Sony LinkBuds Clip Review: Solid Buds, Premium Price

Background

Open-ear earbuds—devices that perch near the ear rather than sealing inside the canal—have swung from niche curiosity to mainstream experiment over the last two years. The renewed interest isn’t accidental. Millions of us want audio without isolation: something we can wear at a desk and still hear coworkers, take a jog while staying aware of traffic, or listen at home without completely tuning out family. Rather than blasting transparency mode through sealed tips, open designs leave your ears physically open.

Sony helped popularize the idea with the donut-shaped LinkBuds (WF-L900) in 2022, a quirky, lightweight pair that rested at the ear entrance with a hole through the driver. Since then, the market has diversified. Bose’s cuff-style open earbuds brought premium polish; Shokz, best known for bone conduction, has pushed open-ear silicone loops; Huawei and several audio upstarts have shipped ear cuffs and clip-ons with varying degrees of comfort and tuning.

The Sony LinkBuds Clip are the company’s latest entry into this trend. As the name suggests, they forgo a traditional stem-and-tip design and instead clip to your outer ear. This approach seeks to balance stability (no tips working loose) with all-day comfort and environmental awareness. But it raises the usual open-ear questions: Can they deliver convincing bass without a seal? Do they bleed sound at modest volumes? Are call mics usable in the wind? And, crucially, are they worth full price when discounts come fast in this category?

What happened

WIRED reviewed Sony’s LinkBuds Clip and came away impressed with their fundamentals—comfort, ease of wear, and overall execution—while questioning the value at the initial asking price. That verdict tracks with what we’ve seen across open-ear competitors: you can build a very good, very comfortable pair, but the absence of passive isolation limits physics, and paying a premium on day one often feels unnecessary given how regularly these models go on sale.

Here’s how the LinkBuds Clip fit into the broader picture based on typical Sony priorities and the open-ear playbook:

• Design and comfort: The clip-on form factor targets people who dislike in-canal pressure. By distributing weight along the ear’s contour, these buds aim for a barely-there feel you can keep on during a full workday. Fit will still vary with anatomy—ear cuffs can sit perfectly for some and fidget for others—but this style tends to fare better for glasses-wearers than over-ear hooks and can be more stable than a simple concha-resting bud.

• Sound and tuning: Open earbuds must work harder for bass and isolation. Expect a tuning that emphasizes mids and upper mids for clarity in speech, podcasts, and lighter pop. Sony typically augments low end with strategic venting and digital processing to add warmth at low volumes. You won’t get the sub-bass slam of sealed, ANC-equipped Sony flagships, but a good open-ear can sound surprisingly full at moderate volumes if it’s steered by competent DSP. The Clip appears to deliver a pleasant, usable signature—clean vocals, respectable detail—while acknowledging the limits of physics down low.

• Calls and microphones: With your ears open, wind and environmental noise are the enemy. Sony generally deploys beamforming mics and noise reduction to help isolate speech; expect acceptable calls indoors and variable results outdoors. If you work from home and jump on meetings, these should be fine; if you’re pacing along a busy street, callers may still hear the city.

• Connectivity and app support: Sony’s Headphones Connect is one of the better control apps in audio, offering EQ, custom controls, and common conveniences like multipoint pairing when supported. Open-ear products often inherit many of these smarts, even if they skip power-hungry features like active noise cancellation. The experience typically includes easy firmware updates and a stable connection—a Sony strong suit.

• Battery life and case: Open earbuds usually advertise middle-of-the-pack stamina since they have to push a bit more air. The Clip’s case is expected to be compact enough for pockets with a few recharges. Real-world endurance depends on volume (open buds tempt you to turn it up) and whether you enable optional processing.

• Price and value: This is the sticking point. Premium positioning makes sense when you’re selling craftsmanship, stability, and reliable software. But open-ear rivals frequently dip in price within months. WIRED’s bottom line—solid product, questionable value at full MSRP—echoes what we’ve seen: unless you urgently need this form factor, waiting for seasonal promotions often nets you a far better deal without sacrificing performance.

Put differently: Sony nailed the assignment for an open-ear clip. The question isn’t whether they’re good; it’s whether you should pay top dollar when the market almost guarantees a discount.

Key takeaways

• Open-ear comfort, less fatigue: The LinkBuds Clip target listeners who dislike ear-tips or pressure. They’re meant to disappear on your ear and let the world in, ideal for workdays and outdoor activity.

• Sound you can live with, not show off: Expect a clear, mid-forward presentation that flatters voices and lighter genres. Bass presence is improved by DSP but can’t match sealed earbuds.

• Strong brand execution: Sony’s track record with stable Bluetooth, a thoughtful app, and reliable controls likely carries over. That polish matters in day-to-day use more than a spec sheet does.

• Trade-offs intrinsic to the format: You hear traffic and coworkers—which is the point—but you also leak more sound at higher volumes and battle wind noise on calls. There’s no free isolation.

• Price is the pain point: At launch, the Clip feels expensive relative to its acoustic ceiling and the pace of discounts in the category. Waiting for a sale is pragmatic unless you need them now.

• Who they’re for: Runners and walkers who value awareness; people who wear earbuds for hours and hate ear fatigue; folks taking calls at a desk who prefer to stay present to ambient sounds.

• Who should skip: Commuters in noisy subways; bass lovers; frequent flyers who need ANC; anyone who wants one pair to rule all contexts.

Deep dive: where the LinkBuds Clip fit in a crowded open-ear field

Open-ear audio isn’t one thing; it’s a family of approaches, each with pros and cons.

• Ear clip/cuff (LinkBuds Clip style): Stable and comfortable, with drivers positioned just off the canal. Pros: secure and discreet, often great for glasses-wearers. Cons: fit can be anatomy-dependent; low-end still limited.

• Over-ear hook (sport-forward): Drivers hover near the ear with a silicone hook over the pinna. Pros: very stable for workouts; usually strong battery life. Cons: bulkier; can conflict with hats or helmets.

• Bone conduction (Shokz-style): Vibrates cheekbones rather than moving air into the ear. Pros: maximum awareness; useful for swimmers with certain models. Cons: weaker fidelity and bass; cranial tickle isn’t for everyone.

The Clip aims at the sweet spot between everyday wear and light fitness: invisible enough for meetings, steady enough for a jog. Sony’s polish can smooth out the rough edges—automatic pausing, reliable multipoint (if present), quick pairing, and a usable EQ curve go a long way—but the physics remain: open equals open.

Where price complicates things is in comparison. The most premium open options often start high and settle into more reasonable territory after a few months. Midrange models from fitness brands undercut them with battery and stability. Meanwhile, traditional sealed earbuds with excellent ANC routinely sell at aggressive discounts, offering radically different value for travelers and commuters.

The LinkBuds Clip, then, are less a universal recommendation and more a lifestyle pick. If you routinely choose transparency mode on sealed buds, or you take one tip out to stay aware, these make practical sense. If you want the cinematic bass Sony’s flagship in-ears deliver, you won’t find it here.

Buying advice: how to get the most from open-ear buds

• Keep volume conservative: Open earbuds invite you to crank volume to overcome ambient sound. That can push leakage and listening fatigue. Use EQ to nudge lows rather than blasting overall volume.

• Use the app: Sony’s app typically offers tailored EQ presets and feature toggles that can dramatically improve your experience. Adjusting auto-power settings can also stretch battery life.

• Test fit at rest and in motion: A cuff that feels perfect while seated might shift during a run. Do a quick jog-in-place test; if the angle changes, try a different position or clip tension (if adjustable).

• Consider context-specific pairs: An open-ear for office and runs paired with a sealed, ANC set for flights and trains is a powerful combo. Each excels on its own turf.

• Wait for deals: Unless you need them today, open-ear categories frequently see double-digit percentage discounts during holiday cycles and brand promotions.

What to watch next

• Price drops and bundles: Sony products often see meaningful discounts within the first few sales cycles. Watch for bundles with wireless chargers or cases.

• Firmware updates: New EQ options, improved call noise reduction, or multipoint refinements can land via software. Sony is generally good about updates.

• LE Audio and LC3 adoption: As more phones adopt Bluetooth LE Audio, open earbuds can gain efficiency and potentially improved call reliability at lower bitrates.

• Competitor moves: Expect fresh iterations from Bose, Shokz, and fitness-first brands. Competition tends to accelerate discounts and feature parity.

• Health and hearing features: There’s a slow trend toward hearing-wellness tools (exposure alerts, volume coaching). It’s a natural fit for open designs meant for long wear.

• Sustainability signaling: Case materials, packaging, and repairability are becoming differentiators. Sony has been vocal about recycled plastics in other models; watch for transparency here as well.

FAQ

• What are open-ear earbuds?
  Open-ear earbuds sit near your ear canal without sealing it, allowing you to hear your surroundings naturally. They’re different from transparency mode on sealed earbuds because there’s no physical barrier to outside sound.

• Are they good for commuting?
  It depends. They’re excellent for situational awareness on quiet streets or in an office. In loud subways or buses, you’ll likely turn up the volume, which reduces sound quality and increases leakage. For loud commutes, sealed buds with ANC are better.

• Do open earbuds leak sound?
  More than sealed earbuds, yes. At moderate volumes, leakage is usually acceptable in typical office settings. At high volumes, people nearby may hear what you’re playing, especially in quiet rooms.

• How secure are clip-on designs for workouts?
  Generally very secure for light-to-moderate activity like jogging, gym sessions, or cycling. Fit can vary with ear shape, so some people may need to experiment with placement to prevent shifting during sprints.

• How does sound compare to sealed earbuds?
  You’ll get a more natural sense of space and excellent vocal clarity, but bass depth and isolation are reduced. If you prioritize thump and immersion, sealed earbuds win. If you prioritize comfort and awareness, open earbuds shine.

• How are calls on open earbuds?
  Indoors, call quality is typically good, especially with brands that use solid beamforming and noise reduction. Outdoors, wind and traffic can still intrude. Positioning the microphone closer to the mouth isn’t possible with this form factor, so expectations should be modest.

• Should I buy at launch price?
  If you need a comfortable, awareness-forward pair right now and you prefer Sony’s ecosystem, the LinkBuds Clip are a strong option. If you can wait, sales in this category are frequent and can make the value proposition much more compelling.

Source & original reading: https://www.wired.com/review/sony-linkbuds-clip/