Sony LinkBuds Clip
The Sony LinkBuds Clip are Sony’s first clip‑on, open‑ear wireless earbuds, designed to let you listen to music while staying fully aware of your surroundings. They clip around the ear rather than sealing inside it, offering comfort, airflow, and natural transparency
Jumoka Cobbs 
Sony LinkBuds Clip Review Score
Mixed reviews - 9 reviewers had varied opinions
9
Reviews
82.0
Highest
65.0
Lowest
Battery
Buds:Up to 9hrs case:Up to 28hrs
Bluetooth
5.3
Water Resistant
IPX4
Review Sources:
| Publication | Score (100) | Review Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engadget | Jan 21, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"Sony tried its hand at a clip-on, open-fit design, but didn't do enough to set the LinkBuds Clip apart from the competition." | |||
| The Verge | Jan 25, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony LinkBuds Clip are comfortable with good sound, but are light on features for the price." | |||
| Lifehacker | Jan 27, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"Probably not the only earbuds you should own, but an excellent secondary pair for when you’re out and about." | |||
| CNET | Jan 21, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"While there isn't anything terribly innovative about Sony's new $230 LinkBuds Clip earbuds, they're attractively designed, sound good and feature strong voice-calling performance." | |||
| Soundguys | Jan 31, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"The bottom lineOpen earbuds are a bit odd, but definitely suit many people's needs. If you're looking for clip-style open earbuds, the Sony LinkBuds Clip are a solid addition to the LinkBuds line." | |||
| Wired | Feb 16, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"Sony’s latest LinkBuds, the Clip, are fine. They’re not the best sounding or lightest buds in their class, and their clip-on design cribs loads of earbuds before them, most notably from Anker's Soundcore line. Sony adds some fun colorways to mix thin" | |||
| Mashable | Feb 21, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"Sony's no stranger to the open-ear category — its original LinkBuds were one of the first you could buy — and yet the company remained content to stick with an in-ear shape, even while brands like Shokz and Soundcore were enjoying success" | |||
| T3 | Mar 12, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"Sony's LinkBuds Clip are comfortable, well-made and nicely customisable, but the sound quality struggles to keep up with similarly priced open-ear rivals. With limited bass and underwhelming listening modes, they're harder to recommend in a category " | |||
| PCMag | Feb 9, 2026 | Read Review → | |
"The Sony LinkBuds Clip open earbuds have a distinctive clip design, a reasonably natural audio response, and a comfortable fit, but fall just short of the class leaders." | |||
| * Price represents starting price. Price can increase based on product options and selection. | |||
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⬆ Higher Rated
🤓 Nerd Verdict
Updated: March 14, 2026
The Sony LinkBuds Clip offer a comfortable and secure fit, but their sound quality falls short of expectations, making them less compelling compared to other open-ear designs in this price range.
✅ Strengths
- Comfortable and secure clip-on fit, as noted by multiple reviewers (PCMag, T3, The Verge)
- Strong battery life, providing up to 8 hours of playback with the case (CNET, PCMag)
- Customizable controls and equalization through the companion app (T3)
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Sound quality struggles with limited bass and underwhelming listening modes (T3, PCMag, The Verge)
- Difficult to distinguish left and right buds, which is surprising for a brand like Sony (T3)
- Some listening modes sound unnatural, affecting the overall listening experience (The Verge)
💡 Bottom Line
While the Sony LinkBuds Clip provide a comfortable and secure fit, their sound quality issues make them less desirable. Given the $229 price tag, users might find better value in alternatives like the Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation, which offer superior sound and additional features.
