Design
Fit
The fit of the earbuds.
- Sony LinkBuds Open open_ear
Ingress Protection (IP) rating
The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against dust, while the second number refers to protection against liquid. E.g. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water.
- Sony LinkBuds Open ipx4
Water resistance
The level of water resistance that the device has.
- Sony LinkBuds Open sweat_resistant
Weight
We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 10.2
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Has no wires or cables
True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the two earbuds together.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Neckband
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Wingtips included
These earbuds come with wingtips that can be attached for a more secure fit. Wingtips come in handy for sports and other physical activities. When used correctly, they prevent the earbuds from falling off.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has RGB lighting
RGB lighting allows you to choose between millions of colors and customize the look of your PC components.
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Has stereo speakers
Devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better experience.
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Has UV light
The device kills germs, viruses and bacteria using an ultraviolet bulb.
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Has a display
The device has an electronic display to present information to the user.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Sound quality
Has active noise cancellation (ANC)
This type of device allows you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. Ideal for plane rides and morning commutes.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has passive noise reduction
The device sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out.
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Driver unit size
The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 11
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Lowest frequency
The lowest frequency at which the device produces audio. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 20
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Highest frequency
The highest frequency at which device produces audio. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 20000
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Supports spatial audio
Spatial audio is a technology that creates an immersive, three-dimensional sound experience by simulating audio sources from various directions and distances. It enhances the listener's perception of soundscapes, providing a more realistic and engaging experience for music, movies, or games.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that allows sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects. By doing so, Dolby Atmos allows for immersive, 360-degree sound.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a neodymium magnet
Devices with neodymium magnets are lighter and more powerful than those which use ferrite magnets. They also have more bass and clear high notes.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Power
Battery life
The device's battery life (when in use) as given by the manufacturer. With a longer battery life you have to charge the device less often.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 8
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Battery life of charging case
The battery life of the charging case as given by the manufacturer. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your headphones on the go multiple times before having to recharge the case itself.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 14
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Charge time
The time it takes to fully charge the battery.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 1.5
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Has wireless charging
It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a solar power battery
A solar battery takes its energy from light, and stores it in a self-recharging battery which never needs to be changed.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a battery level indicator
An indicator shows you when the device has low battery.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a rechargeable battery
The battery can be recharged and used over again.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Connectivity
Has fast pairing
The device connects via a Bluetooth quick pairing standard (such as Google Fast Pair) that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and allows for a fast, hassle-free pairing process.
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Has USB Type-C
The USB Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has LDAC
LDAC is a codec developed by Sony for Bluetooth audio. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high resolution audio. It can also automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps to increase stability.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has aptX Adaptive
aptx Adaptive is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has aptX Low Latency
aptX Low Latency is a codec developed by Qualcomm. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to provide low latency audio (around 40ms), which is useful when you want to avoid audio lag (e.g. when playing games).
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has aptX HD
aptX HD is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has aptX
aptX is a codec used for transmitting audio wirelessly with Bluetooth. It is developed by Qualcomm, and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has aptX Lossless
aptX Lossless is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 16-bit/44.1kHz audio (at a maximum bit rate of 1200kbps). This codec provides CD-quality audio without any loss of data.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Maximum Bluetooth range
The device can connect at a greater distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 10
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Supports Bluetooth pairing using NFC
Device supports fast Bluetooth pairing using NFC so it can communicate with other devices over Bluetooth. You can fastly pair devices without entering a code by simply holding one device next to the device with which it is to be paired.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Can be used wirelessly
Wireless devices allow users more freedom of movement.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has AAC
AAC is a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Features
Has ambient sound mode
Ambient sound mode uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. It’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re jogging but still want to be able to hear traffic.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has in/on-ear detection
Sensors can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused, saving battery life.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has find earbuds feature
You can use the app to play a sound from your earbuds to help you locate them.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Supports fast charging
Fast charging technologies, like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Multipoint count
Multipoint allows you to link to more Bluetooth devices and switch between them. For example you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.
- Sony LinkBuds Open 2
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Can read notifications
It can read out any notifications that you receive while you're using the earbuds/headphones.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a mute function
The device has an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Can be used as a headset
A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. Skype, games with voice chat, mobile phones, etc.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Control panel placed on a device
There is a control panel on the device body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has voice prompts
With voice prompts, you will automatically receive information via audio messages – for instance, you may find out that the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge the device.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Travel bag is included
The device comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has an in-line control panel
There is a control panel on the cable, so you can easily operate the device without having to interact with it.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a temperature sensor
With a temperature sensor you can monitor changes in temperature to measure your exertion levels and avoid hyperthermia.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Has a built-in camera remote control function
The device can control your smartphone’s camera remotely (without installing third-party apps), allowing you to take shots even if your phone isn't near you.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Microphone
Has a noise-canceling microphone
These microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Especially useful in noisy environments.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Miscellaneous
Sweat resistance
Resistance to sweat makes it ideal for use while doing sports.
- Sony LinkBuds Open
Is dustproof and water-resistant
The device is dustproof and water-resistant. Water-resistant devices can resist the penetration of water, such as powerful water jets, but not being submerged into water.
- Sony LinkBuds Open