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| Sony will sell the LinkBuds Clip in a variety of colourful finishes. |
If you’ve been waiting for Sony’s next move in the personal audio space, mark your calendar. The tech giant has officially teased a new device announcement for January 21, hinting strongly at a fresh pair of wireless earbuds or headphones. While Sony is playing its cards close to the vest, the internet, as it often does, has spilled the beans early.
Thanks to a discovery by the eagle-eyed team at The Walkman Blog, a now-removed product listing on the Indonesian retailer site Blibli has given us our clearest look yet at what Sony has in store: the Sony LinkBuds Clip.
The listing, which you can glimpse a remnant of here on Blibli, confirms the model name as WF-LC900, aligning with earlier rumors. More importantly, it showcased the design for the first time, revealing a clip-style form factor that immediately draws comparisons to the Huawei Flip Clip series or the popular Soundcore AeroClip.
A New Design Philosophy for Sony
The LinkBuds Clip represents a significant departure from Sony’s traditional in-ear designs. The images confirm Sony is ditching silicone ear tips entirely. Instead, these earbuds appear to use a combination of a secure clip mechanism and an open-ear design, relying on clamping force to stay in place. This approach is ideal for athletes, commuters, or anyone who wants to stay aware of their surroundings while listening to music or taking calls.
Leaked Specs & Pricing: A Mid-Range Contender
According to the leaked information, Sony is positioning the LinkBuds Clip in the competitive mid-range segment. The listing pointed to a US price of $229.99 and a European price of €199.99. This places it above budget options but squarely in the fight with other premium clip-on models.
Despite the open design, which typically struggles with noise isolation, Sony is making a bold claim: AI-powered noise cancellation. How this works in practice will be one of the key details to watch for in the official announcement. The feature set is rounded out with Sony’s signature audio tech, including DSEE for upscaling compressed audio, a 10-band equalizer for sound customization, and support for immersive 360 Reality Audio.
For the active user, the leaks point to an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance, and a respectable up to 9 hours of battery life on a single charge.
What This Means for the Market
Sony’s move into the clip-style arena signals a direct challenge to brands that have found success with this form factor. By integrating its renowned audio processing and AI features, Sony aims to elevate the category. If the leaked specs hold true, the LinkBuds Clip could offer a compelling alternative for those who find traditional in-ears uncomfortable or isolating.
For a sense of the competition Sony is facing, you can check out the popular Soundcore AeroClip on Amazon here.
The Bottom Line:
The cat is mostly out of the bag. While we await official confirmation, detailed specs, and reviews on January 21, the leaked Blibli listing paints a clear picture: Sony’s LinkBuds Clip (WF-LC900) is a clip-style, open-ear audio device packing advanced features like AI noise cancellation, targeting users who need situational awareness without sacrificing audio quality. Stay tuned for the full reveal.
