Sony LinkBuds Clip Open-Ear Headphones
£149
|Sony’s WF-LC900 LinkBuds Clip are open-ear headphones with 10.0 mm drivers, a flexible clip design and IPX4 water resistance. Each earbud weighs about 6.4 g, making them a neatly specific answer to the modern desire for music without becoming socially unavailable.
Prices correct as of: 22/08/2026 09:00
StuffYouMayWant is an editorial curation site. We may earn from qualifying purchases via affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
At a glance
One-line verdict
These open-ear headphones keep your ears in the room while your playlist gets on with it, but the 4-hour communication figure makes them a poor choice for all-day callers.
Best for
Commuters and desk dwellers who want music, calls and two-device Bluetooth without completely unplugging from the surrounding circus.
Skip it if
Skip them if long continuous calls are central to your day, as Sony specifies up to 4 hours of communication per charge.
The full picture
The Sony LinkBuds Clip exist for the increasingly niche but very real person who wants a soundtrack without accidentally ignoring a colleague, a delivery driver or the ominous beep of an oven. A sealed earbud can be wonderfully antisocial; an open-air pair accepts that life occasionally requires evidence that one is still present.
Sony identifies these as the WF-LC900, and the defining detail is the flexible clip arrangement rather than the usual little plug lodged in the ear. At approximately 6.4 g each, they are aimed at the crowd who find conventional earbuds a surprisingly high-stakes relationship. Sony also includes air-fitting cushions for ears that decline to cooperate, which is considerate: anatomy remains stubbornly non-standard.
We think this is the most broadly tempting version of the open-ear idea because the practical bits have not been forgotten in the rush to look unusual. There is IPX4 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint for two devices, and controls for playback, calls, volume and listening modes. The Sound Connect app extends that with equaliser, DSEE, 360 Reality Audio, multipoint and tap-control settings—plenty to fiddle with during a meeting you were meant to be attending.
The catch is refreshingly legible. Sony specifies up to 9 hours of music playback but only up to 4 hours of continuous communication. The LinkBuds Clip make excellent sense for mixed daily listening and short calls; people whose workday is one long procession of video meetings should take that number seriously, rather than hoping optimism will charge them.
The Irresistible
- The open-air design is the whole point: music and calls can coexist with the non-negotiable background noise of actual life.
- A flexible clip and supplied air-fitting cushions make the fit strategy more adaptable than simply issuing everyone the same tiny silicone cork.
- Multipoint connects to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, a merciful feature for anyone bouncing between laptop and phone.
The Clever Part
- At approximately 6.4 g per earbud, the specification keeps the hardware pleasantly low-drama.
- IPX4 water resistance gives them sensible protection for rain-splattered commutes and gym-bag mishaps.
- Default tap controls cover listening modes, playback, skipping, volume and call handling, while Sony Sound Connect offers deeper settings.
The Fine Print
- Sony specifies approximately 1.5 hours to charge via the case, so this is not a device for people who discover a flat battery precisely as the train doors close.
- The app has a substantial list of settings, which is useful but also an open invitation to spend lunch adjusting taps instead of eating lunch.
The Reality Check
- Continuous communication is specified at up to 4 hours, making the LinkBuds Clip a poor fit for buyers who need headphones primarily for long, uninterrupted calling days.
Buyer questions answered
Are Sony LinkBuds Clip open-ear headphones?
Yes, they use an open-air design with 10.0 mm driver units. That keeps the design open rather than sealing your ears away from the surrounding circus.
How long does the Sony LinkBuds Clip battery last?
Sony specifies up to 9 hours of continuous music playback, up to 4 hours of continuous communication and up to 15 hours of standby time. The 4-hour communication figure is the one to note if your working day is mostly meetings with occasional interruptions for actual work.
Are Sony LinkBuds Clip water resistant?
Yes, they have an IPX4 water-resistance rating. It is a useful specification to have in Britain, where the forecast occasionally arrives with a personal grudge.
Do Sony LinkBuds Clip work with iPhone and Android?
Yes, the selected UK listing states that they support iOS and Android. They also support Bluetooth 5.3 and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously using multipoint connection.
How do Sony LinkBuds Clip charge?
The earbuds charge by USB through the charging case, and Sony specifies an approximate charging time of 1.5 hours. The case weighs approximately 42 g and measures approximately 50.4 × 50.4 × 32.6 mm.
What is included with the Sony LinkBuds Clip?
Sony lists a charging case, LinkBuds Clip air-fitting cushions, a warranty card and a reference guide. The cushions can be attached to the flexible clip if the headset does not stay securely on the ear, which is a pleasantly practical bit of planning.
Inside this drop
More from Vol. 13
Bellroy Venture Ready Pack 26L Backpack
The Bellroy Venture Ready Pack 26L is a 26L pack with a luggage pass-through. It is aimed at the person whose bag requirements have somehow acquired a spreadsheet, yet still wants one reasonably civilised place for their daily carry.
Peak Design Mobile Tripod Phone Tripod
The Peak Design Mobile Tripod is a black, pocket-friendly phone tripod with MagSafe compatibility and SlimLink mounting. It can also serve as a three-legged stand, kickstand or grip: a tiny solution for the very modern crisis of needing your phone to stop leaning against a mug.
Matador Zipper Toiletry Case
The Matador Zipper Toiletry Case is a zippered wash bag with leakproof and water-resistant construction, a flat bottom, and a dry-through pouch design. It is intended for travel toiletries, makeup, cosmetics and home-office bits—the sort of small-item bureaucracy that otherwise colonises a suitcase.
LEGO Icons Retro Radio 10334 Building Set
LEGO Icons Retro Radio 10334 is an 18+ building set with 906 pieces, creating a retro radio model with dials, a frequency switch and a sound brick. It is a gloriously specific answer to the problem of wanting a radio-shaped object without beginning a vinyl collection.
Keep browsing
More Music & Audio finds you may want
Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT Turntable
A fully automatic belt-drive turntable with Bluetooth, wired PHONO and LINE outputs, and a built-in phono preamp. It plays 33⅓ and 45 RPM records and uses a fixed AT-VM95C cartridge: vinyl listening without making tonearm management your new evening hobby.
Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 Bluetooth Speaker
The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 is a Bluetooth speaker with a transparent dome, six 40 mm mid-high drivers, a 130 mm subwoofer and five music-synchronised lighting themes. It is a fairly serious audio arrangement disguised as the sort of object guests will assume has opinions about interior design.
Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker
The Bose SoundLink Max is an impressive portable speaker that combines great sound quality with practicality, making it a perfect companion for outdoor activities, parties, or just filling your home with music, all in a sleek blue design.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless Headphones
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone with hybrid noise cancellation, ambient pass-through and USB-C audio. Nappa leather, memory-foam earpads and aluminium arms give the everyday commute a frankly overqualified sense of occasion.