Category: Sony

In the PS5 vs. Xbox Series X debate, it’s a battle of design, specs, games and price

The Sony PlayStation 5 brings a bevy of must-play exclusive titles, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War: Ragnarok. The system features quick load times, in addition to high-resolution visuals and fluid frame rates. The DualSense controller features innovative haptics, but the console itself can be unwieldy. And even the PS5 Slim model doesn’t entirely rectify its design issues. But it does sport a larger hard drive.

For

• Incredibly fast SSD
• Wildly inventive DualSense controller
• Gorgeous 4K visuals

Against

• Massive, unwieldy design
• Controller may feel too big for some

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful game console currently available, featuring detailed graphics, fluid frame rates and rapid load times. The device also sports a fantastic game library, with backwards compatibility going back to the original Xbox. With the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service, the Series X could be the centerpiece of a robust gaming ecosystem, but first-party exclusives are a mixed bag.

For

• The only Xbox you need
• Lots of power
• Games load very fast

Against

• Few quality exclusives
• Large and heavy

It’s now almost four years since the launch of the ninth console generation, and thePS5vsXbox Series Xbattle rages on with fanboys on both sides eager to declare their chosen machine the superior hardware. Each machine’s lifecycles is more than halfway done (we’ll be talkingPS6and the next Xbox soon), but the battle continues.

As our reviews explain, we were impressed with both consoles at launch, and over the last few years, things have only gotten better as both have been upgraded via system updates to iron out some of the initial kinks and add new features. Naturally, this has come alongside a slew of excellent games, with cross-platform games available on both, as well as those all-important exclusive titles that can’t be played on any other console.

If you have the luxury of buying both consoles, you’ll have everything you need for an epic gaming setup. But if you can only choose one, you’ll want to find out which one is best for you. That’s why we’re comparing the two consoles head-to-head, and without spoiling the results, even more than four years after release, it continues to be a very close contest between these two high-quality current-gen consoles.

Read on to discover how each system fares as we make our verdict on the PS5 vs. Xbox Series X debate.

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PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Specs

While the specs are handy to know, they only tell part of the story when it comes to performance. As such, this section isn’t scored. However, we can say that the Xbox Series X has more powerful hardware, in terms of both GPU and SSD. Check out the performance section to see how this hardware performs in action.

The Xbox Series X slightly edges the PS5 in terms of raw power, but the PlayStation just got a major weapon to fight back in the form of thePS5 Pro…

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PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: PS5 Pro

During the PS4 and Xbox One generation both PlayStation and Xbox launched more powerful hardware in 2016 (PS4 Pro and Xbox One X) typically referred to as “mid-gen upgrades”. These functioned as interstitial machines to hold gamers and developers over until the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation began in 2020.

However, this time around, it looks like onlySonyhas opted to repeat strategy with its freshly launched PS5 Pro landing 2024. This suped-up PS5 packs a more powerful GPU (with 67% more Compute Units), additional RAM (an extra 2GB DDR5) and a jumbo-sized 2TB hard drive. Plus uses a new AI-upscaling tool, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). It’s not just the most powerful PlayStation hardware around, but also the most powerful console, period.

It makes tangible improvements to a whole bunch of thebest PS5 gamesfrom blockbuster exclusives likeMarvel’s Spider-Man 2andDemon’s Souls, to cross-platform releases such asStar Wars Jedi: SurvivorandDragon’s Dogma 2. The PS5 Pro now offers the best visual fidelity and performance level across many of the biggest games of this console generation.

However, all this extra horsepower comes with a steep price. The PS5 Pro costs a whopping $699 at launch, $200 more than the base PS5 or Xbox Series X and more than double the cost of theXbox Series S(though the power disparity between the two is big). Furthermore, the PS5 Pro doesn’t include a disc drive so prepare to pay an extra $79 if you want to play physical PS5 game discs as you’ll need to purchase a separate attachable disc drive.

While the MSRP of a PS5 Pro is higher than I’d like, it’s still a fantastic machine for the most dedicated gamers, and that’s why I gave it an Editor’s Choice award in myPS5 Pro reviewand would recommend it to those who aren’t constrained by a budget. So, if raw power is your determining factor when picking between PS5 and Xbox Series X, I suggest forking out for a PS5 Pro.

(Editor’s note: I’m not going to count this section in the final scorecard as the Xbox Series X doesn’t have an equivalent to the PS5 Pro so it would be an unfair comparison.)

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PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Price

Both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X cost $499 apiece. Since the two systems are very similar, this category would seem to be a tie at first glance. However, the standard PS5 and Xbox Series X are not the only variants available. There’s also the $399 PS5 Digital Edition and the $299 Xbox Series S.

The PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition are identical, save for a 4K Blu-ray physical disc drive in the former. The latter has no disc drive, as the name suggests. On the other hand, theXbox Series Shas significantly different hardware from the Xbox Series X: a less powerful GPU, a smaller SSD, less RAM and so forth.

As such, both consoles have cheaper variants, and both the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S have legitimate applications: the former for digital diehards, the latter for casual players or secondary setups. Still, since the Xbox Series S isn’t merely a variation on the Series X, but rather its own separate console, it’s a different proposition compared to the PS5 Digital Edition.

Winner:Tie

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PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Games

The PS5 and Xbox Series X game library are shaping up nicely. And four years post-launch, we have largely moved beyond cross-generation titles. The PS5 boasts a bevy of high-quality exclusives, some of which are available on the PS4, while the Xbox Series X is a little weaker in this area. However, the gap is closing thanks to Microsoft’s game-changing acquisitions of ZeniMax media and Activision-Blizzard this generation giving their exclusive library a huge boost. But there’s an added wrinkle thatsomeof these titles are also on PS5.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales(Image credit: Sony)

At present, it’s hard to deny that the PS5 has the more exciting game selection. In terms of first-party titles, the PS5 launched withSpider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and the surprisingly delightfulAstro’s Playroom, and things have only got stronger from there.

Over the past four years, we’ve seen the arrival ofRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart,Returnal,Gran Turismo 7,Horizon Forbidden Westand the mightyGod of War: Ragnarok. Plus, throw inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2andFinal Fantasy 16which launched only on PS5 in 2023, and 2024 started strong withThe Last of Us Part II Remasteredfollowed byHelldivers 2,Final Fantasy VII Rebirth,Stellar BladeandRise of the Ronin. Then we gotSilent Hill 2andAstro Bot, which both found their way into my personal GOTY rankings.

Compare and contrast with the Xbox Series X, which didn’t have any exclusive titles at launch. Instead, Microsoft released a list of 30 “optimized for Xbox Series X/S” titles, including fan favorites like Gears 5, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Forza Horizon 4. While the Xbox Series X optimizations are indeed impressive, not all of these games are brand new, and they’re all available on Xbox One, PC or both.

(Image credit: Sega)

A handful of semi-exclusive Xbox Series X titles, such asMicrosoft Flight Simulator,Halo InfiniteandForza Horizon 5all showed off what the system is capable of, though. But things improved further in 2023 with the (underrated, in my opinion)Starfieldand Forza Motorsport 8 leading the charge.

There was alsoRedfallin the spring, but the less said about that one, the better.Senua’s Saga: Hellblade IIwas another disappointing release that felt more like a tech demo to showcase the power of the Series X than a fully fleshed game. But at least Xbox ended 2024 with a flourish in the form ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle,one of the year’s stand-out releases. But its status as an exclusive won’t last long. It’s heading over to PS5 in Spring 2025.

Beyond that, both consoles are well-stocked with third-party titles, likeElden Ring,Assassin’s Creed Mirage,EA Sports FC 25,Star Wars Jedi Survivor,Dragon’s Dogma 2,Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty,Metaphor: ReFantzioand lots more. Strong third-party parity is likely to continue throughout the generation. Both systems also have excellent backwards compatibility features, although I’ll get to that below.

(Image credit: Xbox)

It’s also worth mentioningXbox Game Pass Ultimate, to which Sony doesn’t currently have a perfect answer. This $17-per-month subscription service lets you download more than 100 games across a variety of genres, and play them on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC and even Android.

Sony, meanwhile, has thePlayStation Plus Premiumtier, which offers hundreds of games to download and/or stream from the PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 and PSP platforms. The functionality is not nearly as refined asGame Pass, but the raw game library is bigger, so take it for what it’s worth.

Of course, both systems will also have some interesting games coming down the line. But restricting ourselves to what we can play and review right now, the PS5 has the stronger lineup, but the Xbox Series X is quickly making up ground on this front.

Winner:PS5

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Performance

Comparing PS5 and Xbox Series X performance is difficult at present, as We does not have the specialized equipment required to measure resolution and frame rate in great depth.

Bearing that in mind, I compared two games qualitatively across both systems: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition. The former is a huge open-world title, where it’s easy to measure load times as you fast travel from one distant point of the map to another. The latter is a fast, frenetic action game, where any drop in framerate is immediately noticeable.

First: Sony’s ambitious claims about the PS5’s load times aren’t exaggerated, as far as I can tell. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla went from the main menu into the game in less than a minute; fast travel took less than 10 seconds from point to point. However, while the Xbox Series X took longer to load the game initially (almost a minute), fast travel time was exactly the same.

Gameplay-wise, if you handed me an ambiguous controller and put either the PS5 or Xbox Series X version of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on a screen in front of me, I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Both systems ran the game at 4K at 60 frames per second (although I understand that the 4K isprobably upscaledin both cases), and neither one seemed to have any major difference in animation fluidity, lighting, etc. Texture pop-in seemed a little more noticeable on the Xbox Series X, although that may have just been the area I was in.

Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition told a similar story, although this time, I was able to discern some slight differences in the lighting. While both the PS5 and Xbox Series X offer ray tracing, the Xbox Series X’s ray tracing in this game was a little richer, offering greater contrasts between light and shadow, particularly in the game’s early, eerie red-and-purple landscapes. (Digital Foundryfound the same thing, with some stats to back it up.) The Xbox Series X also seemed a little bit smoother when I turned on the 120 fps performance mode, although again, I’d be hard-pressed to tell the two titles apart if I didn’t know which one was in front of me.

Evaluating performance with these two games is difficult, however, because they were both designed with PS4 and Xbox One in mind rather than PS5 and Xbox Series X exclusively. While I can also talk about how impressive games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Gears 5 looked, they’re not possible to compare directly.

For now, I can say that the two consoles both perform extremely well, although the PS5 has slightly shorter loading times.

Winner:PS5

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Design

For the most part, whether you like a console’s design comes down to personal preference. But my personal preference is that I cannot stand how the PS5 looks.

Not only is the system comically large; but it’s also a pain to switch from vertical to horizontal configuration, and the standard version sports an ugly, asymmetrical design. Even after sitting under my TV for three years, the PS5 still looks awkward. Adding to my frustrations, the front panel is prone to fingerprints and the “power” and “disc eject” buttons are indistinguishable, which is a minor gripe but annoying.

Last year, Sony released a redesigned version of the PS5 console that was dubbed thePS5 Slimby online commentators — although Sony has never officially given it that branding.

It shrinks the size of the console by some 30%, which at the very least makes it a slightly less cumbersome console to fit into your entertainment center. However, the overall design aesthetic is the same, so it’s just a smaller version of an already unattractive console.

(Image credit: Sony)

It also packs a few additional upgrades including a larger SSD (now 1TB instead of 825GB), and an external disc drive that is detachable. That means you can buy a Digital Edition and add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive at a later date, so long as you’re willing to pay $99 for one.

Unfortunately, the PS5 Slim also comes with afew downgrades, most noticeable is that a vertical stand is no longer included as standard. While you get a basic horizontal stand in the box, if you want to securely place your PS5 console upright you’ll need to spend an additional $25, or buy a cheaper third-party alternative, if you’re willing to risk compatibility issues.

The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, is still pretty bulky but manages its space much better. Rather than looking like an oversized router, the Xbox Series X is a sleek black box that looks, at least in its vertical form, kind of like a small tower PC. It has a clearly defined power button, as well as a pairing button to make wireless connections painless.

Microsoft has also launchedthree new models of Xboxin 2024. While one is merely a recolor of the Xbox Series S 1TB, the others are full-featured Xbox Series X consoles. The first packs a new Robot White look but lacks a disc drive, and the other is the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition.

As the name suggests it’s the Xbox Series X console we know but with a nifty new cosmetic-themed design (Microsoft describes it as featuring a “silver, grey, and green celestial effect”) and the largest stock hard drive on Xbox console to date. With 2TB of storage, you can store literally dozens of new AAA games.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The only big advantage the PS5 has over the Xbox Series X is the presence of a USB-C port — which is a big deal, especially as more accessories get USB-C adapters. But even if the Xbox Series X design is much more conservative, it’s also much more sensible overall. And even the PS5 Slim cannot tip the needle in Sony’s favor here.

Winner:Xbox Series X

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Controller

Another area in which theXbox Series X plays it safe, to its credit, is in its controller. The Xbox Series X controller is nearly identical to the Xbox One model, save for textured grips and shoulder buttons, an improved D-pad and a new “share” button in the center.

It’s a smart upgrade for one of the best controllers ever made. Still, the fact that it runs on AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable unit feels positively archaic, and also pasts a lot of cost onto the end-user, whether they choose to buy AAs or rechargeable packs.

The PS5 DualSense, on the other hand, is a big departure from the DualShock 4, with a two-tone color scheme and much bigger grips. It also adds a variety of new features: extremely sensitive haptics and a built-in mic among them.

The haptic feedback is impressive, mimicking the feel of objects rolling around in a box, or putting up realistic resistance when you push a trigger. However, the DualSense still has a ton of wasted space (particularly in the touchpad), and the enjoyment you’ll get from the haptics is a matter of personal preference.

PS5 owners looking to level up their gaming might also want to consider investing in theDualSense Edge. It’s a highly customizable version of the standard DualSense sporting metallic back buttons, swappable sticks and a sturdier design. All these new upgrades come at the hefty price of $120, and the controller’s already weak battery life takes a hit. You can expect around five hours from a full charge of the Edge.

Winner:Tie

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Backwards compatibility 

Both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X have excellent backwards compatibility features, but there’s no denying that the Xbox reaches further back into Microsoft’s library. Not only is the Xbox Series X compatible with just about every Xbox One game; it’s also compatible with many Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. While it doesn’t include every stab Microsoft’s ever taken at backwards-compatible games (the Xbox 360 still plays many original Xbox games that the Series X can’t), it’s an impressive effort with zero friction.

The PS5 can play just about every PS4 game on the market, but compatibility doesn’t go back any further than that unless you count the ability to stream a very small selection of PS3 games via PlayStation Plus Premium. Still, it’s not quite the same as playing games you already own directly on a console (and depending on the strength of your internet connection may not be viable).

Winner:Xbox Series X

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming isn’t a huge issue for either the PS5 or the Xbox Series X, since you can simply download games and play them natively on either platform. But as cloud gaming grows over the next few years, it’s good to know where each company stands at the outset of this console generation.

The PS5 has the PlayStation Plus revamp, which lets you stream a variety of PS3 titles, as well as some PS4 titles, to PlayStation consoles and PCs. It costs $10 per month for a tier that includes streaming capabilities.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as discussed above, costs $15 per month, and lets you stream games to Android, iOS, non-gaming PCs and even Xbox consoles.

While the PlayStation Plus revamp has some potential, Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently a much more refined and functional service.

Winner:Xbox Series X

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Verdict

At this point in their lifecycle, both PS5 and Xbox Series X represent an excellent investment. The Xbox Series X has a slight edge when it comes to raw power, design and backward compatibility, but the PS5 is the leader in arguably the most important category of all as it boasts a game library that Xbox simply cannot match at present.

Perhaps the key determining factor between the two comes down to whether you want access to a more comprehensive game subscription service. Xbox Game Pass simply cannot be matched for its value and the fact that flagship exclusive land on the service day one. Meanwhile, if you don’t mind buying new games ala carte, then PS5 is the clear winner as its library of exclusives is of the highest quality.

Plus, the PS5 also offers access to next-gen virtual reality tech via thePS VR2headset accessory. Currently, Microsoft does not have an equivalent VR product of its own for Xbox users. 

From having used both consoles extensively over the last few years, my gut feeling is that they have more similarities than differences, and whichever one you get should be more than sufficient to power your gaming for the next few years. Of course, you could always justbuild a gaming PC— but that’s a different story.

update：

Here’s what titles have a PS5 Pro boost

(Image credit: PlayStation)

Now that thePS5 Prois in the hands of gamers everywhere, the list of PS5 Pro enhanced games continues to grow. Around launch,Sonydetailed 50+ titles that have dedicated modes that make use of everything the upgraded console has to offer.

As Sony revealed the PS5 Pro, it was made clear that plenty of currently available PS5 games will receive updates to coincide with the launch of the PS5 Pro, and now that it’s out, we’re happy to confirm that this is indeed true. Thanks to thePS5 Pro specs, it’s no surprise that games such asMarvel’s Spider-Man 2look and feel better than ever, leveraging AI-driven upscaling and improved raytracing. Now that the dust has settled on the PS5 Pro launch, we’ve even been able to spend time with many of the upgraded games, and feel confident offering some recommendations on thePS5 Pro games to play first.

Before you seek outwhere to buy a PS5 Pro, however, you’ll want to know what games have received upgrades, which is where we come in. In this article, we’ll cover every PS5 Pro game confirmed so far, including a look at what’s set to change in each title. As more games are unveiled in the future, we’ll be sure to update this list.

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PS5 Pro games list – confirmed PS5 Pro-enhanced titles

(Image credit: Sony / Guerrilla)

Given that there are now over 50 PS5 Pro enhanced games, and with each developer handling things slightly differently, the list below represents just a small slice of the headline games that have received beefy PS5 Pro updates since launch:

• Alan Wake 2 –Performance Mode now offers 4K at the same fidelity as the base PS5’s Quality Mode. The PS5 Pro Quality Mode however, will target raytracing. 
• Assassin’s Creed: Shadows –will exhibit an enhanced ray-traced global illumination technology. Improved fidelity thanks to expanded GPU capabilities, and leveraging of PSSR. As perthe PS Blog.
• Demon’s Souls –4K image-like quality at 60 frames per second.
• Dragon’s Dogma 2 –benefits from the power of the PS5 Pro, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and new ray tracing technology, allowing improved framerates.
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard –The game’s Fidelity and Performance modes both see improvements on the hardware, including improved resolution in 30FPS Fidelity and 60FPS Performance modes.
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth –The new Enhanced Mode* developed especially for PS5 Pro combines the characteristics of the existing Performance Mode and Graphics Mode to offer players a new visual experience.
• F1 24 –F1 24 is upgrading its Quality mode to add new ray tracing effects that shined particularly on rain-soaked courses and made the tracks feel more realistic and immersive. As per thePS Blog.
• Gran Turismo 7 –now able to support ray tracing during races, which was previously impossible. This allows not only for car surfaces to show full reflections of other cars, but also for a car to reflect its own parts, greatly enhancing realism and immersion throughout the whole game.
• Hogwarts Legacy –Players are able to experience crisper, richer, higher resolution graphics, leveraging PSSR on all visual modes.
• Horizon Forbidden West –you can now enjoy a visual quality that matches or surpasses the Quality mode on the regular PlayStation 5, but now at 60 FPS – double the framerate.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 –Spider-Man 2 finds a new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 –PSSR technology allows for the trees and the lush vegetation of the game’s iconic jungle terrain to become more vivid, and enhances the sense of realism of infiltrating through a natural environment
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart –new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered –new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales –new default Performance Pro mode, which marries the crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing features of Fidelity mode with the speedy 60 frames per second of Performance mode.
• Resident Evil 4 Remake –the game runs at a higher framerate, making the dynamic action even more intense. Resident Evil 4 also uses the power of PS5 Pro for ultra-high-resolution technology, painting vividly realistic imagery brimming with detailed environments and more natural and beautiful visual effects than ever before.
• Resident Evil Village –added 120fps gameplay to provide the best possible user experience on PS5 Pro.
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor –In Quality Mode, the game offers its highest-ever console resolution at 2160p. At the same time, Performance Mode continues to deliver a solid 60 fps—but now with higher resolutions and the added visual depth of ray tracing for reflections and ambient occlusion.
• Stellar Blade –4K resolution at 50fps or more, with smoother gameplay, and you’ll notice an improvement in grain and detail in the game in PSSR upscale mode. Plus, the HFR (high framerate) option is supported, allowing you to enjoy a fluid gaming experience at 80 fps (120hz display support required).
• The Crew Motorfest –more objects on-screen – decals, vegetation, crowds – all running at 60fps.
• The First Descendant –expanding the ray tracing feature by leveraging PS5 Pro’s superior GPU performance and enhanced ray tracing architecture.
• The Last of Us Part I –new PS5 Pro-specific enhanced rendering mode that takes advantage of improved graphics processing, rendering 1440p, then upscaling to 4K via PSSR super resolution. This mode maintains the 60 fps target, offering an ideal balance of framerate and resolution.
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered –new PS5 Pro-specific enhanced rendering mode that takes advantage of improved graphics processing, rendering 1440p, then upscaling to 4K via PSSR super resolution. This mode maintains the 60 fps target, offering an ideal balance of framerate and resolution.
• Lies of P –“Quality Mode benefits from more than a 30 percent increase in FPS, delivering smoother, more fluid gameplay. Additionally, Performance Mode now supports full native 4K resolution, allowing players to enjoy stunning visuals without sacrificing responsiveness,” – Lies of P director Jiwon Choi inan interview with Eurogamer.
• Lords of the Fallen– the PS5 Pro enhanced version of the action role-playing game (RPG) allows players to experience a “40% increase in pixel density over the base PlayStation 5 console, resulting in a sharper image and finer details.
• Zenless Zone Zero –native 4K resolution and 60 FPS simultaneously with the average frame rate increasing by nearly ten frames. Update arrives December 18, 2024.

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And now, the full list, as previously confirmed on thePS Blogahead of the PS5 Pro launch.

• Alan Wake 2
• Albatroz
• Apex Legends
• Arma Reforger
• Assassin’s Creed Mirage
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• EA Sports College Football 25
• Dead Island 2
• Demon’s Souls
• Diablo IV
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Dying Light 2 Reloaded Edition
• EA Sports FC 25
• Enlisted
• F1 24
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Fortnite
• God of War Ragnarök
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• Kayak VR: Mirage
• Lies of P
• Lords of the Fallen
• Madden NFL 25
• Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Naraka: Bladepoint
• NBA2K 25
• No Man’s Sky
• Palworld
• Paladin’s Passage
• Planet Coaster 2
• Professional Spirits Baseball 2024-2025
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil 4
• Resident Evil Village
• Rise of the Ronin
• Rogue Flight
• Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
• Star Wars: Outlaws
• Stellar Blade
• Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown
• The Callisto Protocol
• The Crew Motorfest
• The Finals
• The First Descendant
• The Last of Us Part I
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered
• Until Dawn
• War Thunder
• Warframe
• World of Warships: Legend
• Zenless Zone Zero

The games above have received dedicated PS5 Pro versions, andare even be labeled separately to indicate as such. There’s also a whole host of PS4 and PS5 games that’ll benefit from what Sony is calling PS5 Pro Game Boost (as per thePS Blog):

“With the PS5 Pro version of the Game Boost feature, you can enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 and PS5 console’s greatest games.”

This is said to apply to at least 8,500 PS4 and PS5 titles, so there are plenty of changes and upgrades on the way to the games you already own if you do choose to pick up a PS5 Pro. In addition, PS5 Pro will significantly enhance PSVR 2 games according to Mark Cerny.

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PS5 Pro enhanced games – what’s the difference?

As part of the initial PS5 Pro technical presentation, we saw a few games running on the new hardware, highlighting the differences relative to the base PS5 console. Each enhanced game benefits from the new specs in different ways, but they all pull from the improvements below:

• Upgraded GPU with 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory; resulting in 45% faster rendering
• Advanced ray-tracing
• AI-driven upscaling known as PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)
• 2TB SSD
• PS5 Pro Game Boost
• Optional disc-drive
• VRR and 8K gaming support

(Image credit: PlayStation)

In ourPS5 Pro review, we came to the conclusion that the main attraction is really “the convergence of graphical fidelity and performance with games now able to tap into the PS5 Pro’s hardware and features to shine in both ways – at the same time”. This boosted graphical fidelity is, more often than not, on par with the Quality Modes of the base PS5, but with a much smoother experience thanks to 60FPS or higher. This best of both worlds approach is really going to be the key difference moving forward, though it’s likely that we’ll see developers experiment further with higher end graphical settings that focus on ray tracing, or make use of the hardware’s new AI-boosted upscaling.

Speaking on ray tracing, there have been significant advancements for many of the games now enhanced by the PS5 Pro. In our PS5 Pro review, we were impressed by the ray tracing across the board, noting that “you can now enjoy some of the best ray-tracing PS5 has to offer in a performance mode, targeting 60 frames per second, which is truly special in games likeMarvel’s Spider-Man 2.” So far, we’re looking at games that have already come out as well, so moving forward we’re excited to see what the PS5 Pro’s ray tracing capabilities can achieve as games get bigger and better looking across the board.

One thing that is immediately surprising when taking the PS5 Pro out of the box is its size and weight relative to the base model, especially the one that launched with a disc drive back in 2020. The PS5 Pro is much lighter than you’d expect, and its sleek design and black vented sides really stand out alongside the all white of the PS5’s faceplates. Under the hood, you now get 2TB of storage as standard, meaning that you can hold more games on your hard drive without having to swap things out for new releases.

While the technical upgrades and visual changes are indeed exciting, it’s also vital to point out the price jump between the base PS5 and the PS5 Pro. For $699.99, you do not get a disc drive, or even a vertical stand, something that really represents a sting in the tail for an otherwise enticing mid-generation upgrade. Our review concludes that “If you’ve a keen eye for detail, are a PlayStation fanatic who wants to be at the bleeding edge of the brand’s console and wants the most performant PlayStation console going, or you’re a graphics obsessive who wants the best experience going, or are a PS5 user with a new 120Hz-capable gaming TV or PS5 monitor, then the gaming experiences provided by the PS5 Pro are going to be very tempting indeed. For everyone else, it’s just going to be too expensive.”

PS5 Pro games: FAQs

Will new games be PS5 Pro-enhanced?

While we’ll have to wait and see what upcomingPS5 gameslikeDeath Stranding 2do with the new PS5 Pro technology, it’s highly likely that first-party games will offer some form of PS5 Pro version. This was how things worked with the PS4 Pro, so expect there to be boosts to upcoming games likeMarvel’s Wolverine, andGhost of Tsushima 2. In terms of third-party, PS5 Pro enhancements will come on a case by case basis. Some games will lean into the PS5 Pro’s features, even offering separate PS5 Pro-labelled versions, while others may focus on a more general PS5 offering.

How much does the PS5 Pro cost?

The PS5 Pro launched on November 7, 2024, and currently retails for $699.99. This is a significant step up from the base console, especially when you consider that you won’t get a disc drive or a vertical stand with it.

What games can we look forward to on PS5 Pro?

Now that the PS5 Pro is out, we’ve spent some time with the currently available list of enhanced games. Looking ahead, Monster Hunter Wilds is sure to offer a smoother experience on PS5 Pro when it launches in January. Beyond that, it’sDeath Stranding 2andGhost of Yoteithat’ll most likely show off the next level of PS5 Pro enhancements, especially the latter, which is being developed by Sony first party studio Sucker Punch.

What are the best PS5 Pro games to play on the new console?

In my opinion, the best PS5 Pro games are currently Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, andAlan Wake 2. The former introduces the new Performance Pro Mode, increasing the fidelity available while running the game at variable refresh rates. The results are extremely impressive, and immediately felt during the game’s opening fight with Sandman. Alan Wake 2 is significantly enhanced by the PS5 Pro as well, with the Performance Mode now able to match the Quality Mode on the base PS5, all while maintaining a smooth framerate. 

Please, make it happen!

PlayStation Plus users unite overThe Simpsons Hit & Runcoming to Sony’s subscription service and we totally agree.

Released onPC,PlayStation2,NintendoGameCube andXbox, 2003’sThe Simpsons Hit & Runis a cult classic game, perhaps even for those who don’t care much for the popular and long-running animated sitcom that is the source of its inspiration.

The Simpsons Hit & Runisn’t a perfect game, not by a long stretch, as indicated by itsscoreof 76 on Metacritic. However, there was something special about this game, which was considered to be a family-friendly version ofGrand Theft Autoat the time of its release.

This cult classic not only captured the essence of the animated sitcom but most importantly, it was good old, silly fun and is still a fantastic game to play today. As such, while there seems to be no sign of an official remake or remaster, fans would love to seeThe Simpsons Hit & RunonPlayStation Plus.

Asreported byPush Square, a list compiled by gamers on the Implicit Conversions Discord channel putsThe Simpsons Hit & Runat the top of a list of games that users would love to see on PS Plus.

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The Simpsons Hit & Runtopped the likes ofGTA: Vice City Stories,God of War: Ghost of Sparta,Silent Hill 2(the original game), and more.

I don’t know all the ins and outs of why Activision, who ownsThe Simpsons Hit & Runlicense, hasn’t revived this fan-favourite game. Perhaps it could be due to licensing issues with Disney, the company that now owns the rights to the TV series.

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All I know for sure, whether it’s on PlayStation Plus, a remaster or a remake, ifThe Simpsons Hit & Runwas revived today in any shape or form, it would no doubt prove to be a massive hit with fans.

PS Plus Premiumsubscribers get the pleasure of playing some greatPS2 classicson modern consoles. Games like Dino Crisis, and Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoon are offered on the service for no additional cost. Sony partnerImplicit Conversionshas worked with a company to bring these classics back to new platforms, and have compiled a list of the most requested games to bring back to life.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run and GTA: Vice City Stories most requested PS Plus Premium Classics

Implicit Conversions’ list of most requested games were compiled using 1,400 requests from its Discord community. Here are the top 10 PS2 and PSP games players would like to see come to PS Plus Premium:

1. The Simpsons: Hit & Run
2. GTA: Vice City Stories
3. God of War: Ghost of Sparta
4. Legend of Legaia
5. Ape Escape 3
6. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoon
7. Silent Hill 2
8. GTA: Liberty City Stories
9. Ratchet & Clank
10. God of War: Chains of Olympus

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The Simpsons: Hit & Run may not be the most critically acclaimed game, but it is most certainly one of the most beloved. Since its release in 2003 for PS2, it has garnered a significant cult following. A fan even fully remade the game using Unreal Engine 5. When it released, it received a 78 on the review aggregate site Metacritic.

GTA: Vice City Stories, and God of War: Ghost of Sparta took the second and third spot respectively. Both were released for the PSP, and are arguably two of the best games for PlayStation’s first portable. Both were also critically lauded, each receiving an 86 on Metacritic.

One of the games on this list are currently already available for PS Plus Premium subscribers. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoon was added to the service inJune 2024. The other PS2 classic added to the service the same month was Tomb Raider Legend.

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PlayStation just announced its latest PS Plus Premium Game Catalog entries for January 2025. It includes Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, and Medievil 2.

Sony stakes its claim in the ultra-competitive Bluetooth speaker arena Tested at NZ$349.95

Verdict
The Sony LinkBuds Speaker is well made, simple to use and nice to listen to, even if it lacks the sonic punch to keep up with the class leaders

Pros

• +Cohesive, balanced sound
• +Plenty of textural insight
• +Solid feature set and outstanding battery life

Cons

• -Could sound more punchy and exciting
• -Small size means compromises in bass delivery
• -Faces extremely tough competition at this level

Sony’s LinkBuds line is made up of, as the name suggests, various pairs of wireless earbuds. Open ring designs, in-ear models, sporty types, there isn’t a set definition for what a LinkBud is exactly, but the single unifying constant has always been that they go into, or sometimes sit just outside of, the human ear.

There is, however, an exception. There’s one member of the LinkBuds family which, despite having the word ‘buds’ in its name, looks like it may have been adopted into the clan, as it isn’t a pair of wireless earbuds but a portable Bluetooth speaker. The Sony LinkBuds Speaker is the apparent anomaly in this expanding family, yet while it distinguishes itself by taking on a completely different form from the rest of its siblings, this is a product that’s clearly aimed at the same crowd that Sony was targeting with its Olivia Rodrigo-backed LinkBuds Fit: hip, trendy youngsters who want great sound on the go.

Sony has already attempted to break the JBL stranglehold at this level with its four-star ULT Field 1, a similarly-priced performer that couldn’t quite topple the might of the JBL Flip 6 or Charge 5. It’s a tough nut to crack, so maybe the Japanese audio titan has found the winning formula – or dare we say ‘missing Link’ – with this latest attempt.

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Price

Currently priced at NZ$349.95/ AU$199, the Sony LinkBuds Speaker (SRS-LS1) has jumped straight into the lion’s den. This is the realm occupied by some of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market, speakers that are only getting more affordable as their respective prices drop with time.

Build & design

Sony LinkBuds Speaker tech specs

Power 18 Watts

Bluetooth? Yes, 5.2 (SBC and AAC)

Mains-powered or battery-powered Battery-powered

Battery life 25 hours

Features Sony Auto Switch, hands-free calling, IPX4 rating, stereo pairing

Connections USB-C (charging cradle)

Dimensions (hwd) 11 x 8.4 x 9cm

Weight 520g

Finishes x 2 (black, white)

Around the same height as a standard deodorant can, albeit a little fatter, Sony’s compact speaker is built to sit conveniently on your desk, perch on a nearby shelf or be thrown inside an accommodating rucksack as you take it on your travels.

If you’re planning on bringing the LinkBuds Speaker out with you, we have little doubt that its chunky, robust build will keep it intact. AnIPX4 waterproof ratingis a little disappointing when compared with the IP67 ratings of its rugged JBL Charge 5 and Flip 6 rivals, but it’ll do the job of keeping your speaker protected against drizzle and the occasional splash of water, but it won’t necessarily protect against dust ingress or full liquid immersion. Maybe not one for pool parties, then.

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IP rating aside, we’re otherwise confident that, given our time with the LinkBuds Speaker, its solid, robust build will be enough to handle the bumps and scrapes that inevitably come with being a portable Bluetooth companion. The built-in carry loop, meanwhile, also feels as though it can handle the speaker’s 520g weight without losing integrity where the loop meets the main body.

Not that you’llnecessarilywant to have the LinkBuds Speaker out and about with you all the time. The unit’s tightly woven exterior mesh does seem to harbour dirt if exposed to mud and grime, and we’d certainly recommend getting the Sony in black if you’re planning on using it as a frequent portable – we find that handsome off-white finish is fairly susceptible to stains and marks.

The LinkBuds Speaker keeps things relatively minimalist design-wise, opting for an all-over speaker mesh design with few embellishments or adornments. That said, you’ll find four main control buttons at the top: two plus and minus signs for volume adjustment alongside a play/pause control and a preset button for quickly accessing streaming services such asSpotifyorAmazon Music. At the bottom of the speaker’s rear side sits a small power control and a covered USB-C port, although the LinkBuds Speaker also comes with a supplied wireless charging pad for faster juicing.

Features

A key benefit of Sony’s latest Bluetooth portable is that it’s designed to work with the extended LinkBuds family of products. One of the speaker’s party pieces is its seamless interconnectivity with the extended LinkBuds earbuds line, letting you flit between buds and speaker automatically as your tunes play. Put your compatible LinkBuds into their charging case and the speaker takes over musical playback automatically, but once the buds are out of their shelter and in your ears, the audio switches to the buds and the speaker takes a well-earned break. It’s a neat trick that works smoothly every time we try it with our LinkBuds Fit test pair via Bluetooth.

There’s more to the LinkBuds Speaker than its eagerness to cooperate with its Sony stablemates. A healthy battery life is vital for portable units of this kind, and the small Bluetooth speaker duly furnishes us with 25 hours of playback time, a monster figure that overshadows the 12 hours granted by the JBL Flip 6 and 20 hours provided by the more substantial JBL Charge 5.

You can use the LinkBuds Speaker to handle incoming voice calls, a feature that’s noticeably absent from the rival Flip 6. Sony’s champion does an admirable job, with voices coming through clearly on the part of the recipient while being reproduced ably on the other end thanks to the speaker’s built-in microphone.

(Image credit: Sony)

Sony has clearly made efforts elsewhere to make sure that the LinkBuds Speaker is easy to use and capable of keeping up with its competitors. Stereo pairing allows for two speakers to be hooked up together simultaneously, whereas quick access is genuinely handy for getting music playing from your favourite app at the touch of a button. Wireless connectivity is handled byBluetooth 5.2, though the LinkBuds Speaker only supportsSBC and AAC codecs– there’s none of theLDACcompatibility you’ll find with most of Sony’s wireless earbuds.

Setting which music service you’d like to delve into is done via the newly revamped Sony SoundConnect app, the same platform you’ll use for handling most of the brand’s new wireless speakers and headphones. It’s still not the most intuitive service you’ll find, but access to a customisable five-band equaliser, plus control of features such as quick access (to help you jump straight into your streaming service of choice) and stereo pairing, help the SoundConnect app earn its stripes.

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Sound

Sony’s wireless wonder uses a two-way speaker system consisting of a 16mm tweeter and a 48x56mm balanced mid/bass driver to produce what its maker describes as “impressive bass and clear vocals with less distortion”. Passive radiators work in unison with the mid/bass for more powerful bass reproduction, whereas Sony’s ‘Sound Diffusion Processor’ aims to ensure that the sound produced is spread out evenly rather than simply fired in a single direction.

While it’s not the most expansive listen, Sony makes good on its promise of omnidirectionality, and you’ll receive a consistent quality and timbre of sound no matter where you stand in relation to the speaker itself. Textural quality abounds, with perhaps the LinkBuds Speaker’s strongest card to play being its impressive levels of midrange detail. When going up against the JBL Flip 6, we discern a noticeably more authentic reproduction of the sombre guitar on The Killers’Christmas In LAthrough the Sony than we do with the JBL.

The LinkBuds Speaker also evidences a talent for vocal reproduction. It’s easy for a speaker of this size to make voices – be they Corey Taylor or Camilla Cabello – sound generic or drab, a trap the Sony does well to avoid. Michael Stipe’s charmingly reedy singing on REM’sNightswimmingis a heartfelt performance through the Sony, while Stephen Fry’s narration of PG Wodehouse’sRight Ho, Jeevesis packed with playful élan.

The Sony’s knack for detail is tempered nicely by a restrained, well-organised character that gives tracks a mature, even-handed flavour. There’s no flabby bass to be found at the bottom or screeching trebles ready to loosen a couple of your fillings, and while a tad more punch and rhythmic drive wouldn’t go amiss, the LinkBuds Speaker treads lightly to avoid spilling sounds into areas they don’t belong. Play Muse’sMadnessthrough the Sony and you’ll notice just how clean and fuss-free the composition is, an impressive feat for a relatively small speaker.

That love of order and refinement does leave the Sony feeling just a tad restrained, however, with most of the sonic sacrifices coming at the lower end. There’s not a great deal of punch from a speaker that prefers to keep things relatively clean and lightweight, and bassheads especially may become frustrated by a lack of lower-end oomph from heavier hip-hop and rock tracks. This is where the five-star Flip 6 and Charge 5 rivals pull ahead, offering the punch and power that the slightly lean Sony lacks. The JBLs certainly go further dynamically – the crashes and bashes amid the pandemonium ofHans Zimmer’sThe Battlearrive with more weight and gusto than they do via the Sony. If you like punch and verve to your tracks, the LinkBuds Speaker may not be to your taste.

Verdict

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker has its charms. It’s a portable, feature-rich and nicely-made Bluetooth speaker which digs out plenty of detail, even if the class leaders grant you a good deal more sonic punch and lower-end clout. Those rivals are perhaps better suited to getting the party started, but the Sony’s refinement and knack for organisation means that it shouldn’t be dismissed as a mere stick in the mud.

SCORES

• Sound4
• Build4
• Features5

Does the hot new Sonos Ace take the crown from longtime favorites Bose and Sony?

I tried some of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market, and I have a new favorite.
Headphones or earbuds? If you can’t decide how best to pipe audio into your ear holes, allow me to make the case for cans: The best wireless headphones from Bose, Sony, Sonos and more crush earbuds when it comes to battery life, and for many users there’s a comfort advantage as well with cushy cups (aka “cans”) that cover your ears rather than silicone ‘buds that sort of screw into them. And let’s not overlook sound quality: Headphones have much larger drivers (the actual speakers inside) than earbuds, meaning they produce a larger soundstage with greater range. If you like your music more concert-hall than club, jam with cans.

There’s a downside, though, and that’s physical size: Headphones don’t exactly fit in your pocket. I’d also argue that modern wireless earbuds are a bit better when it comes to ANC (active noise cancelling). Even so, headphones make a great choice for listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks and watching movies, TV shows and YouTube videos.

The best noise-cancelling wireless headphones of 2024

Best wireless headphones overall

Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones

Driver size:40mm |Spatial Audio:Yes |Foldable:No |Controls:Buttons/switch |Colors:Black, White |Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.4, wired |Weight:11 ounces |Carrying case:Zippered clamshell |Max battery life:30 hours

I tend to get a little jaded when it comes to audio gear, because it’s rare that I have a “wow” moment. It all sounds pretty good to me, or at least good enough. But,wow, the Sonos Ace: The company’s debut headphones bring a richness and fullness to music that my ears haven’t experienced elsewhere. Yes, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5 come very close, but if you want to hear every detail, every nuance, of your favorite playlists, these are the ones to get.

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It probably means breaking open the piggy bank, though. They’re among the pricier headphones we tested. That’s not surprising — Sonos is a premium audio brand — but if you’re not in a rush, consider waiting for a sale.

Sonos supplies a nicely illustrated quick-start guide, though curiously there’s no mention of charging the headphones. Although you don’t strictly need the Sonos app to use the Aces, you’ll definitely want it for things like equalizer settings and firmware updates. The app is fairly easy to use overall, with nearly all headphone status info and settings listed on a single page. 

It’s hard to make headphones stand out, but I like the matte finish and overall look of the Ace. The earcups hinges are hidden inside the earcups themselves, meaning those with long hair are less likely to get tangled in them. Although there’s very little “play” in those hinges, I found that the Aces fit snugly and comfortably. Maybe a little too snugly, though? After about 30 minutes, my ears wanted some air. (For the record, this is true with nearly all over-the-ear headphones — for me, at least.)

Instead of touch controls, Sonos opted for physical ones: The right earcup is home to a noise-control toggle button (press to switch between ANC and transparency modes) and the “Content Key.” The latter is small slide-switch used to raise and lower volume, but it’s also a button: press once to play/pause, twice to skip to the next track and three times for the previous track. I like the Content Key overall; it’s a little more intuitive than Apple’s digital crown.

I do wish Sonos gave the option of a voice prompt to indicate which noise mode is selected, instead of the largely indistinguishable tones that play when you toggle them.

As noted above, I’ve rarely been so enamored with the warmth and fullness of headphone audio. I found myself noticing vocal and instrumental details I’d never heard before, or at least never heard so clearly. The Ace also crushes spatial audio, with flawless head-tracking that creates an amazing sense of “there-ness.” 

Meanwhile, if you’re already part of the Sonos ecosystem (meaning you have one of the company’s soundbars), you may appreciate the TV Audio Swap option: With the press of a button, you can switch from soundbar to headphones, the better to listen in private (while also enjoying a much more pronounced spatial audio than you get from the soundbar alone). At this writing, the feature works only with the Sonos Arc; support for the Beam and Ray models is coming. Because the Aces don’t use Wi-Fi, however, you can’t “hand off” audio from Sonos speakers like the Era, Roam and Move.

If your budget won’t accommodate the Sonos Aces, I suspect you’d be just as happy with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony XM5 (though the latter is far more limited when it comes to spatial audio). But I’m calling it: These are currently my favorite wireless headphones.

Pros

• Useful printed quick-start guide
• Cleverly designed volume/play-control switch
• Immaculate sound quality and spatial audio
• Works with Sonos soundbars to provide private listening and spatial audio
• USB-C-to-stereo cord included for wired listening

Cons

• Sky-high price
• Some might find it a little tight for comfort
• Can be difficult to determine which noise mode is selected
• TV Audio Swap currently works with Sonos Arc only

Other noise-cancelling wireless headphones we recommend

Best budget wireless headphones

Soundcore Space One Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Driver size:40mm |Spatial Audio:No |Foldable:Yes |Controls:Buttons |Colors:Jet Black, Latte Cream, Sky Blue |Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.3, wired |Weight:9 ounces |Carrying case:Drawstring |Max battery life:55 hours

If you’re wondering whether $100 headphones can possibly rival ones costing three or four times as much, get ready for a surprise: It can. Soundcore’s Space One offers sweet sound and robust ANC. On those merits alone, I’d have no qualms about recommending it. But to quote the old commercial: Wait, there’s more.

Soundcore supplies a detailed quick-start guide that covers basic setup and operation. It’s a little “busy” because it crams multiple languages into each panel, but it’s still far more complete than the print instructions included with most headphones. Similarly, the Soundcore companion app is a model of simplicity: Everything is clearly labeled and logically organized.

Space Ones look stylish and feature comfortable padding throughout, though the build feels just a touch plasticky overall. The volume and play/pause buttons on the right earcup are a good size and well-placed, but good luck remembering which of the two left-earcup buttons is for power and which is for toggling ANC modes. (At least you get a vocal notification of which mode is active, which is preferable to the indecipherable tones produced by some other headphones.)

These ‘phones can play for a whopping 55 hours on a charge, or 40 if you use ANC. Just five minutes of USB-C quick-charging nets you up to four additional hours. (That’s for wireless play, by the way; Soundcore also supplies a stereo cord for wired listening, which requires no battery at all.) Apple’s pricey AirPods Max need to recharge after just 20 hours.

Space Ones also support LDAC, a lossless, high-resolution audio codec that promises even better sound from sources that support it. (That generally means Android phones; iPhones don’t do LDAC.) Is this a big deal for most listeners? No. Is it notable considering that some headphones costing significantly moredon’tsupport it? I’d say yes.

One of my favorite features is Easy Chat: Cup your hand over the left earcup and the headphones quickly switch into transparency mode so you can converse more comfortably. Soundcore also borrowed from Sony by including a speak-to-chat option (which at press time was in beta): No cupping needed, just start talking and transparency mode kicks in. Although it works as advertised, I don’t love it because sometimes I sing or talk to myself and don’t want the music cutting out every time. That said, the option is there for those who want it.

Also there: preprogrammed and custom equalizer modes, plus Soundcore’s HearID hearing test that will create a customized equalizer profile. It’s a fun little test to take, though I can’t say I noticed a huge difference between the before and after. Your mileage may vary depending on your age and hearing.

I’m no audiophile; I just like listening to music and going about my business. Space Ones don’t match the depth and richness offered by higher-end headphones like the Sonos Aces, but they sound perfectly good to my ears. And noise-cancelling exceeded my expectations given the price point (though this is one area where the app is a little confusing). 

Pros

• Useful printed instruction guide
• Very good sound and noise-cancelling
• Excellent companion app
• Stellar battery life
• Priced well below many competitors
• Supports high-resolution LDAC codec

Cons

• Slightly cheap feel
• Drawstring carrying case
• Button layout could be better

Best noise-cancelling wireless headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

Driver size:35mm |Spatial Audio:Yes |Foldable:Yes |Controls:Touch |Colors:Black, Sandstone, White Smoke |Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.3, wired |Weight:9 ounces |Carrying case:Zippered clamshell |Max battery life:24 hours

If blocking the outside world is your top priority, look no further than Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones. Like the company’sQuietComfort Ultra earbuds, they take the prize for best ANC. As for fit, features and sound quality, they’re top-notch there as well.

Just don’t expect any help with setup, at least until you install and run the Bose app. The box includes no printed instructions, only a QR code to scan and a rudimentary diagram explaining the controls. Thankfully, once you use the app to pair the headphones with your phone, you’re immediately offered helpful tutorials on using various features.

For example: media controls. There’s a lone multi-function button that’s use to play/pause and skip tracks — easy enough. But to raise or lower volume, you run your finger along a skinny touch-sensitive strip embedded on the back of the right earcup. (You can also touch and hold the strip to activate a shortcut, like accessing your phone’s voice assistant.)

Both the button and touch-strip can be difficult to find without a little groping, at least until you get used to reaching for them. But because the touch control isn’t relegated to the entire outside edge of the earcup, as on some other headphones, you’re less likely to graze it by accident.

I do find a few aspects of the app confusing, like the Modes page where you choose between Quiet (aka ANC), Aware (transparency) and Immersion (spatial audio). But then there’s an entirely different screen devoted to Immersive Audio. 

With these headphones, Bose continues its tradition of beautifully balanced and richly detailed audio. I can think of no other superlatives; the QC Ultras sound great, end of story. They also deliver terrific spatial audio, with a nifty option to toggle between Still and Motion modes depending on whether you’re sitting or moving.

The real standout feature, however, is ANC: In my tests, the Ultras were better at blocking noise than any other headphones. Consequently, these are probably my second-favorite cans behind the Sonos Aces. There’s a similarly premium price tag attached, though, and sale prices to date have been pretty modest.

Pros

• Useful in-app tutorials and feature explanations
• Rich, detailed sound and wonderful spatial audio
• Top-notch noise cancellation
• Folding design

Cons

• Expensive
• No printed setup instructions
• So-so battery life
• Awkwardly placed volume control

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Best headphones for Android users

Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Driver size:30mm |Spatial Audio:No |Foldable:No |Controls:Touch |Colors:Black, Midnight Blue, Silver |Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.2, wired |Weight:8.8 ounces |Carrying case:Zippered clamshell |Max battery life:30 hours

If you’ve asked around (by which I mean looked at other websites), you know that Sony’s XM5s are widely regarded as one of the best ANC headphones you can get, if notthebest. But they’re two years old now, with smaller drivers than some competitors, limited spatial audio and an older version of Bluetooth. Is it time to look elsewhere?

If you’re not a tech-savvy user, then I’d say yes. Sony supplies no useful printed setup or operation instructions, just a QR code to scan. That takes you to the Sony Headphones Connect app, which shows up on your phone as just “Headphones” (confusing if you’re looking for something labeled Sony).

As with theSony WF-1000XM5 earbuds I tested earlier this year, I ran into trouble pairing them with my iPhone. After a fair bit of hair-pulling, I rebooted the phone; only then would it detect the XM5. I had no such issues with any other headphones I tested.

Next, the Sony app asks you to perform various setup activities, including 360 Reality Audio (which works only with select few apps). You can skip all these, but it’s just a lot for a novice user to take in. Same goes for Sony’s commendable but complex Adaptive Sound Control system, which “detects your actions and the places you frequent” to automatically adjusts ANC accordingly.

Put simply, I find Sony’s app to be unnecessarily confusing; you can read more about why in the aforementioned earbuds review. All my same complaints apply here.

So let’s overlook that and focus on the headphones themselves. They’re superb, bringing music to life with full-bodied detail and sumptuous bass. If you’re an Android user, you’ll also enjoy Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth codec, which supports Hi-Res Audio content (from compatible sources). iPhone users like me still enjoy premium sound, just without that optimization.

As for noise cancelling, it’s also excellent, on par with the best you’ll find anywhere. (That said, I must note that the XM5earbudsare better still.)

I have mixed feelings about Sony’s speak-to-chat feature: If you start talking to someone, the music cuts out while the microphones cut in — the better to allow clear conversation. Very cool on paper, but if you routinely talk to yourself or sing along to the music, you’ll want to toggle this off.

The only real downside here is the lack of ubiquitous spatial audio, a feature available in headphones from Apple, Bose, Sonos and others. Some people love it; others can take it or leave it. I’m in the former camp, but if you’re in the latter, the only remaining issue is sticker shock: The XM5 has a list price of $400, but they’re frequently on sale during the holidays. Even then they’re a splurge, but worth it for anyone who prizes a premium audio experience.

Pros

• Eco-friendly packaging
• Premium sound
• Versatile noise-cancelling automatically adapts to your environment
• Lots of useful tools in Sony’s companion app
• High-resolution LDAC codec for Android users

Cons

• Expensive (but often discounted)
• Non-folding design
• Spatial audio available only with a select few apps
• App can be confusing in places

Best headphones for Apple die-hards

Apple AirPods Max

Driver size:40mm |Spatial Audio:Yes |Foldable:No |Controls:Analog |Colors:Green, Pink, Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue |Connectivity:Bluetooth |Weight:14 ounces |Carrying case:Sort of |Max battery life:20 hours

The Apple AirPods Max are not the best wireless headphones you can buy, not by a longshot. They sound great, sure, but they’re very expensive, with mediocre battery life and some notable usability quirks. Plus, they’re not a good choice for Android users; I’d recommend them only to die-hard Apple fans, and even then with some caveats. 

Like other AirPods, Maxes are easy to pair with your iPhone or iPad; you just turn them on and bring them close: a screen pops up to get you connected. Of course, you need to charge the battery first, something not mentioned in Apple’s terse, incomplete printed instructions. (Neither is how to actually turn them on — which you can’t do if they’re not charged!)

Speaking of which, they still rely on a Lightning port; Apple has yet to transition them to USB-C, as it has done with AirPods Pro. That’s annoying, but this is even worse: Like the latter, the AirPods Maxes incorporate an inexplicably dumb, super-tiny charging LED. When you plug in the Lightning cable, it lights up orange — but only for a few seconds. Then it goes dark and stays that way; there’s no way to know at a glance if they’re actively charging, no way to know if they’re done charging. Instead, you have topress a buttonto see if it’s still orange or has made it to green (which indicates at least 95% full).

Sure, you can pull out your phone to check charging status, but that’s a hassle. Nearly every other electronic product on the planet keeps the LED illuminated, especially during charging.That’s how you know the status. Oh, and if the headphonesaren’tconnected to power and you push the button, the LED lights up green — which indicates at least 15% charge remaining. Only if it’s below 15% does it glow orange. 

Meanwhile, if you’re using Maxes for the first time, you could easily overlook that LED and those few seconds of orange. Then you might think the headphones weren’t charging and come to the conclusion they’re defective. I wonder how many of these have been returned due to this.

Another user-hostile design decision: The big “L” and “R” inside the earcups (to indicate left and right ear) are the same non-contrasting color as the rest of the material, so it’s difficult to see them unless you catch the light just so. Consequently, I have to spend an extra few seconds figuring out proper orientation.

AirPods Maxes have the same controls as an Apple Watch: a button and a “digital crown.” The button quick-switches you between ANC and transparency modes. To adjust volume, you rotate the crown, which is great; I like this better than the button or touch controls employed by most other headphones. It’s super-precise and easy to find by feel.

However, the crown is also a multi-function button: press once to play/pause music or accept/end a phone call; twice to skip to the next track or reject a call; or three times to go to the previous track. That’s already a fair bit to remember, but when calls are involved, lotsa luck: you press and hold to reject a second incoming call, or twice to switch the current call from the headphones back to your phone, and so on and so on. I’ll never remember all this.

Because the AirPods Max don’t fold, they make for an extra-bulky addition to your backpack or carry-on bag. Much has already been said about the Maxes’ carrying case, which offers no protection for the headband and makes the whole thing look like a purse. Stylish? Sure, I guess. But also annoying: To put the headphones into ultra-low-power mode (which consumes less battery), you have to park them inside the case. They’ll also go into that mode if they spend 72 hours outside the case (and don’t get touched). Ooookay. 

To cap off all this power/charging nonsense, AirPods Maxes can last a maximum of 20 hours on a charge — well below most of the other headphones in this roundup. 

If it seems I’m spending an inordinate amount of time on usability issues versus, say, sound quality, it’s because I expect better from Apple — and from the amount I spent on them. Make no mistake, AirPods Maxes sound great; ANC quality: also great. Spatial audio: superb. I also like the build quality, shiny metallic coloring and overall comfort. (These are some seriously cushy and breathable earcups.)

But that’s what I expect from a premium headphone with a premium price. And while on that subject, AirPods Maxes are among the most expensive headphones on the market. Like Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds, they’re frequently discounted, but even on sale they’re costlier than premium competitors from Bose and Sony.

Therefore: If you love Apple gear and you’re willing to overlook numerous irritating flaws, I suspect you’ll love the AirPods Maxes. Everyone else: You can do better.

Pros

• Solid build quality
• Very comfortable earcups that are easy to replace
• Easy to pair with Apple devices and automatically switches between them
• Superb spatial audio

Cons

• Very expensive (even when discounted)
• Confusing setup instructions
• Poorly designed charging LED
• Still uses Lightning connector instead of USB-C
• Below-average battery life
• Digital crown is great for controlling volume but bad for everything else
• No headphone jack for wired listening
• ‘Smart’ case is anything but

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How we test wireless headphones

With dozens (and dozens) of over-ear headphone models to choose from, how did I decide which made the cut? Audio is a highly subjective thing; the best sound to one set of ears might sound less so to another. For example, if you’re not a fan of heavy bass, you might dislike ‘phones designed to boost that thump. And if you’re older, maybe you care more about dialogue enhancement (for movies, podcasts and such) than anything else.

There’s also the question of fit: Not every headphone sits comfortably atop every head. A tight headband or mushy earpads can make for an uncomfortable experience.

Finally, when evaluating headphone sound, there’s always the source to consider: If you use a music streaming service like Apple Music or Spotify, data compression can result in a slight loss of fidelity. Will the average listener care about that, or even notice it? Probably not, but it’s still a piece of the puzzle.

All this is to say that different people have different ears, heads, needs and preferences. Budgets too. Therefore, my picks for this roundup are based on a combination of personal experience, product reputation, professional reviews, specs, user ratings and, finally, price tag. You won’t find only high-end, super-expensive headphones here, nor will you find cheap off-brand junk. Every product I’ve selected deserves its “best” designation for one reason or another.

FAQs

What is active noise cancelling (ANC)?

The hot headphone feature of the 21st century is active noise cancelling, otherwise known as ANC. Flip a switch (or press a button) and the earpieces magically reduce a certain range of ambient sounds. Jet engines, for example, or backyard lawnmowers. The result is that you’re able to fly, work or exercise in relative peace.

Some headphones perform this trick better than others, but the good news is it’s now a staple feature: Even the most affordable ones have it. Take note, however, that activating ANC will cost you a bit of battery life and possibly some audio fidelity as well. But it’s optional, so you can always turn it off if it’s not necessary or if you decide you don’t like it.

What’s the difference between ‘noise canceling’ and ‘noise cancelling’?

An extra letter “L,” that’s it. They’re exactly the same technology, but for whatever reason, both spellings are used. (Go home, English language, you’re drunk.)

What is driver size and why does it matter?

In simple terms, “driver” is just audio-speak for “speaker.” And bigger is always better, right? Yes,but… there’s a bit more to it than that. As with actual speakers, there’s more to sound quality than just size. The materials used, the electronics behind those materials, the overall fit of the headphones, etc. Don’t let driver size alone determine which headphones you buy.

Do you need special headphones for watching TV?

In most cases, no! Many modern TVs and streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, etc.) support Bluetooth, meaning you could pair any of these headphones for private listening. The only potential issue is audio that’s slightly out of sync with video, which can happen with older TVs/streamers. And if you have gear that doesn’t support Bluetooth, you might need to invest in something like theSennheiser RS 175 wireless headphone system for TVs, which relies on RF (radio frequency) technology for wireless listening.

How do noise-cancelling headphones work?

This will sound strange, but these headphones fight noise with … noise. External microphones listen to the ambient sounds, then reproduce those frequencies in your ears, effectively cancelling them out. Talk about sufficiently advanced technology that’s indistinguishable from magic! 

Do noise-cancelling headphones protect hearing?

After a fashion. By reducing outside sound, ANC headphones save you from having to crank the volume just so you can hear your music — and that itself is a form of hearing protection. There’s a related benefit as well: If you’re on a long flight or stuck in a noisy terminal, ANC helps to drown out engine and crowd noise, the better to keep your stress level low.

Are noise-cancelling headphones safe?

There are no known safety hazards to using noise-cancelling headphones. The only risk, as with any headphones, is playing music too loudly and damaging your hearing.

The rumor mill is beginning to grind the sheafs of Sony speculation into the flour of fact

If you’re think that the Sony WH-1000XM6 must be due soon, to replace the now-several-years-old current model, you might be right. The Sony WH-1000XM5 rank among the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy today – but this is an incredibly competitive market and there’s no shortage of contenders for the crown, and Sony’s own headphones are so good that the previous model, the Sony WH-1000XM4, are currently atop our best-buy guide.

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That means Sony needs to keep improving its flagship over-ears if it wants to keep selling new pairs to people. And the rumour mill says that it’s going to do just that, and that the Sony WH-1000XM6 will be with us soon… but not too soon.

Given that the WH-1000XM5 got five out of five stars in our review, which also noted that the WH-1000XM4 were so good that the improvements were “more marginal than before”, what on earth could Sony be planning for the next generation? Here’s what we think we know so far.

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 release date rumors

Back in June, GSM Arena reported two key stories: one, the Sony LinkBuds and LinkBuds S would get a 2024 update at tge same time; and two, the WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5 earbuds would not. Instead, Sony was most likely “targeting the first six months of next year” for its flagships.

Given that the first story proved to be exactly correct when Sony announced two new LinkBuds models, and that the second story was from the same source, we’re inclined to think that the prediction of a launch in the first half of 2025 is probably sound too. And another leak on Chinese social media site Weibo said that Sony wants to synchronize the update cycles for the two flagships, which again would mean a 2025 launch, since that’s when the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds will hit two years and be due an update, under Sony’s usual cadence.

We haven’t seen much leak evidence of this yet, until recently, perhaps. The Sony watchers at The Walkman Blog have spotted a new wireless Sony headset code in import documents. It has the product code YY2984, and according to the blog it “could be” one of the XM6 models. Then again, it’s simply listing some kind of wireless headset with a plastic shell, so it could be anything.

That said, when the current models were about three months from release they showed up in FCC regulatory filings; devices need a lot of paperwork before they go on sale, so it’s not impossible that YY2984 are indeed these future candidates for the best Sony headphones. It’s pretty weak sauce, I know, but that’s the exciting world of headphones for you. It’s the FCC filing you really want to be on tenterhooks for – that will start the countdown. Perhaps that’ll come in in December for March-ish launch.

>>>>Z32H Battery for Sony LinkBuds WFL900 WFL900H Earbuds

Sony’s WH-1000XM6: what we’d like to see
Bose-beating noise cancellation: Sony has gone from being a total leader here to being merely very good. Bose’s latest noise cancelling headphones have exceptional ANC that beats Sony, so let’s see if Sony can reclaim the crown.

Better battery life: Sony has basically dictated the average for this for years now, hitting 30 hours consistently. But when the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless and Cambridge Audio P100 can hit 60 hours, Sony should really offer us more. I’m not holding my breath for this, though.

Water resistance: This is something that’s increasingly common among rivals, and it would be nice to see some official IP ratings.

The return of the fold: The XM5’s revised design made the headphones less portable, which was a surprise – they could return to our list of the best travel headphones with this tweak. The headband could do with a bit more padding too, while I’m complaining.

Dolby Atmos spatial audio: No doubt Sony’s 360 Reality Audio will be here again, but with Dolby Atmos supported by several music services and – even more importantly, all the big movie services, we’d love to see support here. Especially if it comes with Dolby’s own head-tracking, which is excellent on the Sonos Ace and LG Tone Free T90S.

USB-C audio: Easy true hi-res audio from phones and laptops? Many of the best wireless headphones offer this, but Bose doesn’t, so Sony can get one up on its old rival.

SONY’s LinkBuds range has two main purposes. First, it gave the company a platform to launch radically different designs, such as the first generation of LinkBuds in the shape of doughnuts. It also allowed SONY to develop the LinkBuds S, a more traditional product that offers a taste of its flagship product at an inexpensive price.

Two years after the launch of LinkBuds and LinkBuds S, SONY has introduced a completely new product and improved on the original. With LinkBuds Fit, the company has developed a suite of fully functional, comfortable earbuds with impressive sound. With LinkBuds Open, SONY has tweaked its unique open wear mode by updating some of its tools. Next up is the third product in the LinkBuds trio, the LinkBuds Speaker, which is designed to seamlessly integrate with two pairs of new earbuds when you get home or to work. This is what I’ve been saying about these products since SONY launched them, so be prepared because you’re going to get three reviews for one price.

>>>>Z52H Battery for Sony LinkBuds S WFLS900N/B WFL900/H

LinkBuds Fit

Sony flexes its mobile audio muscle on the LinkBuds Fit, combining great sound with tons of features.

Pros

• Tiny, comfy design
• Surprisingly big sound
• Lots of handy features

Cons

• ANC performance is lacking
• Battery life
• Call quality is fine, but not great

>>>>>Z52H Battery for Sony LinkBuds S WFLS900N/B WFL900/H

Sony’s LinkBuds S were a low-key hit in 2022. They have some of the great features from the 1000X line, with a similar overall shape, too. Small and comfy.With this year’s LinkBuds Fit, Sony has debuted the next progression in its active noise canceling (ANC) LinkBuds.
This is the option for people who prefer a closed design and a secure fit. Sony completely redesigned the LinkBuds Fit, aiming for the optimum shape for most people. To get there, the company made the main housing a lot smaller, as the whole thing tucks almost entirely into your ear. There’s a so-called Air Cushion silicon support wing that’s hollow instead of solid. This allows more flexibility, and honestly it’s more comfortable since you can tuck it into the ridges of your ears however you need to. The combination of the smaller size and the Air Cushion make the LinkBuds Fit some of the most comfy in-ears I’ve tested. Even though they plug your ears closed, they never become a burden, even after hours of constant use.

One of the best things about the LinkBuds S was the impressive sound quality for the price. That continues on the LinkBuds Fit as Sony offers balanced tuning right out of the box. There’s crisp highs, ample mid range and snappy bass throughout most genres.Vol. 2. Plus, the company’s DSEE Extreme upscaling can help restore some audio quality lost over compression for Bluetooth streaming. Audio presets and a 5-band EQ are here for adjustments, but I didn’t even think about using them.

The sound capabilities of LinkBuds Fit are on full display in BONES UK’s Soft. Crunchy guitars, humming basslines and punchy kick drums provide a full, deep sound field with textured sounds floating around. Interestingly, LinkBuds Fit’s heavy rhythm has nuances, not just the rhythm of one note. All this sound improvement is partly due to the earbuds inherits the dynamic driver X and the integrated processor V2 audio chip from 1000X. The WF-1000XM5 has more surround sound, but not much, as SONY has narrowed the gap between its flagship model and the LinkBuds line – for now.

>>>>723741 Battery for Sony WH-1000XM5

Features like Adaptive Sound Control, multipoint Bluetooth and Speak to Chat make their return on the LinkBuds Fit from the LinksBuds S. But Sony has gone well beyond those with a host of new conveniences. The company took a page from Apple’s book and now allows you to answer or reject calls by nodding or shaking your head. There’s also a built-in voice control that doesn’t require your phone’s assistant, something akin to what Bose offers on the new QuietComfort Earbuds. And because the earbuds are so small, there aren’t onboard touch controls. Instead, Sony employs the Wide Area Tap gestures from the original open-design LinkBuds. They work really well, but I will never be comfortable tapping my upper cheek to make adjustments.

Perhaps the only area where the LinkBuds Fit fall well short of the WF-1000XM5 is ANC performance. I’d call this active noise reduction more than cancellation. You’ll get some relief from constant sources like white noise machines or a raucous fan, but these earbuds don’t silence them. They also struggle mightily with human voices, so if you sit near a chatty coworker, you’ll have to crank up the volume to compensate.

For calls, the LinkBuds Fit will give you better-than-average voice clarity, which means you’ll sound better than if you’re on speakerphone. The earbuds also do a decent job of blocking background noise, although I noticed a slight delay in them picking up sounds that began during calls. Sony also boasts that this model has its “best ambient sound,” and while I’m not ready to bestow that honor, the audio mode does have a natural quality that makes it pleasant to use. Plus, a new Auto Ambient Sound feature can automatically adjust the level of transparency when you encounter a noisy environment.

With the LinkBuds Fit, Sony says you can expect up to five and a half hours with ANC on and 21 hours total when you factor in the case. There are a lot of advanced features at work here, and those have an impact on power consumption. With the volume at a comfortable 75-80 percent, I only managed around four hours and 45 minutes. That’s with noise-canceling active as well as Voice Control, Speak to Chat and DSEE Extreme all enabled. The good news is that Sony offers a tool called Auto Battery Save that will disable the latter three tools, as well as any EQ tweaks, to conserve power. This will extend things beyond the 5.5-hour mark, but not by a ton.

The LinkBuds Fit are a massive advancement over the LinkBuds S. In fact, they’re some of the best earbuds Sony has ever made. But they aren’t without a few significant faults. My primary gripe is ANC performance, and though it’s the only one, it’s a biggie. Like it usually does on the 1000X line, Sony has packed in a ton of features here, and for the most part they work as advertised. It’s clear the company is taking notes from the competition with the Apple-esque head gestures and automatic sound adjustments, in addition to the Bose-like built-in assistant. But, somehow, Sony managed to innovate and keep the price tag exactly the same as the LinkBuds S.

LinkBuds Open

The LinkBuds Open show progression from the first-gen model, but they’re still uncomfortable.

Pros

• Improved sound quality
• More features than the previous version
• Unique design

Cons

• More expensive than their predecessor
• Still uncomfortable
• Good sound requires some tweaks

The original LinkBuds were wonderfully weird. After years of very normal-looking earbuds (besides the Xperia Ear Duo), Sony took a big swing in early 2022 with the donut-shaped, open design model that sought to provide all-day wear while keeping your earbuds unobstructed from your environment. They were different, but they were unique, with their own drizzle of Sony’s special sauce. However, overall comfort was a big issue, and one the company sought to remedy on the follow-up with the LinkBuds Open.
To start, Sony reduced the overall size of the IPX4-rated LinkBuds Open. Like the LinkBuds Fit, this model also has the Air Cushion silicon support that’s more flexible. That’s a big improvement from the small hump meant to stabilize the first version that didn’t offer much added support. Unfortunately though, the casing for the ring-shaped driver that sits in your ear is still hard plastic. After about 45 minutes, it became uncomfortable, and after several hours it was downright unbearable. On the bright side, the cheek-based Wide Area Tap controls are back and they’re reliable, if not slightly awkward.

Sony made two key adjustments to improve the sound quality on the LinkBuds Open. First, it built a revamped ring-shaped driver and paired it with the Integrated Processor V2 chip from the 1000X line. These two changes make for louder sound and richer bass, according to Sony. And the claim holds up. You’ll only need around 65-70 percent volume, unless you suffer from some degree of hearing loss. And there is more pronounced low-end tone, though you’ll have to coax it out with an EQ tweak.

By default, the stock tuning is heavily reliant on treble, which means vocals tend to overpower most of the mix. However, Sony’s EQ tools actually help balance things out, and adding more mids and bass makes the LinkBuds Open’s sound profile more well-rounded. After this adjustment, the kick drum thumps under vocals and guitars, an improvement over the default sound profile for Better Lovers’ thunderous, crunching single “A White Horse Covered In Blood.”

Like it did with the LinkBuds Fit, Sony brought over a lot of the handy tools from the 1000X earbuds to the Open. Those include multipoint Bluetooth and Speak to Chat, but Adaptive Sound Control automation isn’t here. Sony did add its voice assistant, Adaptive Volume Control and head-gesture recognition for answering calls. The company also offers a fit check via your phone’s camera, something it’s done for other products to check your positioning for 360 Reality Audio. Most of these work well, though in my experience Speak to Chat is still tripped up when I coughed or cleared my throat. And it seemed to be even more sensitive on the LinkBuds Open than other models I’ve tested.

Thanks to the design, the LinkBuds Open are nice to wear during calls since, well, you can hear yourself. However, the quality of your voice on the other end isn’t as clear as what I encountered on the LinkBuds Fit. It will get the job done, but I did sound slightly muffled. And background noise, while subdued, is noticeable at times when I’m talking.

Sony says you should be able to eke out eight hours of use on the LinkBuds Open, a significant improvement over the five and a half hours on the first LinkBuds. Indeed, I had no trouble hitting that number during my tests with DSEE Auto and other power-taxing tools enabled. If you find yourself in a pinch, Sony devised a faster quick charge solution that gives you an hour of use in three minutes. What’s more, Auto Battery Save from the LinkBuds Fit is in play here, automatically disabling advanced features when you hit 20 percent battery to extend listening time.

The LinkBuds Open offer some improvements over the first-gen model, but Sony hasn’t addressed an inherent issue with the design. Simply put, they aren’t comfortable to wear for longer than a few minutes and that will be a problem for a lot of people. I understand the outer shell around the ring driver has to be robust enough to protect it, but there needs to be even the slightest bit of cushioning to relieve the pressure. If Sony fixes that, it will have a more compelling product rather than a novelty.

LinkBuds Speaker

The LinkBuds Speaker is designed to be a stationary companion to Sony’s earbuds and headphones, but it doesn’t offer anything more than that.

Pros

• Tiny but loud
• Charging dock is included and convenient
• Auto Play routines are handy

Cons

• Pricey for the size
• Restrained bass, absent mid range

The LinkBuds Speaker is an unexpected part of the new LinkBuds lineup. It’s a small Bluetooth speaker that’s designed to be your go-to device when you’re stationary, and is equipped with several features that sync with the LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Open in a bid to make your life easier – at least in terms of listening to music or podcasts.
The LinkBuds Speaker won’t win any design awards, but that’s par for the course with small Bluetooth speakers. Up top are volume and playback controls which you can also use to start music from select streaming services with one tap (Amazon Music, Spotify and Endel). There’s also a microphone for calls, if you’re okay with a no-frills speakerphone option. Around back, the power button sits at the bottom just above a USB-C charging port. There’s also an attached loop here so you can hang the LinkBuds Speaker on a hook or carabiner. That USB-C port is technically the backup charging method though, since the IPX4-rated speaker comes with a charging cradle that connects via metal contacts on the bottom.

The LinkBuds Speaker works with Sony’s new Sound Connect app for access to various settings. There’s one key feature I’ll discuss since it’s unique to this device. First, the app allows you to set up routines so that your music starts at specific times during the day. There’s also an automatic switching element to this that works with the LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Open, along with additional support for the LinkBuds S, WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5. All of this is managed in the Auto Play section of the app.