Whether you need them for an intense workout or listening at work, theyre a solid choice.
The LinkBuds Fit take a slightly different approach.
They wont beat the verybest earbudswhen it comes to sound quality or noise cancellation.
Lets start with the fit, which is genuinely excellent.
The fit stands out for several reasons.
Each earbud weighs just 4.9g, so light that you might forget youre wearing them.
The stability and comfort are enhanced by two key features.
First, the silicone tips, which are standard with most true wireless earbuds.
That said, the limited tip selection might not suit everyone.
Second, the earbuds feature silicone fins that fit snugly into the cartilage of your ear.
These earbuds arent just comfortable; theyre incredibly stable.
No matter the activity, they stayed firmly in place without ever feeling tight or uncomfortable.
The charging case is a bit chunkier and less streamlined than those of rival buds.
If you want other colors, the Sony LinkBuds Fit also come in black and violet.
The Sony LinkBuds Fit have two noise-cancelling modes: standard and ambient.
The standard mode isnt best-in-class.
For example, I could hear myself typing at my desk and a baby crying in a cafe.
It seems particularly effective at dampening hums and rumbles rather than completely silencing all noise.
These prefs can be adjusted in the Sony Connect app, which is packed with features.
you’re able to also customize gesture controls via the app.
Instead, I had to tap the buds themselves, which occasionally required a firm tap to register.
Battery life is solid, offering 5.5 hours with noise-canceling on and eight hours without.
This matched my testing, though it varies depending on the audio codec and extra features youre using.
With the case, youll get just over 20 hours in total.
While decent by modern true wireless standards, its not exceptional.
As expected for workout-focused earbuds, the LinkBuds Fit have an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to sweat.
However, dont take them in the shower or to the swimming pool.
During testing, the Sony LinkBuds Fit delivered a sound thats best described as powerful and punchy.
While I wasnt blown away by the detail or richness of the audio, the experience was undeniably enjoyable.
The buds provide a bouncy, bass-heavy sound thats perfect for powering through workouts.
If youre a fan of boomy, high-energy tracks, these earbuds will hit the mark.
I even boosted the bass in the EQ configs for extra impact.
While this became fatiguing over time, tracks like Armani WhitesBillie Eilishand HanumankindsBig Dawgshad an adrenaline-pumping intensity.
Similarly, heavy rock like Queens of the Stone AgesSick, Sick, Sicksounded meaty and immensely satisfying.
Dramatic ballads like Lana Del ReysUltraviolencealso worked well, delivering an emotional punch.
However, these buds sacrifice some detail and subtlety in favor of their bass-forward profile.
Sonys DSEE tech, which upscales low quality sound, maybe worked some magic.
At higher volumes, complex arrangements sounded a bit messy and restrained.
Although the buds are currently discounted on the Sony website in some regions.
At the time of writing, the price in the UK has dropped from 179 to 149.
This price puts the buds in the mid-range category.
We can’t make promises, but think some people will be pleasantly surprised.
You work out a lot
These buds did it all.
Theyre super stable and not going anywhere.
No near-silent cocoon of sound to be found.
Choose Bose or higher-end Sony buds instead.
Is this a good thing?
Yes But does it require a fair bit of setup?
They’re also the only workout buds that come close to the Sonys in terms of comfort for me.
This gave me the chance to trial them in a range of different environments and all sorts of situations.
I mostly used them to listen to music and podcasts on my iPhone 14 Pro withAppleMusic, Spotify andYouTubemusic.
Ive tested many headphones and earbuds over the past 12 years, with a focus on fitness devices.
Im interested in tech that prioritizes comfort and ease of use.
First reviewed: December 2024
