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Sony‘s signature WF-1000XM line of earbuds sounds great in the ear, even if the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but those are far from the only earbuds Sony sells. The brand’s latest earbuds, available for pre-order today, include revamped versions of the brand’s popular LinkBuds line. The two new earbuds are the LinkBuds Fit, a successor to the LinkBuds S, and the LinkBuds Open, which are an updated version of the original LinkBuds.
Sony LinkBuds Open
The LinkBuds Open are Sony’s take on the growing open ear earbuds market, and are an updated version of the earlier LinkBuds model. These also feature Sony’s new in-ear wings for a secure fit.
To celebrate, Sony again teamed up with pop icon and former Rolling Stone cover star Olivia Rodrigo on a purple colorway of the LinkBuds Fit and Open. The LinkBuds Fit is Sony’s take on sports earbuds. They feature in-ear wings, dubbed Air Fitting Supporters, that are designed to provide a lightweight but secure fit. The Air Fitting Supporters have a hollow tip to reduce pressure in the ear, making these a potential contender if you’re looking for earbuds with ear hooks.
The LinkBuds Fit feature active noise canceling, and Sony claims they have improved Auto Ambient Sound Mode for quiet when you want it and awareness when you need it. The LinkBuds Fit are designed with intuitive controls and built-in voice control.
The LinkBuds Open are the updated version of Sony’s LinkBuds line, which Sony still sells but is discontinuing production of. The LinkBuds Open features a unique ring design that leaves the ear canal open, maintaining situational awareness without compromising audio quality.
Rahul Bhatt/Sony
Like the LinkBuds Fit, the LinkBuds Open earbuds feature Sony’s Air Fitting Supporters for a comfortable yet secure in-ear fit. Sony’s Adaptive Volume Control adjusts the volume of the LinkBuds based on the surrounding environment.
Sony has also launched a companion app, the Sound Connect app, which allows for personalized controls of the equalizer and other settings. The LinkBuds Fit earbuds are available in black, green, white, or purple, while the LinkBuds Open are available in the same colors except for green.
Both of the new earbuds in the LinkBuds line costs $200, positioning it as a mid-tier option below Sony’s $300 WF1000xm5 and the $120 WF-C700N earbuds. They’re the latest mid-tier earbuds to launch from a major headphone brand, following Bose’s new $179 QuietComfort earbuds.