Sony LinkBuds Open WFL910B.UC

Great for staying aware, terrible for blocking out noise. Buy them for the open design, not for calls or travel.

The 11mm ring-shaped driver delivers surprisingly good sound for an open design. Our database puts sound quality at the 85th percentile, which is impressive for earbuds that don't seal your ear canal. Connectivity is a standout too, sitting at the 86th percentile with BT 5.3. But the mic is the weak link here. At the 38th percentile, call quality is mediocre, which is ironic given Sony's marketing about advanced DSP for clear calls. One reviewer said people could hear them clearly in a loud warehouse, but our data says that's the exception, not the rule.

The LinkBuds Open compete directly with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation, both of which offer better noise isolation and call quality. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another strong alternative with better overall performance. But none of those give you the open ring design that lets you hear your environment naturally. If you're comparing against the JLab JBuds Pods ANC or Soundcore P31i, those are budget options that beat the LinkBuds on price but can't match the open design concept.

At CAD 228 to CAD 320 depending on the vendor, these aren't cheap. The best deal in our data is at the lower end of that CAD spread, so shop around before you buy. For that money, you're getting a very specific feature set. If you need open earbuds, the price is fair. If you just want good wireless earbuds, you can do better for less.

The Sony LinkBuds Open are a niche product that nails exactly what they set out to do: keep you aware of your surroundings while pumping decent audio into your ears. The open ring design means you hear everything around you, which is great for offices and commutes, but it also means these are useless on a plane or anywhere loud. If you want isolation, look elsewhere. If you want to stay present, these are a solid pick.

If you want noise cancellation, skip these entirely. The ANC score sits at the 64th percentile, which is misleading because the open design fundamentally limits isolation. Go get the AirPods Pro 3rd Generation or Galaxy Buds3 Pro instead. If you need reliable call quality, the 38th percentile mic performance should send you running to the Technics EAH-AZ100.

The Sony LinkBuds Open are a one-trick pony, but it's a good trick. If you work in an office, walk busy streets, or need to stay aware of your surroundings, these are worth considering. If you want to block out the world, buy something with ANC and a proper seal. The mediocre mic and rough customer rating are real concerns, but the core concept works well.