the change is mostly negligible.
The major change is the inclusion of the supporters, which aided a comfortable fit but didn’t work for me as intended (more on this below). These don’t come in different sizes, unlike the five sizes of ‘arc’ support for the LinkBuds.
The charging case has also changed; it is now more compact and weighs less (the original one weighed 34 grams while this one weighs 30.6 grams). This makes it easy to shove it into your jeans pocket or a small sling bag. It comes in White, Violet, and Black colours.
The white one looks like a bloated marshmallow, which appears quite cute. That said, the supposed marble finish on the lid makes it look stained, rather than aesthetic. This colour is also prone to smudges, so ensure to keep a cloth handy. The lid quality is just fine but better than that of its predecessor. Also, there’s the magnetic effect this time, which was a concern for me last time.
It also has an IPX4 rating for protection against accidental water splashes. However, my biggest gripe with the earbuds is the fit.
Comfort and Fit
The earbuds would feel refreshing to those used to ANC-enabled earbuds. For me, this wasn’t entirely the case.
I have used the previous-gen earbuds and hoped the inconvenient fit issue would be resolved with the new one but the struggle is still there, so much so that even the tutorials and tips don’t help much. It took a while to put them on and the stay was majorly for a no-head movement.
These did come off while eating, and this can become an irritant. The good thing is that the earbuds have become more comfortable now, so, long usage won’t be problematic.
That said, while the fit and the open-ear concept didn’t bode well for me, it may suit people who don’t want the ANC experience. While some of my colleagues shared the same opinion as mine, a couple of them enjoyed the fit. So, the bottom line: it’s not for everyone!
Sound Performance
While wearing the LinkBuds Open can be challenging for some, liking the audio quality isn’t. First things first, the pairing part was super smooth. As for the sound profile, it was mostly balanced. However, if you expect an incredibly bass-heavy performance, it would be best to keep the expectations at bay.
Technical Specifications | Sony LinkBuds Open |
Drivers | 11mm Dynamic Drivers (2) |
Bluetooth | 5.3 |
ANC | No |
I also got the option to select the EQ settings and customise them. There’s a custom mode to help you find the right EQ setting for you after some testing. While I enjoyed the mode, I was inclined towards the ‘Bright’ and ‘Excited’ modes more often than not. The Bass preset did provide the thumping effect but it felt a little distorted.
The integrated V2 processor is majorly meant to provide a balanced output, focusing more on the lows and mids, which are very accurately defined. Here are the findings:
Songs | Remarks |
---|---|
Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses) | The guitar segment and the vocals are defined and aren’t overwhelming. |
Take You There (Skrillex) | While the vocals were quite clear, the bassy bits were underwhelming and felt chaotic. |
Choomantar | The song appears balanced and the Excited preset helped its game but distortion still existed. |
Blinding Lights | The song’s opening was flat but the ‘Bright’ preset put some life to it. That said, this song sounded better on the AirPods Pro 2. |
During calls, the other person’s voice was clear but this is hampered in really noisy surroundings. As mentioned before, these earbuds don’t have ANC and intend to let the ambient sound in. However, the ambient sound was faint, especially when the volume levels were high. For me, the purpose wasn’t fulfilled but I am sure many would like to get rid of the shackles of ANC and go towards an open-ear design.
Companion App
Sony’s Sound Connect app is a wholesome experience with many interesting options. The Adaptive Volume Control will lower or increase the volume based on the ambient sounds. Besides this, you get multipoint connectivity, different EQ settings, and more.
There’s also Spatial Audio support and head-tracking with compatible devices but I couldn’t get the process done due to the fit issues. Background Music Effect is another intriguing addition to playing the music softly in the background, ideal for mid-day naps. Signature Sony features like Speak-to-Chat, DSEE support, and more are available too.
The earbuds also support touch controls, much like their predecessor, with the Wide Area Tap option to play/pause and change songs by tapping the area between your cheeks and the ear.
Battery Life
The LinkBuds Open is said to last up to eight hours with continuous usage and stands by the claim. It lasted a few days with me using the earbuds for up to four hours a day. Of course, rigorous usage would mean a shorter playback time.
The earbuds support fast charging. Using a 100W SuperVOOC charger took around an hour and 15 minutes to fully charge.
Verdict
The Sony LinkBuds Open is priced at Rs 19,990 and stands at the high-end spectrum. I have to admit, the earbuds perform well and Sony’s Sound Connect app always feels like the perfect companion app with exciting features to try out.
However, these aren’t for me and I faced constant fit issues. These are also not for those who take the noisy metro rides a lot; it would be too interfering with the music experience. But those who like to stay aware during office hours can be inclined. However, earbuds with ANC and transparency mode can also get the job done, so, spending Rs 19,990 can be a lot. Plus, bass lovers or strict audiophiles won’t find these earbuds ideal.
For a better overall experience, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (see review) or the Sennheiser Momentum 4 (see review) may suit your needs more.