(Review) SONY Inzone Buds: Before their time?

(Review) SONY Inzone Buds: Who remembers playing PS3 before leaving for school in 2007? I remember it like it was yesterday, especially the daily ritual of always hiding my headphone wires inside my shirt and listening to Linkin Park while walking, or taking the ever-mythical bus.

Well, we are already in 2023! Nowadays, in addition to playing on the PS5, headphones no longer have wires (at least most of the time), and perhaps more importantly, they feature technology that our 2007 “self” would probably never be able to imagine.

In this more specific case of wireless headphones, we have the recently launched Inzone Buds, where Sony tried to bring together all of its most powerful and efficient technology to offer something incredible for the PC, for the PlayStation 5, and of course, for the smartphone. However, on the smartphone side, things are a little limited.

If you are someone who prefers a headset to earbuds, you can read our review of the Sony Inzone H5 if you want to stay within this brand

(Review) Sony InZone H5 Headphones

(Review) SONY Inzone Buds: Before their time?

So, will these earbuds compete with the market giants? Or is it better to continue hiding the threads under your sweater? Let’s find out with this review.

Design and Comfort

In this department it is necessary to make a distinction between the case and the earbuds themselves, because while one component is excellent, the other left me perplexed.

In other words, when it comes to the earbuds themselves, they are extremely comfortable, both for long gaming sessions and for sports (it is important to note that they are water/sweat resistant). The fact that it comes equipped with several rubbers of different sizes guarantees that you will almost certainly be able to adapt these buds to the shape of your ears.

Visually, I can say that Sony quality is apparent, something we have come to expect from this iconic company. Especially in the white model, which clearly took inspiration from the design of the PS5, and which therefore creates visual uniformity to the gaming equipment that Sony has on the market.

Now, let’s talk about the strange case of this transport box, because this shape, in my opinion, doesn’t even resemble the devil!

After all, the reality is that the vast majority of people generally prefer to have their case in their pockets while listening to music/talking on the street, to have easy access, and of course, because we don’t always have a bag to store it in.

This being the case, I can only wish you good luck when you try to put this case in a pocket that is not completely empty, or if your pants are minimally tight.

The appearance itself is premium, at the same level as the buds, the problem lies in the format which is anything but practical for everyday use. It is a case of “form over function”, where in an attempt to stand out from the competition, you end up sacrificing the functional element, more specifically that of practicality and comfort.

Connectivity and response time

Regarding response time, it is the same as the Inzone H5. We are therefore talking about a speed of 2.4Ghz when connected to the USB-C dongle that comes inside the case, with no discrepancy between the visuals and the audio. This is especially important for watching movies or gaming sessions.

The question arises, not in terms of response time, but rather in connectivity… let me explain.

These Inzone Buds have the ability to work via Bluetooth (dramatic information, I know!). However, this Bluetooth is limited exclusively to devices that support LE Audio technology.

• Note: LE Audio’s main objective is to minimize the energy consumption of these devices.

So what’s the problem? Even high-end cell phones that were launched this year may not support the technology, even if their base hardware does. Which is the case with my Nothing Phone 2.

This means that to use these buds on the street with my new cell phone costing around €800, I have to always have the USB-C Dongle connected to it, which in addition to being impractical, prevents me from using a power bank on the go. simultaneously if necessary.

Interestingly, even within Sony devices, compatibility leaves a lot to be desired.

By this I mean that these buds, for example, are not compatible with the recently launched Playstation Portal. Furthermore, they cannot work simultaneously with the PSVR 2 as both require a USB-C port (the PS5 only offers one). Interestingly, not even the PS5 has LE Audio.

So, if your dream is to have the best in the gaming world, and then go to school listening to Linkin Park like I did when I was a teenager… You can take your horse out of the rain! This is unless you have an S23 Ultra or Pixel 8 Pro in your pocket.

Sound Quality and Microphone

When it comes to the sound quality itself, this is really very good! Both for gaming and for listening to music outside of a gaming environment.

Even on the PS5 where it is not possible to use software to adjust the sound parameters, I found myself completely immersed in the games with the clarity of the audio and even more so with the help of ANC (Active Noise Canceling).

Regarding music, I can say that I did the most serious test possible… Training in the gym! It turned out very well! Since that day I broke a record while listening to Iron Maiden on the Inzone Buds… Coincidence? Maybe, but what is certain is that I found myself playing air guitar in the middle of the gym and completely oblivious to the rest of the crowd!

However, as not everything can be good, it is undeniable that the microphone is simply mediocre. It’s workable, but it completely clashes with the quality of the rest of the material. Serving perfectly for making calls, sending voice messages, calling people names when we lose a game, etc… just don’t expect to be able to record a video for YouTube using the buds as a microphone.

Interface and Software

This is where Inzone Hub comes in, the software that Sony developed to manage audio devices in this range.

In the Hub we can adjust sound levels using the equalizer and create specific profiles for gaming or listening to music, for example. Fortunately, it is highly accessible and intuitive software to use, which is rare in these cases (just try using, for example, Razer Synapse and you will see what I mean)

We can also download the 360 ​​Spatial Sound Personalizer application on our cell phone, which analyzes our ears and creates a profile that best adapts to their shape. This profile is in turn synchronized with the Inzone Hub.

Battery

Here is the only advantage of implementing LE Audio technology, battery life. Truth be told, this one is impressive. Inzone buds can transmit for 12 hours. This is before it is necessary to charge the case which, containing a full charge, increases the battery life to 24 hours in total.

Conclusion

In short, I can say that these Inzone buds are the best buds I’ve used this year in terms of audio quality… But they are also the worst example I’ve seen this year in terms of compatibility/connectivity.

My recommendation will be 100% based on the devices you plan to connect these buds to.

So, if your phone has LE Audio, and if you don’t expect to use the buds with the PSVR 2 or the Portal, and on top of all this you don’t mind the inconvenient shape of the box… Then I definitely recommend it based on both the sound quality, the ANC and the design of the buds themselves.