ZDNET favors Sony LinkBuds Clip over Bose Ultra Open for value and battery

ZDNET reviewer Nina Raemont compared Sony's new LinkBuds Clip with Bose's Ultra Open clip-on earbuds and favors the LinkBuds Clip as the better choice overall, citing price, battery life and sound as key advantages. Raemont notes the LinkBuds Clip builds on Sony's LinkBuds Open by adding a size-agnostic cushion that attaches to the outer ear and positions a speaker next to the ear canal to improve fit.

Both Sony and Bose use a similar clip-on form factor and an open-ear design that balances internal audio with external environmental awareness; Bose's Ultra Open launched two years earlier, while Sony's LinkBuds Clip is the newer model. The reviewer highlights concrete differences: Sony lists nine hours of earbud battery life and 37 hours with the case versus Bose's seven hours and 19 hours with the case; both have an IPX4 rating and multipoint support.

Sony's LinkBuds Clip cost $230 and use touch controls, and come in Black, Greige, Green and Lavender; the Bose Ultra Open cost $300, use button controls, and are offered in eight colors including Moonlight Grey, Midnight Violet and Moonstone Blue. Raemont describes Sony's sound as more neutral and detailed and Bose's as punchier and bass-forward.

Raemont recommends the LinkBuds Clip for buyers prioritizing affordability, battery life and balanced sound, while saying the Bose Ultra Open suits those who want more color options and physical buttons.

Key Topics

Tech, Sony Linkbuds Clip, Bose Ultra Open, Sony Linkbuds Open, Nina Raemont, Open-ear Earbuds