Sony's odd wire-free earbuds go on sale May 28 for $399

We're used to wire-free earbuds looking a bit odd, but Sony's Xperia Duo is quite possibly the weirdest pair yet. Rather than sit in, on, or over your ear, the bulk of each Xperia Duo unit sits behind your ear, with just a small stem connecting the body to the actual bud. They're almost an upside hearing aid.

While the aesthetic sure is interesting, an open-ear design is perhaps the most unique thing about the Xperia Duo. This essentially lets you hear what's going on around you in (in the real world) while still blasting tunes and getting voice notifications. Sony calls this a "dual listening experience".

The Xperia Duo supports voice control for Google Assistant or Siri, and has some gesture support. For example, you can accept or reject calls be nodding or shaking your head. You'll get four hours of listening time on a single charge, and the included case will give you three extra charges when you're on the go.

Personally, I find Sony's wire-free buds confusing; when I put on headphones, it's normally to block out of the world around me and properly enjoy my music or video. However, if the Xperia Duo sound like your jam, you'll be able to get from May 28 for $399 through JB Hi-Fi and Sony.

They'll work with Android and iPhone, although there may be differences in functionality. You can get an optional fast charger for $49, but it's kind of a joke that that it's not included in the box.

Read more about our favourite wireless headphones here.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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