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Sony INZONE Buds · Sony official white INZONE Buds 360-degree product view, with original supplied background and framing.

Sony INZONE Buds
Photo 1 of 52

Sony INZONE Buds · Sony official white INZONE Buds 360-degree product view, with original supplied background and framing.

Sony · INZONE

INZONE Buds

Released October 2023

Gaming earbuds with active noise cancelling, a USB-C 2.4 GHz transceiver and Bluetooth LE Audio using LC3, without Bluetooth Classic support.

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Battery
11 h
With case
–
Best codec
LC3
Weight
6.5 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised noise cancellation, comfort and battery life, but found the case bulky and the microphone less effective than a boom headset. SoundGuys liked the balanced sound, while TechRadar found bass and busy game effects muddy. Both criticised connectivity restrictions; TechRadar also encountered trouble switching connection modes. Their launch-era software criticisms predate Sony's later phone-app update.

From soundguys.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
In-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Transparency mode
Yes
Driver size
8.4 mm
Bluetooth codecs
LC3
Chip
Sony L1
Drivers
8.4 mm Dynamic Driver X with different diaphragm dome and edge materials
Audio features
INZONE Hub for Windows provides equaliser, 360 Spatial Sound for Gaming, sound-field personalisation from ear photographs and sound-tone personalisation using test tones and feedback microphones; compatible with PS5 Tempest 3D AudioTech

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 11 hours
Battery life detail
USB-transceiver playback up to 11 hours with noise cancellation on or 12 hours off. Bluetooth LE Audio playback up to 18 hours with noise cancellation on or 24 hours off. Total with case is published only with noise cancellation off, up to 24 hours through the USB transceiver or 48 hours through LE Audio; no ANC-on case total is inferred.
Fast charging
Approximately two hours to charge the earbuds fully; Sony states five minutes charging provides approximately one hour of use

Design

Weight (each earbud)
6.5 g
Water and sweat resistance
IPX4
Bluetooth
5.3
Controls
Customisable touch controls for volume, microphone mute and other functions; available assignments vary with connection mode and device
Microphones
Built-in microphones with AI-based voice noise reduction
Fit and ear tips
Four ear-tip sizes; Sony's white and black earbuds weigh approximately 6.5 g each including medium tips, while Glass Purple weighs approximately 6.7 g each
Water resistance detail
IPX4 applies to the earbuds
Works with
USB-C 2.4 GHz transceiver with PC and PS5/mobile modes; Sony claims below 30 ms transceiver latency. Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio with LC3 only, without Bluetooth Classic; Sony states iPhone and iPad do not support direct Bluetooth connection. Compatible phone app support was added on 3 April 2024, requires updated firmware and LE Audio, and is unavailable over the USB transceiver; firmware updates use INZONE Hub on PC.
Colours
White, black or Glass Purple; colour variants remain configurations of the same model
In the box
Earbuds, charging case, USB-C transceiver, USB charging cable and ear tips

Pros and cons

Pros

  • USB-C transceiver stores inside the charging case
  • Active noise cancelling and ambient sound mode
  • PC sound-field and ear-canal personalisation

Cons

  • No Bluetooth Classic, SBC or AAC support
  • Phone Bluetooth compatibility requires LE Audio
  • Firmware updates require INZONE Hub on a PC

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
Anker soundcoreLiberty 4 NC
In-earYes8 h40 hLDAC–Jun 2023
JBLLive Beam 3
In-earYes10 h–LDAC5 gJun 2024
Anker soundcoreP40i
In-earYes10 h50 hAAC–Feb 2024

Sources

  1. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/feature_1
  3. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/feature_2
  4. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/feature_3
  5. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/feature_4
  6. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/202310/23-1011
  7. sony.eu/presscentre/sony-unveils-inzone-buds-truly-wireless-gaming-earbuds-with…
  8. soundguys.com/sony-inzone-buds-review-110266
  9. techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/sony-inzone-buds-review
  10. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds
  11. sony.jp/inzone/products/msa/INZONE_Buds
  12. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2977/v1/en/index.html
  13. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2977/v1/en/print.pdf
  14. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds
  15. sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/feature_5
  16. sony.jp/inzone/special/INZONE_BUDS
  17. sony.jp/inzone/gallery_gamingheadset
  18. sony.jp/inzone/gallery_gamingheadset.jpproductgallery.json
  19. pur.store.sony.jp/inzone/products/INZONE_Buds/WF-G700N_purchase
  20. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/202604/26-0415
  21. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds/feature2
  22. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds/feature3
  23. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds/feature4
  24. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds/feature5
  25. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds/feature6
  26. sony.co.uk/gaming-gear/products/inzone-buds/feature7

Photo: Sony official white INZONE Buds 360-degree product view, with original supplied background and framing.

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