The Game-Changing Upgrade to Sony's LinkBuds: Are These the Best Earbuds on the Market?

Sony has taken a bold step in expanding its LinkBuds line with three new additions: the LinkBuds Open, the LinkBuds Fit, and the LinkBuds Speaker. The LinkBuds Open is the second-gen version of the original LinkBuds, with a new design that addresses the comfort issues of the first model. The LinkBuds Fit boasts an all-new design, serving as the successor to the LinkBuds S, with a focus on fit and comfort. Lastly, the LinkBuds Speaker is a portable Bluetooth speaker that offers seamless integration with compatible Sony earbuds. In this article, we'll dive deeper into the features and specs of each new addition to the LinkBuds line.

Let's start with the LinkBuds Open. The original LinkBuds were praised for their unique design and feature set, but fell short in terms of comfort. To address this, Sony has redesigned the fitting supporter with a more common fit wing shape off the top edge. The earbuds have also been reduced in size to further enhance comfort. The new 11mm ring driver is still open at the center, offering an inherent transparency mode. Sony claims that the new driver, along with the Integrated Processor V2, will provide better sound quality, including clearer highs and mids, along with louder, richer bass. The LinkBuds Open also features an upgraded earbud chip, the Integrated Processor V2, which is found in the WF-1000XM5. This update should provide more stable connectivity and a longer battery life, up to eight hours on a single charge. The LinkBuds Open supports quick charging and offers a fit check tool in the new app.

Next up is the LinkBuds Fit, which takes over as the successor to the LinkBuds S. Based on consumer polling, Sony determined that fit and comfort were the top concerns for its customers. As a result, the company used its analysis of extensive ear shape data to create a new design. The LinkBuds Fit features a smaller and shorter design, with a hollow Air Fitting Supporter for added flexibility. A new ear tip further enhances overall comfort. The LinkBuds Fit packs a Dynamic Driver X, powered by the Integrated Processor V2 chip, which also enables active noise cancellation (ANC) and a new Auto Ambient Sound mode. The earbuds also feature dual noise sensor tech and multiple microphones, which Sony claims provide the best-in-class ambient sound quality.

Lastly, we have the LinkBuds Speaker, a portable Bluetooth speaker that offers seamless integration with compatible Sony earbuds. The speaker features an IPX4 rating, a woofer, a passive radiator, and a tweeter, all tuned for a well-balanced, clear sound. The LinkBuds Speaker offers up to 25 hours of battery life and features a top-mounted microphone for calls. A Quick Play button lets you start playing music with a single button press. The speaker also features an Auto Switch function that allows you to quickly swap audio between headphones or earbuds and the LinkBuds Speaker.

To complement the new LinkBuds line, Sony is launching a new app called Sound Connect. The app replaces the Headphones Connect app and will work with all headphones that were previously compatible with the old app. The Sound Connect app features a modern design, with all key settings on the main screen and tips for headphone and earbud use on the Discover tab. For the LinkBuds Open and LinkBuds Fit, the app offers a voice control tool that allows you to control the earbuds with a 'Hey Headphones' command. The app also enables head gestures for accepting or rejecting calls and features an Auto Battery Save function to conserve energy.