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Sony LinkBuds Open — Open ring · No tip · Spatial
Sony

Sony LinkBuds Open

Open ring · No tip · Spatial

84
/ 100
From $199
VS
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds wins by 8
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Lossless
Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Lossless

92
/ 100
From $299
Specdex verdict

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sony LinkBuds Open lands at 84 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds at 92. That puts Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sony LinkBuds Open if…

  • ✓Open-ear design — no occlusion
  • ✓Hear-through ambient by physics
  • ✓Ultra-light

Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds if…

  • ✓Best ANC for earbuds
  • ✓Excellent comfort with StayHear Max tips
  • ✓Immersive Audio
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Comfort

Sony LinkBuds Open

Compared on the comfort sub-score

Sony LinkBuds Open leads on comfort (96 vs 94).

Features

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Compared on the features sub-score

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds leads on features (90 vs 86).

Sound

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Compared on the sound sub-score

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds leads on sound (92 vs 80).

Value for money

Sony LinkBuds Open

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sony LinkBuds Open more score per dollar ($199 vs $299).

Sony LinkBuds Open 84
vs
92 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Score breakdown

Sony LinkBuds Open
84
anc 0
sound 80
comfort 96
battery 84
features 86
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
92
anc 98
sound 92
comfort 94
battery 78
features 90

Specs side-by-side

Sony LinkBuds Open versus Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — full spec comparison
Spec Sony LinkBuds Open Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Driver
Ring-shaped 12 mm
—
Bluetooth
5.3
—
Codecs
AAC + SBC
aptX Lossless, SBC, AAC
Battery
▲ 8 hr (24 hr with case)
6 h (ANC) / 24 h case
Charging
USB-C
—
Weight
4.1 g per bud
—
IP rating
IPX4
—
Water rating
—
IPX4

Sony LinkBuds Open

Pros
  • +Open-ear design — no occlusion
  • +Hear-through ambient by physics
  • +Ultra-light
Cons
  • −No ANC (by design)
  • −Bass limited vs sealed
  • −Not for noisy environments

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Pros
  • +Best ANC for earbuds
  • +Excellent comfort with StayHear Max tips
  • +Immersive Audio
Cons
  • −Only 6 h battery
  • −Case is chunky
  • −No wireless charging standard

FAQ: Sony LinkBuds Open vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Which is better, Sony LinkBuds Open or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sony LinkBuds Open worth the price? +

At $199, Sony LinkBuds Open delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in comfort.

Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds worth the price? +

At $299, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in anc.

Does Sony LinkBuds Open or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for comfort, Sony LinkBuds Open or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds? +

Sony LinkBuds Open — leads on comfort (96 vs 94). Compared on the comfort sub-score.

Which is better for features, Sony LinkBuds Open or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — leads on features (90 vs 86). Compared on the features sub-score.