Sony Debuts ‘LinkBuds’ Clip-On Earbuds

Sony is officially diving headfirst into the “ear cuff” trend. The company has just unveiled the LinkBuds Clip, a new pair of open-ear earbuds designed to be worn like jewelry rather than traditional plugs.

Priced at $229.99 USD (approximately $299.99 CAD), these earbuds represent a shift in how Sony approaches the “always-on” audio market. Instead of sitting inside your ear canal or using a donut-shaped driver like previous LinkBuds, the Clip model uses a C-shaped design that wraps around the side of your ear.

The main draw of the LinkBuds Clip is situational awareness. Because the ear canal is left completely open, you can hear traffic, office chatter, or your own voice naturally while listening to music or podcasts. This makes them a direct competitor to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, but at a slightly lower price point.

Sony has prioritized comfort with this model. They feature a “soft, flexible band” that connects the speaker module to the battery portion, which sits discreetly behind the ear. To ensure they stay secure for different ear shapes, Sony includes “Air Fitting Cushions” in the box. These are small silicone attachments that help the buds grip the ear without adding pressure.

One of the standout specs is the battery life. Sony claims the LinkBuds Clip can last up to 9 hours on a single charge, which is impressive for open-fit hardware. When you include the juice from the charging case, you get a total of 37 hours of playback. A quick three-minute charge is enough to give you an hour of listening time.

Even though they don’t block out the world, Sony has added some clever software features. A new “Voice Boost” mode helps make dialogue clearer when you’re in a noisy environment, like a busy street. There is also a “Sound Leakage Reduction” mode, which uses clever acoustics to prevent people sitting next to you from hearing your private phone calls or music.

The new LinkBuds are launching in four colors—Black, Greige, Green, and Lavender. Sony is also selling separate case covers and cushions for $24.99 USD if you want to mix and match colors.