Sony LinkBuds review: Sony re-imagines what earbuds should do

What if earbuds were wearable gadgets, not just sound machines? That’s the question raised by Sony’s latest groundbreaking creation.

What if earbuds were not designed to block noise and tune out the world?

What if they were, instead, wearable gadgets for your ears that let you take calls, listen to music, hear everything around you, and surreptitiously summon smart assistants?

The latter approach is the one Sony has taken with its latest creation: oddly shaped ear pieces called LinkBuds.

Rather than sitting inside your ear canal, these $320 earbuds sit on top of it, with a round, doughnut design providing a circular speaker around space to hear what’s happening nearby.

This could be useful if you want to hear what you sound like while singing to your favourite tracks, of course, but it could also be vital while exercising outdoors, good when approached by a colleague, and important for those with FOMO.

This design also makes the LinkBuds comfortable to wear for long periods — they don’t stretch or fill your ear, nor do they mess with your equilibrium.

However, there are downsides to Sony’s new approach too.

Firstly, music delivered through these earbuds might not seem as loud and, though sound is well balanced, it lacks the big bass some enjoy.

Secondly, it can take a few attempts to find the right fit. A plastic ‘wing’ fits around each earbud to keep it in the fold of your ear.

Thirdly, they only offer 5.5 hours of battery life on a charge so you can’t wear them all day just yet.

Sony deserves a lot of credit for trying something new with LinkBuds though, and their design brings something genuinely fresh to a packed market.

Those who need to stay alert and connected are likely to appreciate their groundbreaking design.

Originally published as Sony LinkBuds review: Sony re-imagines what earbuds should do