{"id":435061,"date":"2022-04-21T13:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T10:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/"},"modified":"2022-04-21T13:00:32","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T10:00:32","slug":"sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"#Sony LinkBuds Review: A Hole New Idea"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3717c433b7e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3717c433b7e\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#%E2%80%9CSony_LinkBuds_Review_A_Hole_New_Idea%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Sony LinkBuds Review: A Hole New Idea&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Heres_What_We_Like\" >Here&#8217;s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#And_What_We_Dont\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Design_and_Fit\" >Design and Fit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Charging_Case_and_Battery_Life\" >Charging Case and Battery Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Sound_Quality\" >Sound Quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Touch_Controls_and_Extra_Features\" >Touch Controls and Extra Features<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Should_You_Buy_the_Sony_LinkBuds\" >Should You Buy the Sony LinkBuds?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#Heres_What_We_Like-2\" >Here\u2019s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/sony-linkbuds-review-a-hole-new-idea\/#And_What_We_Dont-2\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CSony_LinkBuds_Review_A_Hole_New_Idea%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Sony LinkBuds Review: A Hole New Idea&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<div class=\"single-review-card\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"rating\" style=\"width: 30%;\">Rating:<br \/>\n<strong>8\/10<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"more-info-hover\">?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"rating-info\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage<\/li>\n<li>3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design<\/li>\n<li>4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons<\/li>\n<li>5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect<\/li>\n<li>6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale<\/li>\n<li>7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class<\/li>\n<li>8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some Footnotes<\/li>\n<li>9 &#8211; Shut Up And Take My Money<\/li>\n<li>10 &#8211; Absolute Design Nirvana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<p>Price: <strong>$178.00<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-798583 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/p-badge\/798583\/bcf5c645c6f61c62d2fdec2d9bf19447.png?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/p-badge\/798583\/bcf5c645c6f61c62d2fdec2d9bf19447.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/p-badge\/798583\/bcf5c645c6f61c62d2fdec2d9bf19447.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds' buds outside of the charging case.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"Justin Duino\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So many truly wireless earbuds simply mimic the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a>le AirPods. They don\u2019t bring any new ideas to the table. The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-LinkBuds-Wireless-Headphones-Open-Ring\/dp\/B09QNLR4GD?tag=howtogeekreviews-20\">Sony LinkBuds<\/a> feature a wildly unique design and approach to wireless earbuds. Thankfully, the risk paid off.<\/p>\n<div class=\"review-card-body-inline\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like\"><\/span>Here&#8217;s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Unique design allows ambient noise and music to co-exist<\/li>\n<li>Comfortable fit once you figure it out<\/li>\n<li>Excellent touch controls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The charging case is thick<\/li>\n<li>Battery life is only decent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Sony LinkBuds are part of a subgenre of headphones with what\u2019s called an \u201copen\u201d design. This technique is an alternative to the type with rubber tips that create a seal in your ear. Those are designed to block out ambient noise, while \u201copen\u201d earbuds let it in.<\/p>\n<p>While most \u201copen\u201d earbuds simply don\u2019t create a seal, Sony took the idea very literally. The LinkBuds have an actual opening directly in the middle of the speakers. For certain situations this is ideal, but it\u2019s not for everyone. Let\u2019s find out if it\u2019s for you.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> At the time of writing this review, I have been using the Sony LinkBuds for over three weeks as my only headphones. I\u2019ve used them with multiple phones and computers in that time. I purchased the LinkBuds on my own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Design_and_Fit\"><\/span>Design and Fit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-798580\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sony-LinkBuds-earbuds-held-in-a-persons-hand.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds' earbuds held in a person's hand.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Sony LinkBuds don\u2019t look anything like a \u201cnormal\u201d pair of earbuds, that much is obvious. Where you would typically see the speaker housing, there is a literal hole. The LinkBuds are essentially the polar opposite of earbuds like the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/762542\/which-airpods-should-you-buy\/\">Apple AirPods Pro.<\/p>\n<p>This unusual design is what allows outside noise to enter your ear. The ring-shaped speaker lines up with your ear canal so there\u2019s nothing blocking outside sound from entering. The other internals are found in the offset spherical housing.<\/p>\n<p>It took me a few days to understand how the LinkBuds are supposed to fit. My first instinct was to put the ring as deep into my ear as I could get it. However, they kept slowly working their way out of my ear.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-798579\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sony-LinkBuds-in-a-persons-ear.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds in a person's ear\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The ring should fit gently behind the small bump at the front of the ear and the flexible support arcs tuck behind the folds\u2014Sony has a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/bfZb-tTEzqI\">handy demo video<\/a>. It should feel like the LinkBuds are sorta floating in your ear. Once I figured that out, they\u2019ve been super secure and I can wear them for hours without getting much soreness in my ears.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting at your desk is one thing, but what about getting active? I\u2019ve used plenty of earbuds that won\u2019t stay in my ears while running. Thankfully, I haven\u2019t had that issue with the LinkBuds. They\u2019re stable in my ear and allow me to hear people around me\u2014more on that later.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s definitely more of a learning curve than you may be used to due to the unorthodox design. Sony includes four different sizes of support arcs to help you dial in the fit for your ear shape. Like any earbuds, the LinkBuds may not fit your specific ear shape, but make sure you\u2019re wearing them correctly before deciding they\u2019re not right for you.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Charging_Case_and_Battery_Life\"><\/span>Charging Case and Battery Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-798576 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sony-LinkBuds-case-size-compared-to-the-AirPods-Pro.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds' case size compared to the AirPods Pro.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"Justin Duino\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">AirPods Pro vs Sony LinkBuds <span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>An important part of every pair of truly wireless earbuds is the charging case. The LinkBuds case is both smaller and bigger than you would expect. The footprint is small, but it\u2019s decently taller than most earbuds cases.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s probably my least favorite thing about the Sony LinkBuds. The charging case isn\u2019t comfortable in my pocket\u2014and I don\u2019t wear skinny jeans. It\u2019s not ridiculous, but it\u2019s enough that I will opt to put them in my shirt pocket or backpack if I can.<\/p>\n<p>The main purpose of the case is to charge the earbuds, so let\u2019s talk about battery life. Sony claims the earbuds get 5.5 hours on a single charge with an additional 12 hours from case recharges.\u00a0 You\u2019re looking at around 17 hours of listening before you need to charge the case again.<\/p>\n<p>Those numbers have been relatively accurate for me in real life. I\u2019ve been getting about three total recharges from the case. That works out to charging the case just about every other day for me. You can certainly find earbuds with better battery life, but the LinkBuds are very compact and light. It\u2019s a trade-off you have to make.<\/p>\n<p>The charging case uses <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/211843\/usb-type-c-explained-what-it-is-and-why-youll-want-it\/\">USB-C for charging, no wireless charging here, unfortunately. The case also seems to charge very slowly considering the battery isn\u2019t that big, reaching a peak of 1.5W speeds in our testing.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sound_Quality\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">Sound Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-798578 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sony-LinkBuds-earbud-vs-AirPods-Pro-bud.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds earbud vs AirPods Pro bud.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"Justin Duino\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sealed (AirPods Pro) vs Open Design (LinkBuds). <span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about sound. Can earbuds with a big hole in the middle of the speakers sound good? They can and they do. I have been pleasantly surprised by the sound quality.<\/p>\n<p>Listening with the LinkBuds is actually a bit of a strange experience. Typically, earbuds either have rubber tips to create a seal or they sit loosely in your ear. With rubber tips and noise cancellation, you only hear the music. Loose-fitting earbuds allow you to hear more around you, but there\u2019s a speaker blocking your ear, so it\u2019s still dampened somewhat.<\/p>\n<p>The hole in the LinkBuds allows you to hear your surroundings very clearly. You might think that would make the music hard to hear, but that\u2019s not the case. The ambient noise and music are able to co-exist without canceling each other out.<\/p>\n<p>Are you going to get the absolute <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/90720\/sony-wf-1000xm4-earbuds-review\/\">best sound quality<\/a> out of the LinkBuds? No, that\u2019s not really possible without a good seal. Most wireless earbuds struggle with bass and the open design of the LinkBuds doesn\u2019t make that issue any better. In general, though, I would say the sound quality is above average.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, certain situations are better suited for them than others. The aforementioned running is a perfect activity for the LinkBuds. I can listen to music or podcasts and if someone says \u201con your left!\u201d I can still hear them perfectly. It\u2019s also nice to not have to choose between listening to music or enjoying the sounds of nature.<\/p>\n<p>Where the open design isn\u2019t great is in places like coffee shops. They have their own music playing, which will interfere with yours. If someone is having a conversation at the next table, you\u2019ll be able to hear every word. That\u2019s what the LinkBuds are designed to do, though. You have to know when to use them.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Touch_Controls_and_Extra_Features\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">Touch Controls and Extra Features<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Controls are an incredibly important part of using wireless earbuds. They can make or break the entire experience. Thankfully, Sony has equipped the LinkBuds with some of the best controls I\u2019ve used.<\/p>\n<p>Each earbud has a fully customizable\u00a0double tap and triple tap touch control (using Sony\u2019s Headphone Connect app available on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.sony.songpal.mdr&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US\">Android<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/sony-headphones-connect\/id1168502924\">iPhone<\/a>). They can be used for volume, playback, song skipping, and Google Assistant or Alexa. The controls are independent, so you could have the left earbud for volume and the right for playback.<\/p>\n<p>The LinkBuds also have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.spotify.com%2Fus%2Fpages%2Fspotify-tap\">Spotify Tap<\/a> integration that\u2019s pretty slick. Say you have the LinkBuds paired to your phone and PC. If you\u2019re listening to Spotify on your PC, the LinkBuds will automatically know to connect to that device when you open the case. Also, if you switch the LinkBuds to your phone while listening, Spotify will automatically switch over to your phone as well.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 642px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/reviews\/032LYWPz1crGHY2lbQzilVs-5.fit_lim.size_650x.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds lifestyle\" width=\"642\" height=\"390\" data-credittext=\"Sony\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Sony<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I haven\u2019t mentioned the best part yet\u2014you don\u2019t actually have to tap the earbuds. You can simply tap the area immediately in front of your ears. This works surprisingly well and is by far the easiest way to control earbuds I\u2019ve found.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned, the LinkBuds support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This is not my first pair of earbuds with Assistant integration, but it\u2019s the first pair that\u2019s been good enough to make me actually use it. The \u201cHey Google\u201d wake-up is detected about 90% of the time and it\u2019s quick to respond in those times.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the touch controls and Assistant integration are features that can make a good pair of earbuds great. If you\u2019re constantly annoyed by interaction, you\u2019re not going to want to use them.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Buy_the_Sony_LinkBuds\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Should You Buy the Sony LinkBuds?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-798581\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sony-LinkBuds-case-held-in-a-persons-hand.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Sony LinkBuds case held in a person's hand.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now it\u2019s time for the big question\u2014should you buy the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-LinkBuds-Wireless-Headphones-Open-Ring\/dp\/B09QNLR4GD?tag=howtogeekreviews-20\">Sony LinkBuds<\/a>? Let\u2019s get the price out of the way first. At launch, the LinkBuds cost $180 and they\u2019re available in white and dark gray. For comparison, the Apple AirPods also cost $180.<\/p>\n<p>Wireless earbuds are very subjective. Whether or not you like the LinkBuds is going to depend on your personal use-cases and the shape of your ears. That being said, I think the LinkBuds are a super solid pair of earbuds from Sony.<\/p>\n<p>If you value being able to hear your surroundings while still having good audio quality, the LinkBuds are an excellent choice. You\u2019ll need to fiddle with the fit at first, but you should be able to eventually find the right combination of support arcs and positioning.<\/p>\n<p>The LinkBuds are unusual and that means they\u2019re not for everyone. If you happen to be one of the people that this design appeals to, I think you\u2019ll be <em>hole-y<\/em> satisfied.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single-review-card border\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\nRating: <strong>8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Price: <strong>$178.00<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"review-card-body\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like-2\"><\/span>Here\u2019s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Unique design allows ambient noise and music to co-exist<\/li>\n<li>Comfortable fit once you figure it out<\/li>\n<li>Excellent touch controls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont-2\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The charging case is thick<\/li>\n<li>Battery life is only decent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/796914\/sony-linkbuds-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Sony LinkBuds Review: A Hole New Idea&#8221; Rating: 8\/10 ? 1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage 2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage 3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design 4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons 5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect 6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale 7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class 8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":435062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/p-badge\/798583\/bcf5c645c6f61c62d2fdec2d9bf19447.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-435061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=435061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435061\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/435062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=435061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=435061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=435061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}