Sony is promising a 'new form of listening' will arrive next week — and we think we know what it is

• A Sony launch event is happening on January 21
• Rumors suggest we'll see the LinkBuds Clip earbuds
• The wait goes on for the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds

Sony has posted a mysterious teaser online, announcing a new product unveiling for next Wednesday, January 21. The tagline is promising "a new form of listening", and we think that means new wireless earbuds are on the way.

The teaser was originally spotted by The Walkman Blog, but some extra context added by the tipsters at Dealabs suggests that we're going to get the Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds at this particular launch event – so not the Sony WF-1000XM6.

We've seen plenty of rumors around the Sony WF-1000XM6 in recent weeks, and considering how much we loved the Sony WF-1000XM5 we're very much looking forward to these wireless earbuds too. However, they're more likely to launch in February.

Instead of the Sony WF-1000XM6, we're getting the Sony LinkBuds Clip, according to those in the know. We've seen several pairs of earbuds in the LinkBuds series in the past, including the Sony LinkBuds Open.

Rumored specs

Something new is coming | Set your alarms 21st January ⏰ - YouTube

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More info from Dealabs suggests that the LinkBuds Clip earbuds are going to have the model number WF-LC900, and will look similar to the Huawei FreeClip or the JBL Soundgear Clips that were just unveiled at CES 2026.

That means some kind of hook that goes behind your ear to keep the earbuds in place for extended periods of time, while still feeling lightweight. At the same time, the open-ear design will allow ambient sounds through, apparently.

The earbuds are said to be coming with three different listening modes, plus support for 360-degree reality audio and spatial sound personalization. Battery life is reportedly nine hours for the earbuds on their own, with an extra 28 hours provided by the case.

They'll be IPX4 rated for protection against splashes and sweat, according to Dealabs, and four colors are predicted: black, green, purple, and cream. The launch price mentioned in the article is $229.99 (about £170 / AU$345).

Whatever Sony unveils next Wednesday, you'll be able to read about it right here, so stay tuned.

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