Never had I ever experienced a toxic relationship which devoted lovers still keep coming back to, until I got my hands on the Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds.
Priced at ₹18,990, these open-ear earbuds project sound straight into your ear without blocking the ear canal, letting you stay entirely connected to the outside world without the annoyance of traditional active noise cancellation (ANC). Having never used such a device before, listening to music with them alone almost sold me on their vision. But as weeks turned into days, some distinct quirks made my admiration waver.
Here is everything you need to know about where the LinkBuds Clip shines and where it falls short.
Audio Quality: Sparkling Vocals Meet Weak Bass
I long assumed an earbud had to stay inside the canal to deliver mesmerizing quality, but Sony broke that misconception.
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The Highs: Bollywood and vocal-heavy tracks sound incredible. Listening to Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, the LinkBuds Clip revealed its ace as the santoor rang out, the harmonium hummed, and the tabla set the rhythm. Rihanna’s Don’t Stop the Music let me easily track her cadence and inflection.
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The Lows: The low-end spectrum—bass in layperson’s terms—is where they struggle. Tracks like Shaggy’s Boombastic lacked the punchy impact expected from regular earbuds, and low-frequency movie sound effects felt muted.
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The Volume Hurdle: The open design means that in loud environments—like trying to use a treadmill—even maximum volume couldn’t drown out the motor’s whirring.
Design and Build: A Clever Idea That Tests Your Patience
The earbuds feature a distinctive design with a C-shaped silicone bridge connecting a battery barrel to a ball-shaped earpiece.
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The Fit: Putting them on takes practice. For wider ears, the tight C-shaped bridge can press uncomfortably against the antihelix (the inner ridge of the ear) during long sessions.
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The Case: The squircle charging case (resembling a “vada pav” shape) comes in gorgeous colorways like Greige and Lavender, sporting a matte dock and glossy lid. However, the hinge feels a bit mushy and fails to match the premium price tag. On the bright side, the dock cleverly repels earbuds if you try to slot them on the wrong side!
App Support, Features & Microphones
Working via the Sony Sound Connect app, you get a 10-band equalizer, custom touch gestures (like triple-tapping to launch Spotify), and multiple listening modes like Voice Boost for podcasts.
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Connectivity: They support Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair, and flawless multi-device switching.
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The Microphones: Sony’s microphone tuning is a massive triumph. Backed by dual mics, a bone-conduction sensor, and AI processing, my voice came through crystal-clear even while standing directly next to a running microwave screaming at 77.4 dB (comparable to heavy city traffic).
Battery Life
The LinkBuds Clip comfortably meets its claimed 9-hour earbud battery life, scaling up to 37 hours total with the charging case. While it misses out on wireless charging, a quick 3-minute wired charge yields roughly an hour of playback.
The Verdict
The Sony LinkBuds Clip is a fascinating open-ear experiment. They offer delightful instrument separation, gorgeous vocals, phenomenal call quality, and solid battery life. However, the lack of punchy bass, mediocre loudness in public spaces, and a hit-or-miss fit for wider ears mean you must weigh your priorities carefully.
HT Verified Score: 7.9 / 10 (Recommended for users prioritizing open-ear awareness and comfort above all else).
