Sony has built a reputation for great wireless audio kit, producing what are widely regarded as the best ANC over-ear headphones (WH1000xM4) and the best in-ear ANC buds (WF1000xM4).
More recently the firm launched the WH1000xM5 but IrishMirror.ie has yet to test the new model which some reviewers have criticised for their lack of foldability.
The firm’s latest earphones are the more sensibly named LinkBuds S and they come hot on the heels of the original LinkBuds which had a completely different donut-ring-shaped design that deliberately allowed outside noise in.
READ MORE: Sony WF1000xM4 review: the best wireless in-ear headphones you can buy
Design and build
LinkBuds S sport a more traditional wireless earbuds design with a slightly round shape that nestles into your ear.
Like a lot of buds, they come with silicone ear tips designed to seal the ear canal.
However, they are still super-compact and Sony claims they are the world’s smallest wireless ANC earbuds. Each bud only weighs 4.8g. For comparison, AirPods Pro weigh 5.4g.
LinkBuds S come in three finishes: white, black and the beige-ish colour of my test buds, which is called Ecru.
They look stylish and are comfortable in the ear. You can wear them for hours on end without having an urge to take them out. And in my testing, they never fell out.
Audio quality
LinkBuds S have a specially made 5mm driver and include active noise cancellation (ANC).
The dynamic drivers are powered by neodymium magnets and do a decent job with a range of content: different styles of music, talk radio, podcasts, TV shows and YouTube videos.
Audio quality is nicely balanced but lacking some of the power and precision of Sony’s own WF1000xM4 and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3, for example. However, you can adjust the EQ to suit your own tastes with ease.
There is no aptX HD codec support, but Sony’s LDAC format is supported. This means you can enjoy hi-res audio files up to 24-bit/96kHz transmitted at data rates of up to 990kbps if you pair the buds with a compatible Bluetooth source such as a OnePlus 10 Pro smartphone.
If you pair LinkBuds S with an iPhone they default to the AAC codec.
Noise cancellation and smartphone app
The ANC quality is top notch as you come to expect from Sony and works like a dream.
Obviously, you will get better ANC from over-ears like Sony’s WH1000xM4 but LinkBuds S boast ANC that’s as good as it gets for in-ear headphones.
If you pair the buds with Sony’s super Headphones app, you get extra smarts.
For example, Adaptive Sound Control which learns places you go or things you’re doing and adjusts the noise cancelling profile automatically. You can tweak the settings in the app easily too.
While the ambient sound mode has 20 levels of adjustment. This is a great deal of control over how much you hear of what’s going on around you.
Speak-to-Chat is a clever feature that means you can kick off a conversation with the headphones still in place as they automatically cut your content stream when you start talking and resume playback after you’ve finished chatting.
You can also get your messages and notifications read out to you, if you wish.
The integrated Processor V1 is the same one used in both LinkBuds and the WF-1000XM4.
You also get the same DSEE Extreme processor which can upscale digital music files to near hi-res quality.
The surface of each earbud provides touch controls that are assignable, intuitive and responsive.
Battery life
Battery life is six hours with ANC activated and nine hours with noise cancelling turned off.
The case, when full, holds a further 14 hours of juice.
The company said a five-minute charge will get you one hour of playback using USB-C.
The case does not support wireless charging.
Other features
The buds are IPX4 rated for water resistance so they can withstand splashes and a bit of rain.
They have in-ear detection, so they automatically pause your content when you take them out and resume playback when you put them back in.
There is no plastic used in the packaging and the earbuds and case use recycled plastic materials from automobile parts.
Verdict
Overall, you might describe LinkBuds S as almost flagship standard.
They are an excellent all-round set of true wireless earphones at €199 and you get a lot of smart features that make them quite compelling at that price.
However, you can currently pick up Sony’s flagship in-ears, WF1000xM4, for just €40 more at Harvey Norman and if you can afford that then I would recommend it as a good deal.
