Sony has established a strong presence in the gaming headphones scene with its INZONE headset series, so it only stands to reason that its next venture involves gaming earbuds. It isn’t an easy feat, for there are only a few outstanding ones on the market, but that didn’t stop the tech giant from trying anyway.
The Sony INZONE Buds are a formidable first-timer that represent the best of Sony’s audio prowess from its past experience. Compatible with the PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile devices, the wireless earbuds feature an 8.4 mm driver, noise cancelling technology, and spatial sound personalisation for the user’s ear. More importantly, they are lightweight and lasting, with an emphasis on reliability and comfort for long gaming sessions.
Setting up is easy. Sony’s latest is a plug-and-play wonder that offers USB-C dongle connection for low latency gameplay. Slot it in the ear, and the drivers — the same ones in the WH-1000XM5 headset — will work their magic to bring 360-degree spatial sound and crisp audio. There’s just one major caveat: the INZONE Buds don’t offer conventional Bluetooth support.
Other notable features include an AI-assisted microphone that helps the wearer’s voice to cut through in-game sound, customisable controls, and a 12-hour battery life — all of which came into good use in Cyberpunk 2077, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike 2.
The Sony INZONE Buds are available for S$299.
Summary
The INZONE Buds are a nice sneak peek into what Sony has in store for gaming enthusiasts, repackaging the Dynamic Driver X from its WH-1000XM5 headphones cousin into a more compact and extremely comfortable form.
Overall
7.2/10-
Aesthetics - 6/10
6/10
-
Build Quality - 8/10
8/10
-
Performance - 8/10
8/10
-
Value - 7/10
7/10
-
Geek Satisfaction - 7/10
7/10
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Trinity Sun
