Sony Linkbuds Fit review: comfiest earphones ever

Many earphones sound great, but don’t fit very well. With its Linkbuds S, Sony’s already proven that things can be different. With the newly launched Linkbuds Fit, the manufacturer’s improved comfort once again. They’re so good, I sometimes forget I’m wearing them.

Comfort at the expense of isolation

These earphones weigh in at under five grammes. They’re also not as long as most comparable models. This means they protrude less into the ear canal and feel closer to earbuds. The soft silicone, like the hook on the earpiece, also means less pressure. This results in outstanding comfort.

However, the measures taken to increase comfort have come at the expense of isolation. As the earplugs aren’t very deep inside the ear canal, you can hear ambient noises better.

Active noise cancellation suffers because of poor isolation

The active noise cancellation is decent. Sure, it’s not on the same level as the Sony WF-1000XM5, as it mainly filters out the low frequency range. You can still hear voices, music or the clattering of dishes in a restaurant clearly, even when the feature’s activated. However, this isn’t because of the ANC’s quality, but mainly because of the comparatively poor isolation.

Pleasant sound that only lacks warmth

The soundstage of the Linkbuds Fit is what you’d expect from earphones and surprisingly broad. The focus is on the bass, which is somewhat at the expense of the super-high frequency range. But as the lows aren’t overemphasised, I still like the sound quality. At my age, I don’t hear the really high tones like I used to anyway.

The only thing I notice about the sound is that it lacks a bit of warmth. The humming in In Your Hands doesn’t quite match the fuzzy feeling I get from the Meze 99 Classics, for example.

Surprisingly good microphone

The microphone on the Linkbuds Fit sounds better than any halfway decent ones you’d find in other earphones. Although my voice still sound a bit tinny, at least it doesn’t sound like I’m sitting in a barrel. The microphone’s also pretty good at filtering out background noises. Hear for yourself what I sound like:

Perfect for sports

Although the Linkbuds Fit have earned the addition «fit» thanks to their great, well, fit, they can definitely also help you get fit. Thanks to the hooks, these earphones fit like a glove. You can jog, skip or headbang all you like. They won’t budge.

It’s also good to know that impact sound isn’t an issue either. With the Linkbuds S, I could perceive my feet hitting the ground when I was running.

The Linkbuds Fit are IPX4-certified, so there’s no need to worry about any liquids getting in – not even during sweaty training sessions or when you’re caught in the rain. After all, the certification means they’re protected against splashes.

The controls won’t cooperate

I’m not a fan of gesture control on in-ear headphones. And the Linkbuds Fit haven’t changed this for me. In theory, I should be able to start or pause playback by tapping twice in front of my right ear. But that doesn’t really work for me. Most of the time, nothing happens, although the large touch area should ensure reliable control.

Sound Connect app: many setting options, but confusing

You can customise gesture control in the Sound Connect app. It’s also where you can change your equaliser settings, activate or deactivate noise cancellation or ambient noise. The setting options are extensive. However, I end up having to look for certain options time and time again. Many of them are in «Device settings». But this is such an inconspicuous menu point that you almost can’t find it.

The app’s optional. However, for some settings, it’s necessary. If you want to use Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, for example, you’ll need it.

Codec gibberish

The Linkbuds Fit connect via Bluetooth 5.3. You can connect the earphones to up to two devices at the same time, but only one connection can be active at a time. In other words, you can’t make calls on your phone and watch YouTube videos on your PC at the same time.

AAC, SBC, LDAC and LC3 are available as codecs. LDAC offers the highest bit rate and sound quality with 990 kbps at 32 bits/96 kHz. LC3, the successor to SBC, offers longer battery life but lower quality. If you have an Apple device, AAC is your codec of choice. To date, I’ve always activated LDAC and haven’t experienced any major limitations in terms of battery life.

Short battery life, long charging time

How long the battery lasts depends on the codec and if you’ve activated active noise cancellation (ANC) or not. Sony mentions 5.5 hours and an additional 15.5 hours with the charging case. That seems about right when I test it with LDAC and ANC activated. With LC3 and without ANC, you’re probably looking at longer battery life. Other manufacturers promise twice as much with one charge, but I’ve rarely needed more than these earphones offer.

The case is charged via USB-C. It takes around three hours to fully charge the case. The earphones without the case are fully charged in two hours. That’s rather long compared to other models out there. At least five minutes of charging is enough for 60 minutes of listening.

Just like the earphones, the charging case is small and lightweight. Although its glossy surface looks nice, it’s prone to fingerprints and scratches.