Earbud designs have certainly evolved over the years, but Sony’s LinkBuds look set to shake up the market once again. The tech giant is ushering in a new look for its latest wireless headphones, ditching the industry convention for a unique, one-of-its-kind open ring design.
Featuring donut-shaped 12mm drivers, the device lets users listen to music while also hearing ambient sounds, which makes it ideal for situations like commuting, crossing the road, or outdoor exercising. Optimising the experience is the Adaptive Volume Control feature that automatically adjusts volume levels based on one’s environment, allowing for greater awareness and listening comfort.
Unlike its peers on the market, the LinkBuds won’t come with tips of any kind. They fit directly inside the ear, and tip the scales at four grams each, making them more lightweight than the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live. Double- or tripping-tapping in front of the ear enables playback (yes, users won’t have to actually touch the earbuds), while the Speak-to-Chat function pauses music automatically once they start speaking to someone.
The earbuds also delivers high-quality sounds through the DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) and Sony’s Integrated Processor V1, the latter of which reproduces all the details in music tracks with minimal distortion. Voice pickup is designed to be precise, courtesy of advanced voice signal processing technology and AI machine learning.
The earphones can be connected to Android devices via Google’s Fast Pair, or to Windows devices and tablets through Swift Pair. They are expected last 5.5 hours on a single charge, with the charging case offering another 12 hours of battery life. Other notable features include a voice assistant support (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri), quick access to Spotify, Sony’s 360-degree Reality Audio, and a IPX4 rating for sweat and splash resistance.
The LinkBuds will be available in Singapore exclusively at physical Sony outlets and the Sony Store Online from 24 February 2022. It retails for S$269, and will come with S$30 worth of Nike e-vouchers with every purchase as part of a special launch promotion.
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
