Sony LinkBuds S

Rich, expressive sound ; Impressive noise cancellation for the price ; Good comfort levels ; Compact, lightweight design

Average battery life ; Mixed call quality performance

Small in size and available at a more accessible price than the WF-1000XM4, if you’re after a more affordable pair of true wireless buds with good sound, extensive smarts and impressive noise cancellation, the LinkBuds S tick those boxes.

Balanced sound ; Solid bass ; Good noise-cancelling

Dynamics can be bettered ; Lack of drive to the sound

Sony’s built a reputation for great wireless earbuds and the LinkBuds S aren’t short of positives, but neither are they a runaway sonic success.

Remarkably light, small and comfortable ; Open, informative sound ; Good control options, great app

Lots of very capable rivals ; Strangely matter-of-fact sound ; Ordinary look and feel

Well-specified, easy to wear, and with some real sonic talent, the LinkBuds S make sense in a lot of ways. But they’re a rather dispassionate listen, and they have rivals at every turn – not least from Sony itself.

Comfort and fit ; Lots of software functions ; Sound great

Touch response can be a little slow ; Not the loudest

The Sony LinkBuds S are a great set of headphones offering a many of the features of the 1000X, but in a more affordable package. Comfortable and compact, they offer good sound quality but could be a little louder. There are a wide range of features...

Small, light & comfortable ; Excellent ANC ; Lots of smart features ; Balanced sound

Awkward price ; Middling battery life

The LinkBuds S provide a very well-balanced package of decent sounding, noise cancelling earbuds with almost every smart feature from the flagship XM4 model. They’re only held back by sub-par battery life and the fact you can get a similar sound and...

Audio quality a little lacking ; Great extra features

No wireless charging ; App needs polish

Not the best for music quality or ANC, but top notch for comfort and calls

Small and light Very good sound quality Excellent noise canceling Handy transparency features Wear sensors IPX4 water resistance

Mediocre battery life Quirky control options No wireless charging No Bluetooth Multipoint

“Excellent ANC and unique features make these earbuds an intriguing new option.”

Quality audio performance with rich lows and crisp, clear highs ; Effective noise cancellation ; In-app EQ, customizable controls, and Spotify Tap support ; Water-resistant design

Unimpressive battery life

Sony's true wireless LinkBuds S earphones deliver good sound quality and noise cancellation in a much more effective design than previous pair, but they don't quite outshine the rest of the competition.