“LinkBuds Clip” (Lavender)
Sony will release the first ear cuff-type completely wireless earphones from the LinkBuds series, “LinkBuds Clip”, on February 6th. The price is open, and the expected market price is around 30,000 yen. Available in 4 colors: lavender, greige, green, and black.
This time, a special case cover made of silicone will also be released. The price is also open, and the expected market price is around 3,990 yen. Colors are black, lavender, coral, green, and blue.
“LinkBuds Clip” (greige)
According to the company, the composition ratio of open-ear earphones in the completely wireless earphone market is increasing.
This model is aimed at users who want to enjoy a variety of content while doing what they like all day long. You can choose from a wide range of options and use it while walking, moving, doing housework, running/gym, shopping, etc.
Easy to install with one touch
Comfort is important for ear cuff-type earphones, and with LinkBuds Clip, we repeatedly designed and tested the fit using 3D data of different people’s ear shapes to achieve a comfortable fit.
Comes with pre-cushion to adjust fit
In case, the cushion should be installed with the peak facing inward.
A distinctive element is a silicone cushion that allows you to adjust the fit. By attaching it to the arch of the earphone, you can adjust the fit to your liking.
LinkBuds Clip also has three priority modes: Standard/Voice Boost/Sound Leak Reduction.
Standard is a mode that allows you to enjoy a variety of music and content with a well-balanced high radar. Voice Boost is a mode that increases the midrange frequency to make it easier to hear people’s voices, and is ideal for environments where the surroundings are noisy and difficult to hear, or for content where you want to hear people’s voices.
Sound leakage reduction is a mode that reduces sound leakage by reducing part of the high frequency range, which is the main frequency range of sound leakage.
“LinkBuds Clip” (black)
Equipped with a 10mm diameter driver. Bluetooth codec supports SBC and AAC. It supports Sony’s unique upsampling technology “DSEE”, and a 10-band equalizer can be used with the “Sony | Sony Sound Connect” app.
Other apps include “Scene-Based Listening,” which automatically provides the optimal music experience by paying attention to the user’s behavior, location, and time of day, and “Adaptive Volume Control,” which automatically adjusts the volume according to the surrounding noise level.
“LinkBuds Clip” (green)
In terms of call performance, we have achieved high radar performance by making full use of 2-based microphones, bone conduction sensors, and AI technology. Bone conduction sensors do not pick up surrounding sounds, but only the vibrations of your own voice, so you can suppress noise during calls and deliver clear audio to the other party.
The “high-precision voice pickup technology” uses AI machine learning to suppress environmental noise and clearly extract the user’s voice using an algorithm that separates the wearer’s voice from other environmental noise.
In addition, by combining an antenna design that is optimal for the ear cuff shape and an algorithm that has evolved from previous earphones, we have achieved even stronger connectivity.
The earphones are IPX4 drip-proof. You can use “Find Your Equalizer,” which allows you to easily customize the sound to your liking, “Quick Access,” which allows you to prioritize playing compatible streaming songs, “360 stereophonic sound,” and multipoint that allows you to connect two devices at the same time.
In the spring of 2026, we will also provide a “BGM effect” that sounds like background music playing in a space where content spreads through a software update.
Battery life is approximately 9 hours with the earbuds alone, and up to 37 hours with the case. Please note that due to “acoustic design issues” (according to a Sony representative), the earphones are not equipped with an automatic left/right identification function.
The special case cover released this time is made of fluorosilicone rubber material that does not deteriorate easily over time, and comes with a carabiner for convenient carrying. It also comes with a fitting cushion in the same color and material as the case cover, so knowing it’s a LinkBuds Clip allows you to create a variety of color variations.
I asked about the actual machine.
I was able to preview the actual device in a short period of time, so I would like to share with you my first impressions.
“LinkBuds Clip” (black) installed
Some ear cuff-type earphones made by other companies have a light wearing feel that feels like they are “hanging around” rather than “pinch your earlobe,” but the LinkBuds Clip has a slightly stronger feeling of pinching your earlobe, and it is stable enough that it will not fall out of your ear even if it is comfortable.
As for the feeling of wearing, you can make it stronger by using the included initial cushion, so you can use it without a pre-cushion for daily use, or with a pre-cushion when exercising at the gym etc.
First, I set the mode to standard and tried listening to songs such as Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Lilac” and Kenshi Yonezu’s “IRIS OUT.” The bass in both isn’t so deep and powerful, but it’s loud enough to enjoy slightly awkward music. Also, the sound seemed to bring the vocals one step forward, and I had the impression that it went well with the vocals.
If you then double-tap the phone you don’t like and set the reading mode to Vocal Boost, the vocals will come out about two steps further, allowing you to hear the voice more clearly.
If you switch the mode again and set it to sound leakage reduction mode, the vocal thrust becomes much more modest. Also, the brightness in the high range is suppressed, and the resolution seems to be toned down by one or two steps.
However, if you double-tap the earphones from sound leakage reduction mode, they will switch to standard mode.
Although there are some areas where it feels lacking compared to general products, such as the lack of support for LDAC and automatic left/right identification functions, and the high actual selling price, this model also shows Sony’s high level of craftsmanship, such as the easy-to-use advance mode and the customization of the fit using the advance cushion.
