Sony vs Samsung: Which Clip-On Earbuds Are Worth Your Money?

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Sony LinkBuds Clip and Samsung Galaxy Buds On bring a refreshing change to the wireless earbuds market with their unique open-ear clip-on designs. Moving away from traditional in-ear earbuds, both offer a different listening experience focused on comfort, convenience and everyday usability. While they share a similar design philosophy, there are plenty of differences worth exploring, from their build and audio capabilities to battery life and connectivity. So, which one deserves a place in your ears? Let’s take a closer look.

Main Features:

Category	Sony LinkBuds Clip	Samsung Galaxy Buds On	Winner
Model	WF-LC900	SM-U600	—
Earbud Type	Open-ear / Clip-on	Open-ear / Clip-on	Tie – Both
Driver / Speaker	10mm	11.3mm TwinBoost Speaker	Samsung – Larger speaker
Earbud Weight	6.4g	6.65g	Sony – Lighter
Charging Case Weight	42g	41g	Samsung – Lighter
Earbud Dimensions	Not specified	21.4 × 24.2 × 27.1mm	—
Charging Case Dimensions	50.4 × 50.4 × 32.6mm	51 × 51 × 28.3mm	—
Microphones	AI voice pickup with bone conduction sensor	3 Digital Microphones	Samsung – Specified microphone count
Bluetooth Version	5.3	6.2	Samsung – Newer version
Audio Codecs	SBC, AAC	SSC, SSC UHQ, AAC, SBC, LC3	Samsung – More codec options
Bluetooth Profiles	A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP	A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP	Samsung – More profiles
Multipoint	Yes	Not specified	Sony – Confirmed support
Audio Enhancement	DSEE	Not specified	Sony – DSEE support
Equaliser	Customisable 10-band EQ	Customisable EQ	Sony – Specified 10-band EQ
Listening Modes	Standard, Voice Boost, Sound Leakage Reduction	Automatic Volume Adjustment, Audio Leakage Reduction	Tie – Different features
Active Noise Cancellation	No	No	Tie – Neither offers ANC
Water Resistance	IPX4	IP54 (earbuds only)	Samsung – Dust protection
Earbud Battery Capacity	Not specified	61mAh	Samsung – Specified capacity
Charging Case Battery Capacity	Not specified	530mAh	Samsung – Specified capacity
Music Playback (Earbuds)	Up to 9 hours	Up to 9.5 hours	Samsung – Longer playback
Total Battery Life	Up to 37 hours	Up to 38 hours	Samsung – Longer battery life
Talk Time	Up to 4 hours	Up to 5.5 hours	Samsung – Longer talk time
Total Talk Time	Not specified	Up to 25 hours	Samsung – Specified figure
Fast Charging	3 minutes for up to 1 hour playback	Not specified	Sony – Confirmed quick charging
Charging Time	Approx. 1.5 hours	Not specified	Sony – Specified charging time
Charging Port	USB Type-C	USB Type-C	Tie – Both
Wireless Charging	Not specified	Qi wireless charging	Samsung – Wireless charging support
Frequency Response	20Hz–20,000Hz	Not specified	—
Bluetooth Range	10m	Not specified	—
Frequency Band	2.4GHz	Not specified	—
Sensors	Bone conduction sensor	VPU, Touch, IR, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall Sensor	Samsung – More specified sensors
Compatibility	Bluetooth-compatible smartphones	Android 12 or higher, 1.5GB+ memory	—
Price (Approx.)	$230 / ₹25,000	$229 / ₹20,000	Samsung – Lower estimated Indian price

Design and Comfort

Build & Fit

The Sony LinkBuds Clip features a lightweight, open-ear clip-on design that sits around the ear without entering the ear canal. Each earbud weighs approximately 6.4g, and Sony includes removable Air Fitting Cushions to help improve stability and personalise the fit. Its rounded design also gives it a relatively subtle, accessory-like appearance.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds On follows a similar approach, using a flexible band that wraps around the ear to keep the earbuds secure. Each earbud weighs 6.65g, making it slightly heavier than Sony’s offering. Samsung has also used ear-shape data and ergonomic design adjustments to distribute pressure more evenly. Both models come with compact charging cases, although Samsung’s case is marginally lighter at 41g.

Controls & Usability

Sony offers customisable tap controls through its Sound Connect app, while Samsung provides touch controls and convenient Galaxy device integration.

Verdict

Sony has a slight advantage in weight, while Samsung focuses on pressure distribution and secure fitting. Both offer promising designs for extended listening, although comfort will ultimately depend on individual ear shape.

Sound Quality

Driver Performance, Bass, Mids, Highs

The Sony LinkBuds Clip features a 10mm driver designed for open-ear listening, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds On comes with an 11.3mm TwinBoost speaker. Samsung has an advantage in driver size, but a larger speaker does not automatically guarantee better sound quality.

Sony focuses on balanced audio reproduction, with its sound tuning designed to maintain clarity across vocals, instruments and everyday content. Samsung’s TwinBoost technology is designed to deliver a richer listening experience, particularly important in an open-ear design where bass can be more challenging to reproduce. However, neither model creates the isolation of conventional in-ear earbuds, so deep bass performance should not be expected to match sealed designs.

Codec Support & Audio Features

Sony supports SBC and AAC codecs, alongside DSEE upscaling and a customisable 10-band equaliser. Samsung supports SSC, SSC UHQ, AAC, SBC and LC3, offering more codec options, particularly for compatible Galaxy devices.

Verdict

Samsung has the advantage in speaker size and codec variety, while Sony offers useful audio customisation and DSEE enhancement. Actual listening performance will depend on tuning rather than specifications alone.

ANC and Transparency Modes

Noise Cancellation Quality

Neither the Sony LinkBuds Clip nor the Samsung Galaxy Buds On offers traditional Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Both use open-ear designs that leave the ear canal unobstructed, allowing users to hear music while remaining aware of their surroundings. This makes them suitable for outdoor walks, running and everyday activities where environmental awareness matters more than blocking background noise.

Ambient & Call Performance

Sony offers three listening modes: Standard, Voice Boost and Sound Leakage Reduction. Voice Boost makes spoken content easier to hear in noisy environments, while Sound Leakage Reduction helps minimise audio escaping from the earbuds. For calls, Sony combines AI-based voice pickup technology with a bone conduction sensor to improve voice clarity.

Samsung takes a slightly different approach with automatic volume adjustment based on surrounding noise. It also features Audio Leakage Reduction and Intelligent Clear Call, which combines three digital microphones, a Voice Pickup Unit and machine-learning processing to improve voice pickup and reduce background noise.

Verdict

Samsung offers a more extensive collection of intelligent call and volume features, while Sony provides useful listening modes and dedicated voice pickup technology. Neither is suitable for users who specifically need strong ANC.

Battery and Connectivity

Battery Life & Fast Charging

The Sony LinkBuds Clip offers up to 9 hours of music playback on a single charge and up to 37 hours with its charging case. It also supports quick charging, providing approximately one hour of playback from just three minutes of charging. For calls, the earbuds offer up to 4 hours of continuous communication.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds On delivers slightly better endurance, offering up to 9.5 hours of music playback and up to 38 hours with the case. Talk time reaches 5.5 hours on the earbuds and up to 25 hours with the case. Samsung therefore has a small advantage in both music playback and calling endurance.

Bluetooth Stability and Multipoint

Sony uses Bluetooth 5.3 and supports multipoint connectivity, allowing connections to two devices simultaneously. Samsung moves ahead with Bluetooth 6.2 and supports SSC, SSC UHQ, AAC, SBC and LC3 codecs. However, multipoint support is not established in Samsung’s published specifications.

Verdict

Samsung wins in battery endurance and Bluetooth generation, while Sony offers confirmed multipoint connectivity and convenient quick charging.

Pricing

The Sony LinkBuds Clip is priced at approximately $230 (₹25,000), while the Samsung Galaxy Buds On comes in at around $229 (₹20,000). 

At the estimated Indian prices, Samsung appears to offer better overall value. It brings Bluetooth 6.2, a larger TwinBoost speaker, IP54 protection, additional codecs and slightly longer battery life at a lower expected price. Its hands-free controls and Galaxy ecosystem features also add to its appeal for compatible smartphone users.

Sony, however, has its own advantages, including multipoint connectivity, DSEE audio enhancement, a customisable 10-band equaliser and quick charging. These features make it a reasonable alternative for users who prioritise connectivity flexibility and audio customisation.

Verdict: Samsung is the more attractive option on price and specifications, while Sony needs to appeal through its software features and everyday convenience.

Disclaimer:
Prices are approximate and may vary based on country, region, launch timing, and applicable taxes. Always check whether the listed price is for a China unit or a global/international variant when purchasing.

Conclusion

The Sony LinkBuds Clip stands out with its lightweight construction, DSEE audio enhancement, multipoint connectivity and three dedicated listening modes. Its customisable 10-band equaliser, quick charging and AI-assisted call technology also make it a well-rounded option for everyday listening.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds On brings a different set of strengths, including its 11.3mm TwinBoost speaker, Bluetooth 6.2, IP54 protection and automatic volume adjustment. It also offers Intelligent Clear Call, Head Gestures, Quick Voice Memo and hands-free access to Gemini Live on compatible Galaxy devices. These additions make it particularly interesting for users who want more than basic music playback.

Verdict

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Buds On looks like the stronger all-round package, offering newer connectivity, slightly better battery life, additional smart features and a lower estimated Indian price. The Sony LinkBuds Clip remains a compelling alternative for users who value multipoint connectivity, DSEE and quick charging.

At approximately ₹5,000 less, Samsung has the more convincing value proposition. However, Sony still deserves consideration, especially for users who frequently switch between devices.

Disclaimer: Prices, specifications, and availability may vary by region and retailer. Recommendations in this article are based on editorial opinion, feature-based value, and market positioning at the time of writing. Readers are advised to do their own research before making a purchase.

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