Sony LinkBuds Open True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

Found that AirPods Pro, or others with silicone tips, aggravate my inner ear, and that regular AirPods just keep moving about, particularly when running. These are great, I use different size fins (larger size delivered free by Sony, but unsure why they don’t just include them!?) to find the perfect fit. I also like the open style that lets me be in touch with the world around me. Occasional dropouts in the connection, but hoping this will be fixed via software update.

I had previous version of the LinkBuds Open and loved them. The various sizes of rubber fittings that came with the ear buds allowed you to change them out for a dialed in fit that was both comfortable and secure. Unfortunately, the left ear buds quit holding a charge after about a year of use. When purchasing a new pair, i discovered the design had changed. In my opinion the new design is a regression from the original. There aren't adjustable fittings..just a one size fits all approach that attaches to a different part of the ear. This causes the ear buds to be far less secure when using them during physical activity such as trail running, hiking, and working in the yard. I can secure them to the part of the ear the original version was designed for, but it makes them less comfortable and changes the angle of how they rest in your ear, which reduces the sound quality. The design change wasn't warranted in my opinion..a classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I bought this headphones about 4 months ago and the speaker in the left side blow or something. Try contact sony for warranty and still nothing from them.

I've had these for a few days. I'll just start listing off what I think people will find informative before purchasing these. I have a Samsung and wanted something like the Airpod 4 that would work well with Android. These are designed to keep your ear canal open to continue to hear everything around you. Sometimes when I hear a door knock coming from them or sirens, I have to do a double take. Fit is great, they won't fall out, but placement is hit or miss. Sometimes you have to adjust the L or R bud because one is quieter than the other, but once placement is corrected, they sound great together. Bass is improved from the old version. Mids and highs are still there, just have to bump them up a little in the EQ. There is a special hearing mode EQ custom talored to your ears. One cool feature is you can nod your head to answer and reject phone calls. Wide area tap means you can tap the side of your head for controls. The cases L & W is really small, maybe 1.4 inches by 1.4 inches. Height on case is a little shorter, so the case almost looks like a mini block, kinda cool. It supports the new Bluetooth LE codec, lower energy, better sound, and no input lag for gaming. With most features turned off you can get 8.5 hours on a single charge, or 6.5 hours with most features turned on, and probably close to 5 hours with phone calls / discord. Case only holds an extra 16 hours because it's small, but charge time is very quick at 30 to 45 min. When you put these on, they almost feel like you are wearing nothing at all. There is no wireless charging, which is kind of a bummer. Other features include: 360 audio, voice commands, assistant, room surround sound, playback pause during voice conversations, water and dust resistant, multi-point connection, full range EQ with presets, as well as a few others. Mic quality is great. If volume sounds a bit low, try inserting these into your ears a little further. Bottom line. There's a lot to love about these. You are not buying these for the sound quality, you are buying these to feel like you are not wearing any earbuds at all while having some cool futuristic features.

I owned the previous version of these earphones and they are a big improvement in terms of sound quality and battery time. It's less of a niche product this way. After finding a good fit and setting the equalizer while listening to some reference songs, the sound is even better.

Third Pair, same result. How can you sell these claiming they work with Apple phones? I tried two different sets of the older model with my last phone and then when I got a new apple 15 and saw you upgraded these I thought I’d give them one more try. They fit great in my ears but less than 30ft into my first run I lost connectivity. I stopped and connected them again. Another 30ft or so and I lost connection again. This was the same problem I had with the two other versions I tried. Really too bad as these are the only air buds that fit my ears.

Having worn out two pairs of the original LinkBuds ( the battery failed on the left bud on my first pair and the driver also on left bud on the second pair - but only after several hundred hours of use ) I was looking forward to seeing what the new LinkBuds Open could offer. The sound is a significant improvement over the originals but the fit is a huge leap backwards. The fitting supports have been shifted by 45 degrees and come in only one size - and for my ears the fit is simply too loose. They move constantly and are prone to falling out when simply walking - vigorous exercise whilst wearing them is impossible. Sony you need to think about offering fitting supports in different sizes - the LinkBuds were simply the most comfortable and practical headphones and I have ever come across and I used them daily. The LinkBuds Open are a great improvement in terms of sound quality but the fit is hugely frustrating - the original LinkBuds were light years ahead in terms of fit, not least because they came with fitting supports in different sizes.

i had the previous version this one sound low when outdoor please put extra volume boost option

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] First thing you notice when you open the package is the sleek rechargeable case these little buds travel in, it’s got a glossy marble affect with the Sony logo incorporated into the centre of it which looks great in what ever colour you will go for. When opening you will get a green led light up for for a few seconds remove them for pairing with your Bluetooth device and by the way you can pair these with two devices at once and switch back and forth with ease. Have to say these are the first pair of buds I have purchased to which I have been able to wear as I have never been able to use any in the past as they all caused me pain and discomfort with using them so for anyone with this problem you will be real happy with these as I am because they do not push into your ear they just sit in there and the sound is fantastic. Because of the hollowed out centre you are able to just leave them in for as long as you wish so you can listen and communicate with people and your surroundings so they do not interfere in any way that’s a great feature on its own. The sound quality is incredible from these as I was a bit sceptical about using them at first as I have tinitus in both my ears that I have to live with and the hollowed out centre design of the buds I was curious how this would work out with using them but to my surprise they work a treat I was shocked not only by the sound but the comfort combined with these shocked me. I am so happy for the first time in my life i am able to use ear buds that incredible for me. They have a great little app called sound connect so when your buds are paired you can go in and use everything in the menu’s interface to customise these for your own needs and also do a firmware upgrade for future advancements in the product to which is also great that’s another big thumbs up for me with these from Sony. The are of good build quality and super comfortable for anyone looking buy buy a new pair of buds with a difference to where I say if i find them great to use then and super comfortable without fatigue in any way then I will only assume they are great for everyone. These are the future of all ear buds if you ask me. All in all these things are incredible in all ways from the sound quality and convenience of just leaving them in so you’re still in touch with the world around you and most of all incredibly comfortable. Would I recommend them truthfully! You would be silly not to buy them they have the best of all worlds.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Love these Linkbuds sound is perfect easy on the ears work very well with my new Sony V10 mobile I purchased recently. Truly Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones. Optimised for Alexa and Google Assistant with built in-mic for phone calls. Well worth the purchase.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Nice neat box in which each bud sits snugly. The charging is straight forward via USB, once charged the box retains adequate power to top up the buds should the need arise. Lightweight and comfortable once fitted correctly, there are guidance notes for the fit in the Sund Connect App and online manual. Very light and comfortable buds. The sound quality is crisp and clear, the best I've heard through ear buds. One or two areas I found irritating: 1. Getting the snug fit in the ear is a must, even when fitted according to the illustrated instructions they do work loose and can fall out. There is help for ear fit issues in the Sound Connect App and further assistance by phone. 2. When selecting the best sound balance using the Sound Connect app, there is no option to 'fine tune' the balances, though the settings available are adequate for most playbacks. Apart from these issues, the sound delivery and experience is excellent.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have had many makes/types of 'ear buds' over the years, the best ones have always been Sony... that is - until now... what has happened ? The problem is the LinkBud Supporters, and for a start you only get one and that is the smallest size Foolishly I order the 'blue' replacement supporter and case before the main item came, as I thought I would get a selection or supporters like I have with every other ear bud I have ever purchased. When the 'Link Buds - Open' came popped them in and as I just moved my head (NOT shook it) they both fell out. My wife and I then spent the next 40 minutes reading the instructions and looking at videos but they still fell out at the slightest movement. My next step was to ring Sony support and after a frustrating 53 minutes on the phone with a nice representative who spoke perfect English, he said he couldn't find the part number for the support but he would follow it up and true to his word 9 days later (hence the delay in my review) I received a replacement LinkBud with no supporter(s) in other words the wrong part ! I couldn't set the LikBuds up to test them and I certainly wasn't going to tape them on as it would negate the point of the holes them anyway. The did fit and stay in my wife's ears but she has tiny ears but unfortunately she is deaf in one ear and has reduced hearing in the other. My ears are medium and either use the centre one or the one below in a 5-piece ear bud set but in this case I had no choice. CONCLUSION : The LinkBuds are definitely "Unfit for purpose", all because you seem to be able to get only one size of supporter ! I am the biggest supporter of Sony and have literally hundreds of their products but this baffles me and in its box it will have to stay unused I'm afraid, it really saddens me to give this product 1 star and that is for build quality as it totally unusable.... sorry !

I did not get my package and they refused to give me a replacement or refund. Horrible

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These are an earphone that you can wear pretty much everyday, whatever the activity. They are discreet and extremely comfortable in the ear. I had no issues with them coming loose or failing out during gym activities. The sound quality is of the high quality that is expected from Sony audio products. The carry case is small and compact even with the ability to charge the headphones for extended use. The best thing I like about these earphones is the ease of use and how customisable the user experience is when used with the Sony Sound Connect app. This app is a must when using these earphones. It offers customisable audio features, such as, they mute when you talk. Which means you don't have to take the earphones out when you want to talk with someone. There are also audio effects that make it feel like you have music playing in the back ground not straight into your ear. There is also the ability to have the earphones start playing music as soon as you put them in your ear. Which means you don't have to reach for you phone.You can customise the controls of what happens when you tap the earphones as well. Adding even more customisable features to enhance the user experience. In all an excellent earphone that can be used at home, at the gym and even in the office.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] From first use I was really impressed with the fit in my ears. Very comfortable with a great sound quality. Downloaded the app which was confusing but eventually got sorted. The Link Buds Open Wireless have allowed me to listen to music and Podcasts anywhere on the go. Use them at the Gym, walking and at Home. Charge length is very good and recharging is very quick. In the ear they look a stylish fit.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Sony LinkBuds Open (YY2964) are like having a party in your ears… but with the windows open so the neighbours think you’ve gone mad. Their open-ring design is perfect for anyone who wants to listen to their favourite tracks while also keeping an ear out for that ice cream van, or to avoid getting run over by a rogue scooter. I live the sound its surprisingly good, especially considering you’re not sealing your ears off from the rest of the world. The bass and treble response is good, audio books are crystal clear and even with your music wound up you can still hear your cat plotting your demise in the background because he wants feeding. You can easily forget they’re there until someone phones you and they handle calls very well. The battery life is long enough to outlast the playlist my friend made which included 18 versions of the same song, and the case is small enough to fit in that mysterious pocket in your jeans that’s too small for anything else. Overall I’m impressed, if you want to listen to your tracks or books but still be aware of what is going on around you the LinkBuds are a good choice.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] PROs: First Impression on unboxing is that these appear to be a nicely crafted product with suitably minimal packaging and accessories, classic current Sony style. Once out of the box you are not disappointed, they are exceptionally well made with nice detail and the case is compact and nice with an almost pearlescent finish to the top. They are an interesting concept of being able to have music running as a soundtrack to your day and I wasn't sure if this would be for me. In reality I loved it but couldn’t use them all the time due to the demands of my day. The sound quality is good, not fantastic but very good. I was pleasantly surprised just how good considering you have ambient noise creeping in but, an enjoyable experience listening to some hi res reggae on my walk to town. They are almost an open loop so you are never going to get that completely immersive experience from in ear headphones (I have been spoilt with my WF-1000XM4 headphones which are stunning). That being said it is a very pleasing listening experience with enough breadth of soundscape to make them enjoyable for most of my music collection. The big benefit is in the open design, you can genuinely have a soundtrack running and conduct conversations easily, respond to sounds in the environment and function as if you don't have them in. The only issue really is you find yourself grooving along to whatever you're listening to whilst talking to someone, which (I'm told) is quite disconcerting as you are dancing to a soundtrack only you can hear! Makes me laugh though when I think about some other uses like listening to the football whilst at a lecture, church, wedding etc. Great for phone calls and really quick pairing once it's been set up. Not a bad price point either as they are a really different listening experience to anything else I own. I would absolutely use these on a regular basis were it not for the downside below. CON: They simply don't fit my ears well at all and I can't make them do so however much I adjust them. I spend my days catching them, picking them up or shoving them in more. It is a major design flaw for me but maybe I have odd shaped ears! My daughter who has quite small ears just couldn't get them to fit in her ears at all. This is a massive failing of the design Sony and one I wouldn't expect from you as I am a 30 years devotee of Sony audio products so for me this is really surprising. It's a total deal breaker for me so I would like to see some sort of fitment accessories or opportunity to try before buying as they will simply be useless to someone like my daughter. Personally I am hoping for Sony to release some sort of rubber cover or different fitting kit to help to keep using them otherwise they are going in the drawer and I'll carry on with my WF-1000XM4 beauties. Overall Verdict Get them if you want a really good listening experience with a difference but there are issues with limitations for the audiophiles and the fitting. Recommendations for Sony: Make a feature for the tap controls so you can change from listening to music to background music. It's a great feature so why not make it more accessible. Produce a fitting kit of some sort to make these things more viable for people, I'm not sure of the pool of test subjects but I'm really surprised I can't make them work!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Sony LinkBuds arrived and after opening the package I found they are contained in a very neat magnetic case, which also doubles as the main changing method via the USB charging socket at the back with Orange and Green LED lights showing the charging status. Within the packaging was a QR Code for downloading the Sony Sound Connect App and through this I was able to set up the LinkBuds exactly how I wanted them to work. The set up process was easy and the variety of adjustable settings is extensive, including setting up the built in equaliser, adaptive volume controls and changing the way you can interact with them through tapping or head gestures. I’ve not tried every different option yet, but have now set them up to the way I personally prefer. I used the instructions and interactive tool supplied to get the LinkBuds fitted correctly into my ear. It took a couple of attempts but when fitted correctly they are comfortable to wear and the open design lets you hear your surroundings. I initially thought this was a bit of a gimmick but was amazed how well it works. A quick charge and I set the LinkBuds up using a number of different sources including my iPhone, iPad and Sony Bravia TV and performance across all of my devices is very impressive. The ability to automatically switch between multiple sources is a great option that makes using the LinkBuds so much easier than my last headphones. Sound quality is very good across all frequencies and improves considerably when using the equaliser function, however, sometimes I feel the maximum volume could be set a little higher. My noise cancelling headphones are louder but I can understand the caution when they are designed for using inside you ear. Included with the LinkBuds is a 360 Reality Audio demonstration link and when accessed, you see the true ability of the LinkBuds when a totally immersive sound suddenly erupts through them. It really is just like being in a concert hall and demonstrates the capability and performance of the LinkBuds. I also walk my dogs and listen to both Audiobooks and Podcasts whilst walking. They perform really well with impressive clarity but the added ability to hear background sounds makes these the ideal walking partner. The playback pause feature when you speak works perfectly, again a godsend when out walking. The Sony Sound Connect App also allows you to personalise the LinkBuds with the ability to initiate and change various functions either by tapping the LinkBuds or by simple head gestures. Since I’ve been using them the Battery life appears excellent. The only criticism is that for some reason, the USB C cable supplied is very short which means the case hangs from the cable as it can’t reach the surface. It’s not a problem as the entire LinkBuds with charging case weighs less than 42 grams but seems strange why Sony would supply such a short cable. Finally, I would say that they are exactly what you would expect from a Sony product. Exceptional build quality, easy to use and performs really well. I would have no hesitation recommending the LinkBuds.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have use new Sony LinkBuds Open Wireless Headphones for over the week now and I recommend a 100%, I have my ears operated (pulled back) years ago and from then I found difficult to find any in-ear that will fit and stay in place - this ones does! They perfect for sports, I do gym regularly and I found them so easy to use they don’t fall out, and whats super Important for me they sound perfect too (I always expect what’s best from Sony), i have Sony sound connect app installed where I can change options to fit my personal preferences from 360 reality audio, equalizer (sound balance) it also analysed my ears shape to help me wearing ear phones the best way! So many options and choose is yours.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Love these when I’m out walking, they are secure in your ear and very comfortable. The big bonus (and design) with these is that you can hear ambient sounds, bikes coming from behind and people you meet all come through clearly and this is the first pair that I have felt confident that they won’t drop out. Sound quality is good but as you would expect, not immersive. Music and podcasts both come through very well. A big plus with these is the ‘Wide Area Tap’ feature this allows you to control them with simple taps near your ear. For me the area just in front of the ear worked every time without fail, very simple and reliable. Answering mobile calls whilst listening to music was easy and the music was paused whilst talking in the call. Initial set-up via the Sony App was straight forward and had no problems.