Sony LinkBuds S Review: Price, Features & Noise Cancelling Performance Explained

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Sony LinkBuds S Specifications $ 159.99

Headphone Section (Others)
Power	Li-ion
Charging Method	USB charging (using case)
Continuous audio playback	up to 6 hours(NC on)/up to 9 hours(NC off)
Continuous call time	up to 3.5 hours(NC on)/up to 3.5 hours(NC off)
Standby time	up to 8.5 hours(NC on)/up to 16 hours(NC off)

Bluetooth
Communication Method	Bluetooth Standard Specification Ver. 5.2
Output	Bluetooth Standard Specification Power Class 1
Maximum Communication Distance	10 m
Operating Frequency Band	2.4 GHz (2.4000 GHz – 2.4835 GHz)
Supported Bluetooth Profiles	A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP/ TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP
Supported Codecs	SBC, AAC
Supported Content Protection	SCMS-T
Transmission Band (A2DP)	20 Hz – 20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling) 20Hz-40,000Hz(LDAC 96kHz sampling 990kbps)

My Experience Using It

Size & Fit Review

To be honest, this is the first time I’ve used earphones that are this small and lightweight. When I heard that each earbud weighs only 4.8g, I thought, “Isn’t that too light?” But once I put them on, they felt completely natural. Even after long use, my ears don’t hurt, and they’re comfortable even for women or people with smaller ears. The fact that they also include noise cancellation is truly impressive.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Moreover, the fit feels incredibly stable. The design minimizes how much the earbuds stick out and shifts the center of gravity closer to the head, making them much less likely to move around while walking or even running. After trying them myself, I found the fit to be a big improvement over the WF-1000XM4, and I felt confident they wouldn’t fall out.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

It’s also surprisingly convenient that the dedicated app can measure the ear tip size for you. This helps you find the perfect fit, maximizing both comfort and noise-canceling performance. With this level of attention to detail, the price feels much easier to justify.

The design is also refined—I personally love the smooth, sleek shape. It’s resistant to smudges even when handled, and the calm color tones make it suitable for both work and personal use without standing out awkwardly. Taking the looks into account as well, I’d say it’s definitely worth buying.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Furthermore, the eco-friendly aspect is a big plus. The “Earth Blue” color is made from recycled water dispenser bottles, and each piece has a unique pattern. It’s both sustainable and stylish, giving it a sense of individuality that adds to its appeal. I really appreciate these kinds of thoughtful touches.

Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound Review

The noise cancelling on the LinkBuds S is far beyond what you’d expect from such a compact model. Honestly, I first thought, “Wouldn’t the WF-1000XM4 be stronger?” But after actually trying them, I was surprised at how quiet it felt even on a crowded commuter train. The way surrounding noise just melts away really boosts immersion in music and videos. Considering the price, this level of noise cancelling feels like excellent value for money.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

The naturalness of the ambient sound pickup is another major plus. It’s a big step up from previous models—you can actually hold a normal conversation while still wearing the earbuds. You can also fine-tune it across 20 levels, which makes it easy to customize for situations like wanting to only pick up voices around you or reducing city noise.

What really impressed me, though, was the automatic mode switching that adapts to your environment. At home it switches to ambient sound, outdoors it shifts to noise cancelling, and on the train it boosts the cancellation even further—all without me doing anything. I was honestly skeptical at first, but once I got used to it, I couldn’t live without it.

The “Speak-to-Chat” feature is also pretty clever: when someone talks to you, just responding pauses the music and switches to conversation mode. It came in surprisingly handy for quick interactions at the checkout or when colleagues spoke to me in the office. Sure, it sometimes reacts to a cough or a hum, but the convenience more than makes up for it.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Another nice touch is the design’s attention to wind noise. Even when walking outside, that distracting “whooshing” sound is barely noticeable, letting you really appreciate how effective the noise cancelling is. With this level of user-focused design, I feel the price is more than justified.

Call Quality Review

The LinkBuds S also deliver excellent call quality. Thanks to multiple microphones and AI-powered voice pickup, your voice comes through clearly even in noisy places like cafés or train platforms. In my experience, people often say, “Your voice sounds really clear,” which is reassuring since you don’t have to worry about being drowned out by background noise.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

The AI algorithms, trained on over 500 million samples, seem to play a big role here, giving the impression that they can effectively separate your voice from background noise. Whether it’s a remote meeting or an unexpected call on the go, the usual frustration of having to repeat yourself is almost gone. For the price, this call quality feels more than worth it.

Another handy feature is Auto Play, which automatically resumes music without needing to touch your phone. Once a call ends, your music starts right back up, saving you the extra step of manual operation. Since it integrates with Spotify and Apple Music, it’s a particularly welcome addition for anyone who listens to music regularly

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

The LinkBuds S also support Sony’s unique Sound AR app, Locatone, which offers a fun experience where the direction of the sound shifts based on your head movements. The spatial audio feels impressively realistic, making it a standout feature that enhances not only music but also entertainment experiences.

Battery Review

Despite its compact size, the battery life is impressive. With noise canceling on, you get up to 6 hours of playback on a single charge, and up to 20 hours with the case. Turn noise canceling off, and it extends to 9 hours on its own and up to 30 hours with the case—more than enough for all-day use. What’s especially handy is the quick-charge feature: just 5 minutes of charging gives you about 1 hour of playback. It’s reassuring to know you’re covered even if you suddenly realize before heading out, “Oops, I forgot to charge!”

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

The connection stability is excellent, working reliably across different devices like Xperia and iPhone without any issues. Thanks to Sony’s proprietary V1 processor, it’s optimized to minimize audio dropouts even in crowded environments such as trains or busy streets. Video playback also has very little delay, and with support for the next-generation Bluetooth LE Audio, you can look forward to even lower latency and higher sound quality with future updates. For Android users, the “Audio Switch” feature is especially useful. It allows multiple devices to be connected at once and automatically switches with a single notification—so you don’t need to manually reconnect when moving between your smartphone and tablet. Plus, it supports multi-point connectivity and can pair with up to eight devices, making it easy to switch, for example, from a PC meeting to a phone call instantly. On top of that, the IPX4 water resistance rating ensures peace of mind during workouts or on rainy days. Google Fast Pair and Windows Quick Pair also make setup nearly instant, so even those who aren’t tech-savvy can use them without hassle. Extra touches like single-ear use and wearing detection further enhance convenience, giving the impression of earphones designed to eliminate everyday frustrations.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Sound Quality Review

The LinkBuds S deliver surprisingly powerful sound for such a compact model. The bass hits with satisfying depth, while vocals come through crisp and clear. Whether it’s pop, rock, movies, or podcasts, the audio is easy to enjoy across genres, and the richness is impressive for their size. I was genuinely surprised at how full the sound feels given how small they are. Another highlight is LDAC support, which lets you enjoy high-resolution audio wirelessly. When paired with a compatible smartphone, it transmits about three times more data than standard Bluetooth, preserving both depth and subtle details. This makes them especially appealing for those who want to fully appreciate delicate genres like classical or jazz.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Moreover, the “DSEE Extreme” feature, which uses AI to analyze music in real time and upscale compressed audio to near high-resolution quality, is remarkably effective. Even streaming audio from platforms like YouTube or Spotify gains a heightened sense of immersion, making your everyday songs sound a little more refined and luxurious.

Source：SONY Official Website　Specifications of the SONY LinkBuds S shown in the image above. See the text above for detailed explanations in English.

Inside, it features the integrated V1 processor, also used in the WF-1000XM4, ensuring clear sound with minimal distortion. Additionally, the dedicated app allows for precise equalizer adjustments, letting you tailor the sound to your preference—whether you prioritize deep bass or clear vocals.

Overall, it delivers “compact yet genuinely high-quality sound.” Considering the price, it offers excellent value and feels like a well-balanced pair of earphones suitable for everything from everyday listening to serious music enjoyment.

Pros

Advantages

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  Compact yet delivers a balanced and clear sound across all frequencies, suitable for any genre.
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  LDAC support allows high-resolution audio to be enjoyed wirelessly with excellent quality.
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  High noise-cancellation provides a quiet environment, perfect for focusing on trains or in cafes.
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  Excellent call quality, with AI noise reduction ensuring your voice is heard clearly.
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  Dedicated app allows detailed customization of the equalizer and features.

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Cons

Disadvantages

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  Battery life is somewhat short at up to 6 hours when noise cancellation is on.
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  Multi-point connectivity is possible, but may be limited when using LDAC.
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  The dedicated app is essential to fully utilize high-quality sound and convenient features.
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  While the case is compact and easy to carry, long outings may require extra charging.
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  Experiencing the benefits of LDAC and DSEE Extreme requires compatible smartphones and environments.

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