Sony has good news for folks looking for a snug pair of earbuds that stay put even during intense workouts. It added two new offerings to its LinkBuds line Wednesday: LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Open. Both buds retail for $199 and are open to orders now.
Sony’s new buds use what they call “air fitting supporters” to promise an ear-hugging fit. These supporters look like regular earbud wings to me (like the one on the Beats Fit Pro), but I’ll have to test them out to see if they work any differently. The company claims the “tail” on these supporters is soft and hollow and helps “reduce ear contact, pressure, and prevent accidental dislodging.”
The Fit model also comes with soft-fitting earbud tips for increased comfort and snugness. Earbud tips dramatically help with the overall fit, which explains why consumers have been asking Apple to include them on its AirPods since forever. Clearly, the Cupertino company isn’t listening, as apparent by the ill-fitted AirPods 4.
The Open model features a unique ring design that isn’t a common feature on open wireless earbuds. Personally, I like my open buds with a hook design that loops over my cartilage, but you also compromise on form factor and easy portability with earbuds that huge and a carry case big enough to accommodate them. People usually mistake the charging case for my Cleer Arc II open-ear hook buds for a glasses case. I’m looking forward to seeing if Sony’s new open-ear buds can achieve the same fit with the rings and supporters.
Both new buds tout the V2 processorwhich also powers the company’s premium flagship WF-1000XM5 earbuds, so I’m hopeful about their sound quality. They also offer voice control, an IPX4 rating, and multipoint connectivity for up to two devices.
A new LinkBuds Portable Wireless Speaker also joined the two new buds. The cool thing about this speaker is its auto-switch functionality, which lets you swap playback between any LinkBuds device with just the push of a button. Its handy, detachable strap indicates it’s meant to be taken around, but the IPX4 rating points towards limited portability, especially on intense outdoor adventures.
With a battery life of up to 25 hours, it’s one of the longest-lasting wireless speakers launched at this price point. Other similarly priced speakers we looked at recently, like the Sonos Roam 2 or the Sony Ult Field 1, both max out at around 12 hours. The LinkBuds speaker retails for $179 and is available to order now.
