The Sony LinkBuds were the innovators, the LinkBuds Open are the healthy upgrade for the somewhat outdated open-ears. Competitive battery performance, future-proof features and a solid sound make the LinkBuds Open the first choice for all open-ear enthusiasts who don't want to wear ear hooks or "earrings" on their ears.However, if you simply want to avoid the silicone tips and don't mind the natural...

Also new in Stiftung Warentest's constantly updated headphone database: 16 current Bluetooth headphones - including in-ears, open-ears and headband models. One in-ear reduces ambient noise perfectly, another fails in this test point. The devices also perform very differently in terms of wearing comfort: many fit well or very well, others fall out of the ear easily...

I would describe the LinkBuds from Sony as standard fare. The headphones work as they should and deliver a decent sound. However, in the now very saturated true wireless market, you can find better products for the same price - both in terms of sound, app and operation.

Sony tackles the topic of open-ears in its own way, but is unable to secure a top position. Although the rings sitting in front of the ear canals are lightweight, they are not as comfortable to wear as the surface-mounted competition. With flat bass, the Link-Buds also play in the lower mid-range in terms of sound.

The new Sony LinkBuds cut a fine figure in both versions. In addition to the very long battery life, this is due to the good sound quality during phone calls and the great app. Nevertheless, there are problems here and there: Although the Open are pleasantly open, wearing comfort and sound are not always ideal. The Fit scores highly in terms of sound, but the noise cancellation is rather weak.