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The Sony LinkBuds (model WF-L900) are open-ring wireless earbuds that keep you aware of your surroundings, and in 2026 they’re a good value if you find them on sale. Each earbud has a hole in the middle, so you hear traffic, coworkers, and announcements while your music plays. This Sony LinkBuds review covers how the 2022 open-ring earbuds sound and perform, what Sony has released since (the LinkBuds S, LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, and LinkBuds Clip), and which open-ear earbuds on Amazon deserve a look.
Quick verdict: The original LinkBuds are comfortable, light, and great at keeping you aware of your surroundings, with clear sound for an open design. Bass is thin, battery life is short, and the face-tap controls can misfire. If you find them on sale, they’re a good value; otherwise, the LinkBuds Open improve fit, bass, and battery life. Check the Sony LinkBuds price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: 2022 open-ring earbuds with a 12-millimeter ring driver, about 4 grams per earbud, and an Ingress Protection rating of IPX4 for sweat and splashes.
- Who it’s for: Walkers, bike commuters, and office workers who want to hear their surroundings, and people who dislike the plugged-up feeling of sealed earbuds.
- Price: They launched at $179.99 in February 2022 and are often discounted now that newer models exist (as of November 2026). Prices change often.
- Main weaknesses: Weak bass, a short 5.5-hour battery life, and face-tap controls that can misfire.
- Successor: The LinkBuds Open (WF-L910), launched in October 2024 at $199.99, improve fit, bass, and battery life, with 8 hours per charge.
Sony LinkBuds at a glance
| Spec | Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) |
|---|---|
| Release | February 2022 |
| Design | Open-ring earbuds with a flexible fitting supporter |
| Driver | 12-millimeter ring driver |
| Battery | Up to 5.5 hours per charge; 17.5 hours total with the case |
| Codecs | Subband Coding (SBC) and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Water resistance | Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IPX4 (splash and sweat resistant) |
| Weight | About 4 grams per earbud; 34 grams for the case |
| Charging | Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C); no wireless charging |
| Launch price | $179.99 |
Specs come from Reviewed’s LinkBuds review and Tom’s Guide’s LinkBuds lineup coverage.
The Sony LinkBuds family in 2026
Sony has turned LinkBuds into a whole product line, and the names can confuse shoppers. Here’s what each model does:
- LinkBuds (WF-L900, 2022): The original open-ring earbuds reviewed here. Sony has largely replaced them with the LinkBuds Open, but you can still find them discounted while stock lasts.
- LinkBuds S (WF-LS900N, 2022): Despite the name, these are conventional sealed earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC). The LinkBuds Fit succeeded them.
- LinkBuds Open (WF-L910, October 2024): The direct successor to the original, at $199.99. Battery life rises to 8 hours per charge (22 hours with the case), and the redesigned fitting supporter holds better. What Hi-Fi gave them four stars and found more balanced mids and stronger bass than the original.
- LinkBuds Fit (WF-LS910N, October 2024): Sealed earbuds with ANC, a soft air fitting supporter, multipoint pairing, and 5.5 hours of battery life (about 21 hours with the case), priced at $199.99 at launch.
- LinkBuds Clip (January 2026): Sony’s clip-on open-ear earbuds wrap around the edge of your ear instead of sitting in it. They cost $229.99 and run up to 9 hours per charge (37 hours with the case), with multipoint and IPX4 protection, according to SoundGuys.
Design and comfort
The LinkBuds look unlike any other earbuds. A donut-shaped ring holds the driver right over your ear canal, while a small rear housing holds the battery and electronics. A flexible rubber supporter tucks into the ridge of your ear to keep each bud in place. Sony includes five sizes of supporters, so most people can find a secure fit.
At about 4 grams each, the buds feel almost weightless, and there are no ear tips to create pressure. Still, Reviewed’s tester found the rigid, tipless shell could become uncomfortable during long sessions, so fit varies from ear to ear. The charging case is tiny and pocketable, but it charges only by USB-C cable.
Controls and app features
The touch area on each bud is small, so Sony added Wide Area Tap, which lets you double or triple tap the skin in front of your ear to play, pause, skip, or change volume. It’s clever, but Reviewed found the face-tap controls misfired often. The free Sony Headphones Connect app (now called Sony Sound Connect) lets you assign tap actions, adjust the equalizer, and set up 360 Reality Audio.
Other features include Speak-to-Chat, which pauses music when you start talking, and Adaptive Volume Control, which raises or lowers volume as your surroundings get louder or quieter. Reviewed found Speak-to-Chat too sensitive, even on its lower setting, so you may want to turn it off. You can use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, and Android users get Google Fast Pair.
At launch, the LinkBuds could connect to only one device at a time. Sony planned a firmware update in late 2022 to add multipoint pairing, according to Reviewed, so update the firmware through the app if you want to switch between a phone and a laptop.
Sound and call quality
The open design shapes the sound. Mids and treble come through clearly, and the soundstage feels airy and natural, almost like listening to a nearby speaker. Reviewed called the audio clear and full for an open-ear design, though less detailed and punchy than premium noise-cancelling earbuds. Bass is the obvious weakness: it’s present, but you won’t feel deep rumble, and it fades further in loud places such as subway platforms.
Because nothing seals your ear, people near you can hear some sound at high volume, and outside noise mixes freely with your music. That’s the point for walkers, runners, and office workers who need to hear colleagues. Calls sounded clear on both ends in Reviewed’s testing, although wind caused problems outdoors.
Battery life
Sony rates the LinkBuds at 5.5 hours per charge and 17.5 hours total with the case. A 10-minute charge adds about 90 minutes of playback. That’s below average for modern earbuds, and the LinkBuds Open (8 hours) and LinkBuds Clip (9 hours) last noticeably longer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent awareness of your surroundings
- Very light, compact design
- Clear, natural sound for an open design
- Useful app features and voice assistant support
- Often discounted now that newer models exist
Cons
- Weak bass, especially in noisy places
- Short 5.5-hour battery life
- Face-tap controls can misfire
- No wireless charging
- Rigid shell may not suit every ear
Sony LinkBuds vs. other open-ear earbuds
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries the LinkBuds family plus the strongest open-ear rivals. Prices change often, so check current deals.
Compare similar open-ear and everyday earbuds on Amazon
| Earbuds | Design | Battery (earbuds) | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) | Open ring | 5.5 hours | Bargain open-ear listening | Check price |
| Sony LinkBuds Open | Open ring | 8 hours | Better fit, bass, and battery | Check price |
| Sony LinkBuds Clip | Clip-on open ear | 9 hours | All-day wear without anything in your ear | Check price |
| Sony LinkBuds Fit | Sealed with ANC | 5.5 hours | Noise cancellation in a comfy fit | Check price |
| Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | Clip-on open ear | 7.5 hours | Premium open-ear sound | Check price |
| Shokz OpenFit 2 | Ear hook open ear | 11 hours | Running and workouts | Check price |
- Sony LinkBuds Open: They keep the ring design but fix many of the original’s weak spots. See the LinkBuds Open on Amazon.
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: These clip-on earbuds cost more but deliver fuller sound and a secure fit. See the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds on Amazon.
- Shokz OpenFit 2: The ear hooks stay put during runs, and the battery outlasts most rivals. See the Shokz OpenFit 2 on Amazon.
If you’d rather have sealed everyday earbuds with more bass, see our JBL Vibe Flex 2 review. Travelers can also check our Sentdream AI translation earbuds review, and for full noise cancellation on a commute, our AKG Y600NC review covers an over-ear option.
Who should buy the Sony LinkBuds?
Buy the LinkBuds if you want to hear your surroundings while listening: on walks, bike commutes, in the office, or at home with kids around. They also suit people who dislike the plugged-up feeling of sealed earbuds. Skip them if you want deep bass, noise cancellation, or long battery life. A small earbud carrying case helps protect the compact charging case in a bag.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Sony LinkBuds have noise cancellation?
No, the Sony LinkBuds don’t have noise cancellation. The original LinkBuds and LinkBuds Open use an open design that lets outside sound in. The LinkBuds S and LinkBuds Fit have ANC.
Are the Sony LinkBuds waterproof?
No, the Sony LinkBuds aren’t waterproof, but they’re water resistant. The IPX4 rating protects against sweat and splashes, but don’t submerge them.
What’s the difference between the LinkBuds and LinkBuds Open?
The LinkBuds Open keep the ring design but add a better fitting supporter, stronger bass, and longer battery life (8 hours versus 5.5 hours).
Are the Sony LinkBuds discontinued?
Sony has largely replaced the original LinkBuds with the LinkBuds Open, but some retailers still sell the original at a discount.
Final verdict
The Sony LinkBuds helped popularize open earbuds and still do their main job well: they let you hear the world and your music at the same time. Thin bass, short battery life, and fussy controls hold them back, and the LinkBuds Open now fix many of those flaws. Grab the originals on sale, or step up to the Open or Clip for all-day wear. Check the current Sony LinkBuds price on Amazon.